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Showboat had a 60-lane bowling alley for years, it finally closed due to lack of interest. As for arcades, there are arcades not only on the boardwalk, but the casinos, too (of course not on the casino floor, they are not allowed to do that)
"The North Tower of Tropicana ....the “it” place for families to get their fun on, together. The tower's all-new Family Fun Station offer an arcade filled with fun ..."
"Bally's Atlantic City family activities include an arcade center with skill cranes, Hoop Fever, Wheel Deal and other games where you can win prizes like candy, ..."
There is also the Steel Pier, and here's a more complete list:
List of things for Kids to Do in Atlantic City, NJ
An Evening of Family Magic with Joe Holiday – at 6:30pm nightly at the Comedy Stop (no show wed). A really fun and magical experience for kids and adults, a must see in AC Call 877-386-6922 for tickets. Magic and Meyhem with Joe Holiday.
Story Book Land - Located just 10 Miles west of Atlantic City, very easy to get to. This may be the highlight of your child’s Atlantic City experience. Spend a 1/2 or full day! Theme changes with the season.
IMAX Theatre - Located in the Tropicana Quarter on the second level, 3D kids movies. (open year round)
Absecon Lighthouse Tour – At the point of Atlantic City 228 Steps above the Atlantic Ocean. Cool Gift Shop. (Open all year)
Flyers Skate Zone – Ice Skate indoors all year long. Located next to Bernie Robbins Stadium home of the Atlantic City Surf. (open year round)
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! – Located on the boardwalk at New York ave – Always fun! Check out the New Laser Maze Challenge – The Vault opened in 2011 (Ripley’s is open year round)
Dancing Water & Lights Show – Every hour in the rear of the Pier at caesars the Dancing Water and Lights Show comes alive, really cool for kids of all ages.
Miniature Golf – Located on the boardwalk in front of Boardwalk Hall and Trump Plaza. (seasonal)
Haunted Tales - On the Boardwalk (Between Kentucky & New York ave), 4 D story telling experience and Gift shop. (open year round)
AC Surf Camp – Located on the Raliegh Ave beach in Atlantic City, 1/2 day and multi day camps available starting at $40 per child. (seasonal) More Info!
Atlantic City Ocean Life Aquarium – located in Historic Gardner’s Basin, a fabulous water aquarium that features many hands on activities. (open year round)
Ice Cream Shops - along the boardwalk you’ll find several Ice Cream and Italian Water Ice vendors, always a nice treat for kids.
Children Friendly Atlantic City Restaurants – Rain Forest Cafe at the Trump Plaza and Johnny Rockets at Bally’s Casino and Showboat.
Boardwalk & Casino Arcades – You’ll find a game room or arcade in your hotel or casino or several along the boardwalk in Atlantic City. (open year round)
Ocean City NJ Boardwalk – just 5 miles south of Atlantic City is one of the best shore experiences in the entire state of New Jersey. The OC Boardwalk is a must do! (seasonal)
Steel Pier Amusements – On the boardwalk in front of the Taj Mahal Casino. All of your children’s favorite rides including Ferris Wheel, soft play area and much more. (seasonal)
Dolphin Watching Cruise – Catch Atlantic City Cruises on their daily Dolphin Tour once a day. Located in Historic Gardner’s Basin. (seasonal)
Salt Water Taffy and Candy – The kids will love to see how Salt Water Taffy is made, check out Fralingers or James Salt Water Taffy on the Boardwalk. (open year round)
Central Pier and Speedway – Located on the boardwalk in front of Bally’s Casino. (seasonal) Really fun for kids of all ages.
Quarter at the Tropicana – Inside the Quarter shops is a magic store, store employees are happy to show you some of their favorite magic. Look for times posted for a cool 30 minute magic show as well.
Flounder Fishing – Back bays are calm and safe, take a 1/2 day trip on the High Roller Pontoon boat and catch fish in the calm waters behind AC. (seasonal)
Spend a day at the beach! – AC Beaches are Free, your kids will enjoy the soft white sand and warm ocean water during summer months. (seasonal)
Hotel and Casino Pools – Although many of the hotel pools are small, the casinos pools are always good enough for at least a half day. Some casino pools have many other activities on the deck.
It’s Sugar – an amazing giant candy store at the entrance to the Pier at Caesars on the first floor. Truly a great place for the kid in all of us.
Duality – the Free 3-D Light and Sound Show at Boardwalk Hall every half hour starting at 9:30 pm!
