Atlantic City Worth the Gamble

Atlantic City serves up some grit with its glam, and it's known as much for its weather-beaten patrons as it is for the gambling fortunes it promises. That doesn't mean, though, that you can't have a whole lot of fun in the city that's "Always Turned On."

Lately, the A.C. has cleaned up its once-gritty image, but things still aren't coming up all roses. The Tropicana is fighting for its life as it reapplies for its license, and recently laid off 900 workers. A lawsuit by the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe against Harrah's has cost $2.8 million, and many of the boardwalk's prominent institutions are feeling pressure from newly legalized slot casinos in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

But Atlantic City isn't dead yet. Travelers from all over the East Coast and beyond stop in for an old-school gaming experience. Here's how to do it.

Getting There (And Back) ...

Atlantic City is famous for offering fun and adventure to anyone within driving distance. It's a driveable three and a half hours from Washington, D.C., two and a half hours from New York City and a mere hour-long hopscotch from Philadelphia. There's also New Jersey Transit service from Philadelphia. Atlantic City International Airport provides service to and from Orlando, Las Vegas, Youngstown and Teterboro, N.J., among other cities.