Atlantic City

Atlantic City is enjoying a resurgence and a renewal (even though a drive down its streets seems like a step back in time as you pass the "Monopoly" streets of Ventnor Ave, Pacific, Atlantic, Boardwalk, etc).

I flew into Philadelphia, which is just a one-hour drive from Atlantic City. The city is also within two hours of New York City and three hours of the Washington, D.C. area.

In the past few years, many of the major casinos have undergone renovations and expansions, including not only additional rooms and gaming opportunities, but also upscale dining and shopping opportunities.

The city is marketing much more than the gaming, including golf, the boardwalk, spas and first class shows.

I attended a convention at the Trump Taj Mahal located on the Boardwalk. The Taj features 1,250 rooms, but is building an additional tower that will have an additional 800 rooms. The Taj Mahal also features 10 restaurants, five bars/nightclubs and more than 400 slot machines and 200 gaming tables. It has an arena and showroom and more than 150,000 square feet of meeting space.

The boardwalk itself is undergoing a $100 million facelift to its facade.

Other areas of note are The Walk - a walking district featuring more than 100 stores, including high-profile outlets and the Pier Shops at Caesar's, featuring high-end shops, dining and entertainment.