This past weekend we headed to Atlantic City. The last time we were there was about 5 years ago for our first date anniversary. 5 years later and quite possibly the last time we go in the fall/winter. I’m sure it is quite charming in the summer with the beach and boardwalk. But like the first trip, it was cold and one day rainy.

Arrival

• Thank god it wasn’t too cold. We had to wait 30 minutes for a cab since it seems only 5 cabs service the airport. We ended up having the rental car place call a cab company for us.
• They make you leave the airport and walk through a rotating security door that shuts you in, then lets you out. Brad got stuck, so did the lady in the wheel chair… but for different reasons.

Hotel – Bally’s Park Place

• We at first got put into a room in an older tower… the room was equivalent to Motel 6. Actually, Motel 6 is probably a little more up to date.
• We moved to a different tower and it was renovated and a lot nicer for the second night.
• It was conveniently located, and we can’t complain since one of the nights was free.

The People

• Don’t get me started… mainly obnoxious. Quite unattractive.
• From the couple at a restaurant beside us who were going to phone their daughter because she was 1 minute late to the guy in the plane that was yawning quite loudly.
• Definitely a different class of visitors to AC vs. Vegas.

Gambling

• I lost $20 dollars.

Shopping

• The day we were to go shopping was the day it rained.
• We first hit the indoor Pier at Caesars. A nice mall, 3 floors with some good to crappy stores. It is a strange mix, Gucci on one end and on the opposite end Bijou Terner (Accessories for $10 or less).
• The water show is kind of neat, it is at the far end of the pier (slideshow below).
• The picture above is Brad sitting on the restaurant level, they have sand and Muskoka chairs looking out into the Atlantic. Nice touch. Nicer if it was sunny.
• We went to the outdoor Outlet shops… if it was raining it would have been more pleasant. As a result I had to buy a cheap and crappy umbrella from the Gap Generations store, I left it for the maid.

Eating

• The Tropicana is a nice hotel (unlike Vegas) but the buffet is not. Luckily we had enough comp so that we didn’t have to pay. Even more lucky was that I only felt like salad and I they had fresh bacon bits (even though they belonged to the baked potato section complete with melted Cheez Whiz).

izakaya at the Borgata

• Borgata is a Steve Wynn creation that is new, classy and pretty. So along with that comes some great restaurants. We selected izakaya. izakaya is a Japanese restaurant that is smaller portioned tapas style eats. We told the waitress to select for us, and we went along with it.
• First off, the portions were a lot bigger than we expected for most dishes.
• All the food was really great but the highlights were definitely the Crispy Rock Shrimp and the Grilled King Crab.
• Robatayaki is a special grill that the King Crab, Scallop and Kobe Steak skewers were done on.

Spa Toccare at Borgata

• As a wedding gift from Nana, Brad and I went to the spa for hot stone massages.
• Beautiful spa, we used the gym first, then the steam and hot baths.
• The massages were great and Brad definitely felt relaxed after.
• The facility is quite beautiful and includes all the amenities including dried mango and their antioxidant powers.

Getting Home

• The flight was easy… but delayed. So we didn’t get back into Toronto until midnight.