My kid’s futsal team has to go every year to a tournament there at the convention center and I hate it. There is no where in the US I’d rather be less than Atlantic City. The crime, the drugs, the prostitutes, the trash, the sex stores, etc. it’s awful.

I highly recommend staying at one of other beach towns 5 miles away. I would beg your family members. It is pathetic what NJ has allowed AC to become. There is zero for your kids to do there. Every hotel, every restaurant, every street is disgusting.

I’m just warning you. Do a search here for AC. Godspeed.

OP here. Thank you all very much! This is all very, very useful.

As I said, we’ll by there for a family event and I didn’t have a say in the accommodations or timing. And I’m happy to be there for the family and participate in their events as planned. My kids are still young enough that there’s no way we can be that close to the ocean and not be on the sand so I appreciate the advice about the beaches. We will have at least one day on the beach and I’ll research the ones recommended.

Brigantine is just north of AC. Much more family friendly.

https://brigantinebeachguide.com/beach-tags/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:13:44 again, I figured honesty with details is best - it’s so bad a friend came out of the water because of used tampon and two pads floating near her - and we saw things like this more than one time not to mention the odor in certain areas can be awful, etc...

The pier however is great!

OP here. I really appreciate the honesty. We definitely want to go A beach. Can you suggest any within an hour or so that we could drive to? I think there’s a plan in the larger group to do some boating so that may scratch the swimming itch.

Go just north to brigantine. Have you been to Atlantic City? It’s a total slum just off the boardwalk. Like inner city heroin addicts on the sidewalks. It’s really really bad. Do you know the area around union station? It’s like that. What I’d suggest is stay at a nice hotel and don’t leave. They have great pools. Borgata, resorts, hard rock.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:13:44 again, I figured honesty with details is best - it’s so bad a friend came out of the water because of used tampon and two pads floating near her - and we saw things like this more than one time not to mention the odor in certain areas can be awful, etc...

The pier however is great!

OP here. I really appreciate the honesty. We definitely want to go A beach. Can you suggest any within an hour or so that we could drive to? I think there’s a plan in the larger group to do some boating so that may scratch the swimming itch.

Atlantic City is on Absecon Island. Ventnor, Margate, and Longport are neighboring towns on the same island (they're basically suburbs) and are within 10 minutes drive from the AC boardwalk. They have nicer beaches, are family friendly, and have a higher class crowd than AC. Just go to one of them. Be aware, though, that beach tags are required. They're not real expensive but for a family can run you in the neighborhood of 50 bucks for a weekend, depending on the kids' ages.

This. This is a great response with the neighboring beaches and the beach tags heads up.

Anonymous wrote:Oh don't be so scared off. I like Atlantic City and it's fine for the kids. Agree that swimming at beach is kind of gross. Basically you hang at your hotel's pools, some hotels have arcades, walk on the boardwalk and get candy, etc. Stay in nice hotel if you can, it can be a little boring but I think there are nearby beaches like Margate that you can drive to and that are nicer if you have a lot of free time.

Pp here. Exactly, don’t be afraid just be aware of your surroundings. Some people go on vacation strolling boardwalks with unzipped purses and wallets in their hands… this isn’t that kinda place 🤣

Oh don't be so scared off. I like Atlantic City and it's fine for the kids. Agree that swimming at beach is kind of gross. Basically you hang at your hotel's pools, some hotels have arcades, walk on the boardwalk and get candy, etc. Stay in nice hotel if you can, it can be a little boring but I think there are nearby beaches like Margate that you can drive to and that are nicer if you have a lot of free time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:13:44 again, I figured honesty with details is best - it’s so bad a friend came out of the water because of used tampon and two pads floating near her - and we saw things like this more than one time not to mention the odor in certain areas can be awful, etc...

The pier however is great!

OP here. I really appreciate the honesty. We definitely want to go A beach. Can you suggest any within an hour or so that we could drive to? I think there’s a plan in the larger group to do some boating so that may scratch the swimming itch.

PP here. In full disclosure things change quickly in AC. On the first night there was a violent homicide outside the timeshare we stayed at feet from the boardwalk. Be aware and stay alert. We’re from the city and it’s not that we weren’t prepared but just know what you are getting into. Don’t make yourselves targets. We weren’t deterred, and neither was the crowd still mingling about but if you aren’t used to city settings it could be shocking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:13:44 again, I figured honesty with details is best - it’s so bad a friend came out of the water because of used tampon and two pads floating near her - and we saw things like this more than one time not to mention the odor in certain areas can be awful, etc...

The pier however is great!

OP here. I really appreciate the honesty. We definitely want to go A beach. Can you suggest any within an hour or so that we could drive to? I think there’s a plan in the larger group to do some boating so that may scratch the swimming itch.

Atlantic City is on Absecon Island. Ventnor, Margate, and Longport are neighboring towns on the same island (they're basically suburbs) and are within 10 minutes drive from the AC boardwalk. They have nicer beaches, are family friendly, and have a higher class crowd than AC. Just go to one of them. Be aware, though, that beach tags are required. They're not real expensive but for a family can run you in the neighborhood of 50 bucks for a weekend, depending on the kids' ages.

Anonymous wrote:13:44 again, I figured honesty with details is best - it’s so bad a friend came out of the water because of used tampon and two pads floating near her - and we saw things like this more than one time not to mention the odor in certain areas can be awful, etc...

The pier however is great!

OP here. I really appreciate the honesty. We definitely want to go A beach. Can you suggest any within an hour or so that we could drive to? I think there’s a plan in the larger group to do some boating so that may scratch the swimming itch.

13:44 again, I figured honesty with details is best - it’s so bad a friend came out of the water because of used tampon and two pads floating near her - and we saw things like this more than one time not to mention the odor in certain areas can be awful, etc...

The pier however is great!

Ummm I don’t know how to say this but you don’t want to actually go on the beach. Stay on the boardwalk. The sand and shoreline can be filthy, syringes/needles, trash, etc… I would venture to another area if you desire beach visits. We stick to the boardwalk.

Steel Pier

I'm sorry OP.

We will be at a family event in Atlantic City later this summer. We have 3 elementary aged kids and about 2 free days. We plan on going to the beach, obviously, but is there anything else we should plan on doing or anything really fun for kids? How easy/hard is using the Jitney bus with kids? Any advice on what beach areas are better than others? TIA