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Driving south on the Garden State Parkway towards Cape May, we decided that it would be nice to come off the main road for a lunch break. I checked the map and spotted a likely-sounding spot, Smithville Historic Towne. That “e” on the end of Towne should have alerted us however. Smithville proved to be a very artificial sort of town, with a number of old buildings brought together from around the state and restored for the sole purpose of attracting shoppers. The effect is much more shopping mall than town, with the eighteenth century Smithville Inn at its heart the only building that genuinely belongs in this spot.
We’ve been to, and enjoyed, many restored historic towns and villages in the US in the past, such as Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, Plimouth Plantation in Massachusetts etc. But this was a very different experience, with no attempt made to educate about the history of the buildings – their only purpose was to attract shoppers. Everything was very twee and although I’m sure there were some nice things to be had, the overall effect was to make us want to do anything but shop. We were further put off when Chris went to the gents’ and saw some of the most objectionably racist graffiti either of us has come across for years.
On the positive side, parking was free and we did find some lunch, in the somewhat cavernous Fred & Ethel's Lantern Light Tavern. My crabmeat quesadilla and Chris’s turkey Rueben were tasty enough and a reasonable price ($26 for both and two orange juices). But after we’d eaten we didn’t hang around but instead set off in search of a more genuine New Jersey shore experience.
If you’re tempted to visit despite my comments, do look at their website and see if you still think it looks worth a trip. And stay out of the gents’ if you don’t want to be offended.
And if you must go, leave the Parkway at junction 44 (but note that this is exit only southbound, entrance only northbound)
If you're looking for historic buildings check out the more genuine experiences in Cape May or the pretty restoration at Cold Spring Village just to its north (see my Cape May page for details)
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The primary tourist traps are at the Jeresey 'Shore' . The casinos are money traps that appeal to your visual senses with their bold, brash decors and architectural schemes, as well as the addictive thrill of taking financial risks with a chance to "win".
Atlantic City is the Jersey shore's "Little Girl with the little curl"...where she is good she is very, very good...and where she is bad she is horrid!".
Please note....Atlantic City is going through a "renaissance" and is trying really hard to clean up it's act. Many neighborhoods have gone through dramatic improvements.
The problem lies in the fact that where you have that much gaming and gambling...there are going to be certain criminal activities close by.
The Atlantic City beaches at one time were one of the reasons why people would go there in the summer months to frolic in the surf and sand. Due to the potential financial losses and property damages that would occur to the many beachfront casinos during hurricanes, tropical storms and high tided Nor'easter' storms, the beaches are now a lot of man made dunes that are there to protect the multi-million dollar edifices, and are no longer the wide open, giant oceanfront sandboxes they once were.
For adult travellers, perhaps this alluring city has it's attractiveness.
Family travellers would do much better in many of the coastal communities to the south of Atlantic city. Go to Ocean City for a much more enjoyable family experience. The beach goers at Ocean City are even nicer and friendlier, since not too many of them just lost a lot of money in a casino.
Go see the Absecon lighthouse... head south along the coast for a few miles into Margate and walk through a giant elephant (Lucy).
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 Seaside, in all its Tacky
Glory by sherrillbland
Free beach access on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Want a real boardwalk experience without the Seaside effect? Visit Wildwood and walk along the boardwalk there. Leave a Comment
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 Parking at Giants Stadium by b1bob
Go with a group in a bus. It cost $20 per busload, but that works out to 40 cents a person assuming a full bus. Leave a Comment
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 by richiecdiscLeave a Comment
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DO NOT VISIT ATLANTIC CITY unless you are a die-hard gambler. It is a putrid place for non-gamblers. Leave a Comment
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Seaside Heights, which is 'down the shore.' I have been there once, with my cousin who lives a few towns away and I thought it was pretty great. If you have grown up with places like Salisbury Beach, MA or Hampton Beach, NH, then Seaside will blow you away, but as my cousin told me it is nearly impossible to get anywhere near the beach in the summer. If you must go, go in May like I did, before the crowds hit. Leave a Comment
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Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. It's pretty much like all the Ripley's Museums across America..but still pretty cool. Leave a Comment
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Food is grossly overpriced in the casinos. My suggestion is to buy outside and take it in with you. Save all your money to deposit into the slot machines. Leave a Comment
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I think Atlantic City is one big tourist trap. If you're interested in beaches, there are many other beaches that are better and SAFER. Same with boardwalks. If you like to gamble, then don't leave the casinos. It's not worth it.
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