Atlantic City, NJ in April 2007

If there's one thing I'm known for its being spontaneous. And what better way to spend a cold spring evening than with a quick trip down the Garden State Parkway to Atlantic City. The stars aligned just right for this trip. It was totally unplanned, I heard about an opportunity, made a couple of phone calls and two hours later I was strolling down the Boardwalk, enjoying the breeze.

There's a lot more to this story than I'm willing to share but the bottom line is I was very much pampered on this last minute adventure. I met up with my uncle at the Borgata where he was staying for a convention, went out to eat at the Bobby Flay steakhouse and of course pigged out on some crab meat appetizer and a Philadelphia 42oz steak. Then we went for drinks at the Tropicana, and concluded the night with a relaxing walk on a completely empty Boardwalk.

I like Atlantic City. For what its worth, the place isn't all that but for me it brings memories. I started going to the casinos in AC at an early age. My father enjoyed drinking and gambling and I was the designated driver. I got my very first speeding ticket on the way to Atlantic City from a super tropper at the very last exit on the GSP before the AC Expressway. We also used to go there as a family on our way to Wildwood for a summer vacation. Recently though the trips are far and few inbetween so I was very happy to head out there even for one night.


This was also cool because just a few weeks back I was driving up and down the Las Vegas Blvd and the Strip in Las Vegas. Although I didn't check out any place in particular there it was neat to see where they got their ideas in Atlantic City, but of course on a much smaller scale. I do like however the atmosphere there and Borgata is by far one of my favorite places to stay at. I've stayed at the Showboat before and my father adored the Taj Mahal, but for me Borgata hits the spot. I guess since I'm not a gambler I only know it by the places within it, like the Old Homestead Steakhouse or the Metropolitan Bar and Grill where I had breakfast this morning before heading back to work. Everything just seems perfectly new and very lavish. I like that.

On the trip back I was trying to make up some time and almost paid dearly for it. The trooper that clocked me started pulling out very slowly as I approached him, naturally I slowed down when he started going after me but was relieved to see him pull over a white Firebird that apparently was going faster than I was. I need to do this kind of travel more often, and with summer on its way I'm sure I'll get a lot more chances in the near future.

Links:

Atlantic City Tourism

Borgata Casino & Resort

Atlantic City Convetion Center