Nowhere is Lady Luck courted with as much fun-fare as in casino-filled Atlantic City! The gambling capital of the east coast, Atlantic City boasts of a zillion casinos, each vying with the other to be the most stupendous architectural showpiece ever built. If you are interested in the bright city lights and want to try your luck at the roulette wheel and slot machines, pack your bags for Atlantic City. And if you have ever played the American version of Monopoly, your trip to Atlantic City will be doubly enjoyable. Curious to know why well, the popular board game is based on Atlantic City!! So, get set to discover the, oh so familiar names in reality as you cruise along the city.

Founded in 1854, Atlantic City has many firsts to its credit -- the world's first Big Wheel and colour postcards, the country's first elevated wooden walkway, the Boardwalk , and the First Miss America Beauty pageant. In the early years, Atlantic City was a popular rail terminal resort with typical amusement piers filled with rides and games. The city's fortunes changed during the Prohibition when it became a major center for rum smuggling and illegal gambling. Thanks to all these activities and competition from other resort towns, the city went into a decline. In 1976, city authorities decided to legalise gambling. Since then, investors have poured in money into Atlantic City and today, the city is once again bustling.

The casino hotels built on a grandiose scale and based on themes varied as the Taj Mahal and Mardi gras are truly a sight to see. All casinos are open 24 hours and you have to be above 21 years to be allowed in.

The Boardwalk with some original Victorian buildings are still surviving and the Central Pier with its original 1884 look and its rides and games offer a glimpse into the past. For a more detailed look at the city's history, a visit to the Atlantic City Historical Museum is a must.

Atlantic City is a dream come true for fast food lovers -- there are many fast food joints lining the streets. However, this is not to say that fine dining is impossible in this city. There are several good restaurants, in the casinos and outside of them, which serves excellent seafood and international cuisine.

The casinos with their flashy lights, decadent ambience and buzzing slot machines and spinning roulette wheels are entertainment enough in this city. For those bored with gambling, the Boardwalk amusement piers have something to offer. Most casinos offer celebrity performers but this is an expensive way of being entertained as ticket costs are high. If you can tear yourself away from the clinking of the slot machines or the roulette table you may be able to pick up a souvenir or two from the shops..

Head for the quiet beaches of Ventor or Margate (3 miles south) if you are looking for calm and quiet after a hectic day of gambling, Margate boasts of Lucy, a 65 ft elephant built in wood and tin during the Victorian era. Or you could visit Cape May, a Natural history Landmark town with over six hundred Victorian buildings.

The Atlantic City International Airport, 13 miles from downtown is the major airport served by many airlines. The Bader Field Airport in town has flights connecting to nearby cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburg and Baltimore.

If you are planning on driving to Atlantic City, the Garden State Parkway and the U.S. 9 lead here The roads are good and well marked. There are many bus services to choose from -- Greyhound, New Jersey Transit or casino-sponsored buses, which offer many free meals and discount coupons. Both Amtrak and New Jersey Transit have rail services to Atlantic City.

Once you are in the city, it is easy to walk around town but care has to be taken to stay in the tourist quarter and not wander off into lonely avenues. Cycling is another option and there are many bike-rental services. In summer, cycling is permitted only in the early hours before 10 am.

Like most of the east coast, summers are warm. Temperatures are highest in the months of July and August. Winters are cold. Summer is the peak season here when hordes of holidaymakers visit the city. Winters are quieter. But any time is gambling time!

Accommodation is expensive and difficult to get especially during weekends and in summer. The casino-hotels are the most expensive with a premium on the beachfront rooms. Motels behind the Boardwalk are cheaper.
Don’t forget to bring plenty of bucks to do justice to the slot machines!