Posted on
September 16, 2025
in
Trip Ideas
It's time to plan a trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey, once known as "the world's playground" and home to America's first boardwalk. Why now? Since HBO’s highly anticipated new show Boardwalk Empire debuts on September 19 (it's based on the corruption of the city in the 1920s), Atlantic City is creating prohibition-style hotel stays, menus, and other vintage offerings. The prices alone make it worth the trek: Harrah’s Hotel and Casinos is reserving 1,920 rooms for $19.20 a night; around 30 area restaurants are creating 3-part prix fixe menus for $19.20; classic pizza joint Tony Boloney’s will have its staff dressed in handlebar mustaches and suspenders; and famous Formica Brothers Bakery will be serving up a recipe for bread not used since the 20's.
Round out your trip-through-time with tips from IgoUgo members who've gambled through Atlantic City's huge strip of casinos and walked its 4.5-mile seaside boardwalk before. Mellymel1984 describes a drive down the main drag at night as "you see all the casinos lit up. You get so excited like a little kid at a candy store." And ripplefan2 walked us through 2 days there (the good and the bad) in his blow-by-blow journal account called "A Weekend in AC.”
So pull out your spare quarters, and as ripplefan also warns, "wear a watch!" Time may easily slip by. Perhaps all the way back to 1920.
More AC on IgoUgo
Check out views of the boardwalk and other AC sights before you go with our members' Atlantic City photos.
Find the best Atlantic City hotel to get some rest--after you explore the nightlife.
See what things to do in Atlantic City there are other than having a fabulous time in the “1920s.”