And let’s be honest, we all deserve a good time these days, even if it’s for 24 hours. I had a one-night stand with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, and I’d do it again–and you should too because stepping foot inside this resort is like stepping foot inside a music video where everyone came to have a good time.

The Quarter: For shopping, head inside the Tropicana’s Havana-themed area, which features more than 40 shops and restaurants.Yes, you read that right.

Absecon Lighthouse: If you still haven’t had your fill of ascending to the top of 19th-century structures, take the stairs up to the lantern room of New Jersey's tallest lighthouse.

Climb a spiral staircase to the carriage on her back for a view of Atlantic City and the ocean.

Lucy the Elephant: This six-story wood-and-tin pachyderm has stood in nearby Margate City since 1881.

Other options include the Vegas-y Tropicana Casino & Resort, and Bally's, located at Park Place and Boardwalk-an address dear to players of the Atlantic City-themed Monopoly. The highest-grossing hotel in town is the Borgata, which stands out thanks to its 43-floor, gold-tinted glass tower. In keeping with its namesake’s more-is-more aesthetic, the Trump Taj Mahal hotel has golden elevators, crystal chandeliers, and rooms with sweeping views of the sea. Where to StayĪ parade of hotels and casinos lines the Boardwalk, offering rooms to suit any taste, from kitschy to luxurious. Across from the Trump Taj Mahal hotel, you’ll find Steel Pier, an amusement park that juts out into the Atlantic. In addition to the hotels, there are souvenir stores, restaurants, and kid-friendly attractions galore. As you make a tour of the casinos, be sure to stop for some saltwater taffy, Atlantic City's classic candy. On the BoardwalkĪ stroll along this iconic wooden sidewalk is a must.

* 1976: After years of decline, New Jersey voters legalize gambling, leading to a glut of new casinos and hotels-the Tropicana, Trump Taj Mahal, and, later, the Borgata-and an Atlantic City resurgence. On a more wholesome front, the Miss America pageant is born. Atlantic City develops a carnivalesque atmosphere and becomes a capital of illicit thrills. * 1920s: Prohibition ushers in a boom era of speakeasies, backroom gambling, and organized crime. It will eventually become one of the most famous walkways in the country. * 1870: A boardwalk is installed to help keep sand out of hotel lobbies. Developers can’t resist the city’s waterfront location and nearness to Manhattan. 1853: Atlantic City’s first commercial hotel, the Belloe House, opens.

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