Wyndham - Atlantic City

[Cely218]

Hi! I have a quick trip planned to Wyndham Atlantic City. I am hoping some of you Tuggers have experience with Atlantic City and Philadelphia. I have limited time, and was planning to take the train over to Philly on Sunday for a 1 day visit. I wanted to see Liberty Bell, etc.

I am now finding out the one day I have planned and scheduled for Philly is when the Pope will be there. I was online and some of the trains are saying you have to get in on a lottery to ride.

I found the AC train seems to be ok, but the stop to get on another train needs reservations-advanced purchase, that will take me close to Liberty Bell and Old Town. Checking the Pope's schedule it appears he will be at Independence Hall after saying mass. Basically I am thinking this is not a good day for me to visit Philly. I am not in to the very large crowds, etc.

So I guess I need to find something to do in AC. I will not have a car and will rely on public transportation or walking. I don't have the funds to stay in casino's all day. I wish I had done my homework before booking this, and I would not have done this date. But the airfare was a good deal. So cancellation and reschedule is not really an option.

Oh just found out, that it appears Pope will be at Independence Hall on Saturday, not Sunday. Here is his schedule for Sunday:

sunday, September 27 (philadelphia)
9:15 a.m. Meeting with bishops at St. Martin's Chapel, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary

11:00 a.m. Visit to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility

4:00 p.m. Mass for the conclusion of the World Meeting of Families, Benjamin Franklin Parkway
7:00 p.m. Visit with organizers, volunteers and benefactors of the World Meeting of Families, Atlantic Aviation
8:00 p.m. Departure for Rome


So would it be safe to visit Independence Hall on Sunday? Would most of the mass of people go where the Pope is?

Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Carol L

 

[riperoo]

Hi, I am from the suburbs of Philly and have stayed at the Skyline several times, DO NOT go to philly when the Pope is there, it will be absolute chaos. Just scratch it off your list, there are trains to NY which may be an option, I was just there a few weeks ago and was surprised how many folks did that for a day trip. I would be concerned that the trains anywhere on that corridor might be a problem, but heading north would definitely be the way to go. As far as things to do in AC, they have a great outlet mall for shopping, you can easily burn a day there, they now have a bass pro shop if that is in your wheel house, I did a week and didn't hit the casino's once, the board walk at AC is not the best, kinda crappy and sleazy still although they are trying real hard to clean it up and it is going in the right direction, if you want to travel to a great board walk, head south to Ocean city, best board walk around in my opinion. Be warned, OC is a dry town, so you cant even get a beer with lunch, most places are BYOB though, so grab a bottle of wine before heading to town. In AC the aquarium is a nice cheap few hours, and the have little shacks over in that area for local crafts and stuff, also a nice little pier over there with an open bar and food trucks, really cool. The Beaches in AC are great and free, a little crowded though, if you want a more laid back beach, jump over the bridge to Brigantine, street park and hit he beach there, they will hit you up for a beach pass which you can buy from the roaming sellers, maybe you get lucky and they don't come across you that day and the beach would be free. There really is a lot of Non gambling things to do. Stay close to the boardwalk at night, if you head inland it can get a little creepy at night, there is still a fair amount of riff raff in AC, they are working to clean the whole town up, and making great progress, but there was a lot to do, an it isn't finished yet. Also, FOOD! lots of great places to eat, from casual to 5 star. You may have to venture into the casinos to find some of the more main line places, but all in all, not bad. There is a land shark bar and Margaritaville right by the whyndham now, landshark is really nice, right on the beach. And make a point of grabbing a lunch at the white house sub shop, pretty sure it is illegal to go to AC and not stop there.

 

[vacationhopeful]

NO .... the papal mass (the Pope) is visiting is within a mile (or 1/5 miles) of Independence Hall on Sunday. That is within spitting distance of the Liberty Bell (it used to be in Independence Hall .. but the "new" display is one where it can be seen at night without getting into the building).

As for the Parkway ... it is that long BLVD at an angle from City Hall to the Art Museum (the Rocky Steps) with a couple of fountains which they usually cover over to protect them.

As for the 1 million PLUS Mass guests .... HA. The train station is at 30th Street which is a block over and across the river from the ART MUSEUM ... you would be walking with or against the Pope-ettes (and about 2 miles).

Stay in AC .... see if a local winery will pick up for a wine tasting. In town, up a 1/2 miles up the street in a complex of outlet stores ... all new but either walkable of take the Jitney bus. Also, climb the Steps of the lighthouse (jitney or walk to --- did walk once, took Jitney back). Jitney also goes over to the bay side casinos ... grab a buffet meal over there ... pretty sunset views.

 

[MaryBella7]

Cape May Zoo is really nice, and free. I know a bus can get you from AC to Cape May, but I am not sure about the particulars of getting to the zoo itself. https://www.cmczoo.com/parks.php You can also ride the Cape May- Lewes Ferry to Delaware to check that out or just take one of their themed cruises http://www.capemaylewesferry.com/

All along the southern Jersey shore, you can visit different beach towns with different "flavors". You can see Lucy the elephant at Margate.

The Ocean City Boardwalk is lovely, and there are often craft shows, fairs, and other events going on there. http://www.oceancityvacation.com/

The Wildwood boardwalk is famous for its trams and there are lots of "old-school" hotels there. Also, the beaches there are free. There is a classic car show and the Irish Fall Festival going on that weekend. http://www.wildwoodsnj.com/calendar.cfm?Mode=Grid&CalMonth=9&CalYear=2015

If you are really looking for history, I agree with the others - go to NYC.

Cape May is beautiful, and you can check out the architecture or the antiques there.

I am sure there are buses that can take you along the shore towns. I haven't gone to the beaches north of AC enough to give you any idea of what you might find there, but I know that Jenkinson's in Point Pleasant has some things to see, and Seaside Heights is where the Jersey Shore show was filmed and has a decent boardwalk.

 

[Cely218]

Thanks for the reply

Thanks everyone. I will avoid Philly.

 

[classiclincoln]

I live about 40 minutes inland from AC and agree with everything said about staying away from Philly.

For what it's worth, you might want to look at renting a car to do some of the other things (OC, Cape May, etc.). We don't like Wildwood; the free beaches (AC & Wildwood) attract all the low lifes. Ocean City, Sea Isle, Stathmere, Avalon are all fee beaches and limits the riff raff. We were at a car show a few years ago in Wildwood and some low life sat on my car. Then, later, one of her crew ran across the hood of it and took off running down the boardwalk.

One thing that might be nice is to drive from AC to Cape May using Rte 9 (ocean drive). It will take forever, but you'll go through all the neat small ocean front communities I mentioned above.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_Drive_(New_Jersey)

 

[ibcnu]

There are no trains to NYC from Atlantic City! You can easily take a bus into New York City.

Check the schedule at www.njtransit.com

Search: from Atlantic City to Port Authority New York

You can easily be in NYC in 2 1/2 hours from leaving Atlantic City.

I'd prefer New York over Philly any day. We travel into NYC all the time using NJ Transit buses.

Port Authority New York is only a block from Times Square for shopping or the theater - and there are plenty of subway lines available if you want to venture uptown near Central Park or downtown towards Canal Street or the Freedom Tower area.