The Roll of the Dice: Casinos in Atlantic City

     Everything you could ever want under one roof: fine dining, elegant clothing and accessory stores, spas, nightclubs, and gambling. It is paradise; once you enter you don’t want to leave. Time has no meaning in the vast windowless structures that house the lavishly appointed casinos.
    On any given day the casinos are filled with many different types of people from the fanny pack clad tourists with cameras glued to their hands, of which I am one sans fanny pack, to the blue haired old women playing the penny and nickel slots. Mingling amid the tourists and elderly are the serious gamblers, people who haunt the casinos night and day in hopes of winning a fortune.
    The atmosphere can be both jubilant and filled with desperation. Fortunes can be lost in an instant, but they can be won too. It all depends on the roll of the dice or the deal of the deck.
    I am not a big gambler, but I love going to the casinos to people watch and take in the atmosphere. I don't make special trips to the casinos, but if I'm in AC I'll usually go and gamble $5.00 in the slot machines. I never win, but $5.00 can last for a couple of hours since I walk around and try my hand at different machines. I have only visited the casinos on the boardwalk, but I find them all the same. Caesars and Trump Plaza both have an atmosphere of understated elegance with their plush carpet, marble floors, and huge crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceilings, but there is nothing to distinguish them from each other. However, Bally’s Wild Wild West Casino and The Tropicana have themes and decorations that add to their allure.
    As you walk along the boardwalk outside of Bally’s Wild Wild West Casino there are various storefronts depicting old western general stores and saloons. Animated waterfalls, mines, a "49er" panning for gold, and a running stream greet you when you enter from the boardwalk.
    The atmosphere is carnival like with the kitschy decorations that sit on top of the various slot machines such as a man in a wooden bath tub pictured below.

    My camera is permanetly glued to my hand as I walk around and subtly snap pictures, with is not allowed and there have been several times where security has reprimanded me.
      While Bally's tackily decorated casino floor impressed me, The Tropicana's exotic, old Havana themed, three-story shopping area, The Quarter, left me in awe. Upon leaving the dingy, smoke filled casino section of The Tropicana I did not expect the pop music to turn to Latin salsa rhythm and the threadbare carpet to turn to faux brown bricks. Palm trees placed discreetly in corners and the ceiling resembling the sky, complete with clouds, give the illusion of walking in a Cuban town and made me feel like I was outside. There are several mosaic fountains nestled amid the eateries and shop lined halls that add to the sultry atmosphere. I have never shopped in a place like this before and, while I did not buy anything, I did enjoy walking around The Quarter and listening to the music.
    Not only do Bally’s and The Tropicana stand out among the bland casinos that fill AC, but they are in a central location. They are within walking distance of the AC Outlets and the Piers Shops at Caesar.  Every casino offers the same games, shopping, and excellent service so you might as well go to the ones with interesting décor and unique themes.

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Shops in Tropicana's The Quarter 

Atlantic City: America's Playground

   Once upon a time, before World War II ended and the city became plagued by crime, poverty, and corruption, Atlantic City was known as the "World’s Favorite Playground”. The glamorous hotels drew visitors from all over the world and the parties were legendary. During the 1920’s, which many historians consider AC’s golden age, liquor flowed freely in spite of prohibition and gambling took place in the backrooms of nightclubs and restaurants. This era inspired the HBO Original Series Boardwalk Empire, which I think provides a fascinating look at the decadence of AC's golden era. 

   I was 21-years-old when I first visited Atlantic City and I expected glamour. Instead, I saw dirty sidewalks, trash in the street, and run down storefronts. It was disappointing, but I realized AC wasn’t like the other beach towns that I had visited; outside the landscaped casino grounds and the lavishly desgined buildings, AC was dirty and gritty.

    AC is more than just a beach, and even though the beach is free, I wouldn’t go on it because it is a very dirty beach, with trash flying around on the sand and drunken people arguing and disturbing the peace. During one beach excursion, I saw a man grab the women he was arguing with by the arm and physically drag her into a casino.
     The beach may not be up to par, but there are many other things to do such as take in a show, walk the boardwalk, shop, etc. AC has something for everyone, from kids looking to ride the amusement pier rides to adults looking to win a fortune in the windowless casinos.

    My favorite thing to do in AC is shop. The Atlantic City Outlets, known as The Walk, have over one hundred outlet stores, including a COACH, Nike, and Banana Republic. Every time I travel to the outlets I can never resist the allure of the COACH store. I can spend up to an hour in there picking out the perfect handbag. However, since I have visited the outlets several times in the last two years I have several "perfect" handbags. I once waited 45 minutes just to purchase a bag because the line was so long. I recommend going to the stores on a Monday because the stores are less crowded on Mondays, at least they were when I went on a Monday.    
    Unfortunately, parking is at a minimum and the last several times I have been there I was forced to pay for parking. There is free parking, but it several blocks away and, since the area is not the best, I recommend paying the $12. 

      However many attractions are close together. The Walk is a few short blocks away from the boardwalk, where the upscale shopping center, The Pier Shops at Caesars, is located. The Pier Shops have an underwater theme and little blue LED lights hang from the dark ceilings.The mall is connected to Caesars by a second story, glass encased, sky bridge. Gucci, Burberry, and Gucci are just three of the many high-end stores that line the four-story glass structure. 
    Since I can only afford to window shop at these high-end stores, I love going to the fourth floor and watching “The Show.” “The Show” is the largest indoor water fountain display in a mall setting. Water, sound, music, and light come together and create a memorable, spell binding show. After shopping and walking I always welcome "The Show" since I can just sit down, relax, and be entertained for ten minutes. 

After watching “The Show” I love to go out onto the balcony that extends into the ocean and overlooks the beach and snap pictures.  

This picture, which is the view from the balcony, was taken on a warm spring day.