By Danielle Davies
It isn’t every day there’s an epic country music festival on the beaches of America’s playground, so when TidalWave — an unforgettable three-day experience featuring artists like Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean and Brooks & Dunn — comes to town, you’ve got to make the most of it. Here are five ways to round out your Atlantic City weekend.
1. Take a ride.
When in Rome, eat your pasta. When in Atlantic City, be sure to swing by Steel Pier. Founded in 1898, the Pier has evolved from an entertainment venue — think diving horses and live entertainment — to one of the most fun adventure and amusement destinations around. Take a ride on The Wheel (a giant Ferris wheel), rocket to 225 feet on The Slingshot, or indulge in a helicopter ride over the city. It’ll make for an unforgettable weekend. Steel Pier is located at 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City. Visit SteelPier.com for more details.
2. See the sights.
There are landmarks, and then there are beloved elephant-shaped landmarks. Before the concert action starts, be sure to visit Lucy the Elephant, one of the most unique attractions in the country. A U.S. National Historic Landmark and The World’s Greatest Elephant, this Margate pachyderm was built in 1881 and continues to charm thousands of people a year. Lucy is located at 9200 Atlantic Ave., Margate. See LucytheElephant.org.
3. Hit the water.
Sure, you could technically hit the water right from your spot on the beach, but at AC Cruises, you get a fun way to round out your weekend with a variety of cruises, without ever having to buy a boat — you’re welcome. From the dolphin cruise and morning skyline cruise, to our favorite — the happy hour cruise — each boat ride offers a chill ride through Atlantic City’s waterways. AC Cruises is located at Historic Gardner’s Basin at 800 N. New Hampshire Ave., Atlantic City. Visit AtlanticCityCruises.com for more information.
4. Roll the dice.
Gambling might be available outside of Atlantic City these days, but as one of the original places to roll the dice, we highly recommend spending some time on the gaming floor of Resorts, the first casino hotel in Atlantic City. From sports betting and electronic table games to slot and table games, Resorts offers 80,000 square feet of gaming space and remains a fan favorite. Resorts is located at 1133 Boardwalk, Atlantic City. See ResortsAC.com.
5. Strut your stuff.
There’s little doubt you’ll spend plenty of time dancing on the beach this weekend, but for a distinctly different vibe, get to HQ2 Nightclub at Ocean Casino Resort for a dance party like no other. Dust off the sand (HQ2 has an upscale fashionable dress code with limitations on things like flip-flops and hats) and get to this two-level dance club on Friday or Saturday night for sounds from top-notch DJs. Ocean Casino Resort is located at 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City. Visit TheOceanAC.com.
Danielle’s been a writer and storyteller for the past fifteen years—her work has appeared everywhere from Philadelphia Style Magazine and The Press of Atlantic City to Cape May Magazine and The WC Press in West Chester. Nationally, her short stories have been published in Typehouse Magazine and Scary Mommy. She lives in South Jersey with her husband and two children.