Well, if someone had to be told from a forum there is things to do in AC other than gambling then the State or the AC business developers failed at marketing AC to the public.
Well, if someone had to be told from a forum there is things to do in AC other than gambling then the State or the AC business developers failed at marketing AC to the public.
Okay, whatever, apparently they have work to do on many areas, that much is pretty obvious. But some people post things as if they are facts, i.e. the poster I responded to above claimed as fact "There is nothing for kids or families in AC", If you don't know, that may be a failure of marketing, but don't state it as fact if in fact you simply haven't heard of any and haven't looked up any. Same with the poster claiming the ocean is polluted, apparently ONLY the miles or so of oceanfront in front of AC. He "heard" it from some "locals" so it's a fact that no one swims in AC despite thousands a summer doing just that, as the photo I linked shows.
You're full of crap. I live 10 miles from AC and hundreds of thousands of us swim in the ocean all summer. Why on earth would the ocean just in front of AC be polluted, when a couple miles to the south there are thousands swimming in the ocean in Brigantine, and a mile north tourists are swimming in the ocean in Ventnor? It's not like there are refineries or anything there, so what are you even talking about? What locals? Not us, maybe you talked to some out of state people and thought they were locals, because that story is BS. Take it from a local. The ocean here is not polluted, period. Below is a photo of *gasp* people actually swimming in the ocean in AC:
For more actual evidence and not just "I heard this from some random people so now its fact" opinions, here is a link to the Natural Resources Defense Council, which monitors ocean pollution all over the country Testing The Waters, Prevent Beach Pollution - New Jersey | NRDC. NJ overall is 3rd for cleanest beaches out of 30 states. Of the small areas they found pollutants in, NONE are in Atlantic County but are in north and central jersey.
Ok Chica, i respect facts over urban legends. Thank you for the links.
So maybe it is not the pollution and just the attitude of locals like you keeping the tourists away? IDK, just a thought . . . . .
I don't remember, I googled it. Does the higher number really make my answer invalid though? To me it still makes sense that a town with 125,000 hotel rooms would discount them more than a town with 14,000.
Well you have to remember that Las Vegas is a LOT bigger than Atlantic City. The population of Las Vegas is 600k, and Atlantic City is only 40k.
Then during the Boardwalk Empire days up to the 70s, what was AC then? I know the Philly Mob had a part in the development of what it looks like today. Was AC even a tourist destination back then?
In the days before Air Conditioning, the Shore was a good 10 or 15 degree cooler than inland places like Philadelphia. It was the cooler weather that was Atlantic City's the main attraction, but I'm sure gambling and prostitution didn't hurt either. Once air conditioning was available to the masses, Atlantic City saw it's popularity begin the wane starting in the 1950's, by the 60's Air Conditioning was pretty common and Atlantic City suffered as the result.
Well you have to remember that Las Vegas is a LOT bigger than Atlantic City. The population of Las Vegas is 600k, and Atlantic City is only 40k.
I know that, The OP asked why rooms would be so much cheaper in Vegas than AC, and that was my answer, that they have many more rooms to fill and more likely to discount on weekends.
In the days before Air Conditioning, the Shore was a good 10 or 15 degree cooler than inland places like Philadelphia. It was the cooler weather that was Atlantic City's the main attraction, but I'm sure gambling and prostitution didn't hurt either. Once air conditioning was available to the masses, Atlantic City saw it's popularity begin the wane starting in the 1950's, by the 60's Air Conditioning was pretty common and Atlantic City suffered as the result.
I don't think that is the answer, only because the miles of coastline surrounding AC (Brigantine, Margate, Ocean City, Sea Isle, Wildwood, etc) are all thriving and wealthy places which are packed in summer. If air conditioning slowed the exodus to the shore, the other towns would be having problems too.
The idea that people don't swim in the ocean at AC or the rest of the Jersey shore is hilarious. I live five miles from the ocean, and in summer I'm in that water every chance I get. So are thousands of other people along the Jersey coast.
However, I HAVE heard of people going in the water at AC and coming out to find their belongings stolen. That's attributable to all the druggie and criminal residents you find once you wander inland in AC beyond the casino areas. The city itself is far more polluted by the dregs of humanity than anything you have to worry about in the water!
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He "heard" it from some "locals" so it's a fact that no one swims in AC despite thousands a summer doing just that, as the photo I linked shows.
The ocean here is not polluted, period. Below is a photo of *gasp* people actually swimming in the ocean in AC:
