Atlantic City is a better summer vacation destination than Vegas.
Okay, before you start laughing, hear us out.
We here at PlayNJ avoid comparisons between Atlantic City and Vegas. While the desire to do so may be understandable, the two cities have very little in common besides casinos.
Most variations of “Well, Vegas does (fill in the blank), why can’t Atlantic City do (fill in the blank)?” shouldn’t be taken seriously.
With that being said, we’re fans of lists and rankings about Atlantic City, as well as quasi-controversial takes that get people to read our work.
We also don’t take ourselves too seriously here at PlayNJ. After all, we write about gambling for a living.
So here are five reasons why The World’s Playground is a better summer retreat than Vegas.
Point one particular for Ocean City: outdoor and boardwalk
In reality, this list could probably end right here. The outdoors is the only genuine advantage Atlantic City has over Vegas.
Being a beach resort has always been AC’s biggest draw. Even before Atlantic City casinos, people would flock to AC to escape city life and enjoy the benefits of fresh ocean air.
The World’s Most Famous Boardwalk is both the first and the longest. Recent improvements and additions to the Boardwalk now extend from the north end of Absecon Island south beyond the city limits. Whether it’s a brisk morning jog or an evening of rides and thrills, the boards are a unique feature that the Strip can’t replicate.
Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer at the Jersey Shore, and Atlantic City celebrates accordingly. With four casinos celebrating milestone anniversaries this summer (Resorts, 45; Borgata, 15; Hard Rock and Ocean, 5), summer 2023 in AC will be epic.
Which will summer temperature would you like, really?
The weather in New Jersey is absolutely terrible for about seven-and-a-half months of the year. The cold, grey, dreary, windy days begin in October and seem to last until Mother’s Day every year. It’s the number one reason people escape the state to move down South or to the West Coast.
But starting around the last week of May through the middle of September, few conditions in life are better than Jersey weather. Our summers are about as close to perfect as you can get.
The locals may tar and feather me for revealing this secret, but the weeks after Labor Day are the best. Empty beaches, traffic-free highways and streets, sales at every seasonal business, late sunsets, and warm ocean water are the stuff summer dreams are made of.
Especially when compared to summer in Southern Nevada.
Being in a concrete jungle amidst the desert is torture in June, July, and August. And, considering that everywhere you go in Vegas wants to charge $10 for a bottle of water, you might as well die (okay, we’re exaggerating a bit for effect, but you get the point).
This segues nicely into the next point…
Value: The advantage goes, once more, to Ocean City
You don’t have to be a high roller to receive comps in either AC or Vegas. Hotel rooms, meals and drinks, spa services, or show tickets are perks that even modest players can get comped by a casino.
For those who don’t know, a ‘comp’ stands for complimentary, meaning something you receive for free.
Of course, nothing is truly free, and it’s no surprise that neither casino comps are truly free. Gamblers are well aware that the win-loss scale is tipped in favor of the casino. But that doesn’t matter to them.
That’s because AC and Vegas are all about value. Whether that value is real or perceived is entirely in the eyes of the beholder. But the point is: both gambling destinations offer a good bang for your buck.
So, how does AC have the edge over Vegas in terms of value?
Honestly, it’s not that AC is inherently a more affordable summer destination. In fact, AC casinos may charge more during summer because… well, they can.
This one is more about Vegas and what has happened there since COVID-19. Long-time visitors, locals, and even Vegas social media influencers have all noted that prices in Sin City have become out of control.
Value is the main deal when going to either AC or Vegas. However, there’s a difference between feeling like you got something for your money and feeling like you’re getting ripped off.
AC still feels like a value, especially in the summer months. Vegas… not so much.
Even more family-friendly: Definitely not beating HVAC
Long before Ocean City became a casino city, it was a family destination. People from Philadelphia, New York City, and every corner of North Jersey would flock to AC for long weekends or annual summer trips.
We won’t bore you with a history lesson here, but the growth of commercial airlines in the 1950s and 1960s resulted in more travel options for middle-class Americans, which meant fewer visitors to AC, ultimately leading to the legalization of casinos in the late ’70s.
Despite some half-hearted attempts, Ocean City hasn’t really been a family destination since.
However, as AC casinos continue to lose ground to regional competitors, some people in the area are pushing for a return to a family-oriented resort. Construction on a $100-million indoor waterpark will be completed by July, and a new Dave & Buster’s will be opening this fall.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that a place nicknamed Sin City isn’t going to win our vote as a family destination.
Families and casinos are an odd mix, and there are plenty of opinions on each side of the issue. However, the reality is that many AC and Vegas casinos don’t mind hosting families as long as a portion of the vacation budget ends up on the blackjack table at some point.
Activities to do around the metropolis, day trip
Nobody can deny that there is plenty to do in AC and Las Vegas.
However, if you’re a traveler who likes to explore, New Jersey is a better bet than Nevada.
The Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, and the Valley of Fire are incredible, no disrespect intended. But that’s all dusty rocks and empty space.
Without even venturing far from AC, a visitor has plenty of options.
The Jersey Shore is dotted with unique beach towns, each with its own identity and vibe. Sea Isle City offers a different experience than Seaside Heights or Wildwood. The same goes for Ocean City, Long Beach Island, Asbury Park, and Brigantine.
A 30-minute drive from Atlantic City feels like traveling to another state. There is open farmland in Hammonton, also known as the Blueberry Capital of the World. And there are dense forest trails for hiking, biking, camping, and hunting in the Pine Barrens.
There are numerous lakes, rivers, streams, and tributaries throughout Atlantic County that are great for canoeing, kayaking, or swimming. Paddle boaters and fishermen have plenty of options as well.
Philadelphia, one of America’s great cultural cities, is just an hour away. New York City is a two-and-a-half-hour drive up the Garden State Parkway.
David Danzis is the result writer for PlayNJ. He is a New Jersey native and an honors graduate of Rutgers University. As a newspaper reporter for the New Jersey Herald and Press of Atlantic City, David received statewide recognition for his coverage of politics, government, education, sports, and business. Today, he is PlayNJ’s Atlantic City “insider” and an industry authority on casinos, sports betting, and online gambling. David resides in Mays Landing with his wife and two children. When he’s not at the shore, on the golf course, or snowboarding, David enjoys watching his beloved New York sports teams — the Yankees, Jets, Rangers, and Knicks.
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