By Pat Hanahoe-Dosch
The wide, long boardwalk frames the beach side of almost half of Absecon Island, New Jersey, from the Inlet of Atlantic City (A.C.) to the end of Ventnor City, the two largest of the four cities on the island. Ventnor’s part of the boardwalk is mostly just a pedestrian and bicycle thruway. The three towns on that end of the island, Ventnor, Margate, and Longport, have always preferred to be mostly residential with some small businesses, like restaurants or shops. However, Atlantic City and its boardwalk have always relied on tourism as its primary industry, selling itself as “America’s Playground,” offering beautiful beaches and great family style entertainment. Unfortunately, in the past thirty years or so, it has become mostly about gambling and fancy outlet stores. Now the city is paying for letting the casinos dominate its tourist industry.
The wide, long boardwalk frames the beach side of almost half of Absecon Island, New Jersey, from the Inlet of Atlantic City (A.C.) to the end of Ventnor City, the two largest of the four cities on the island. Ventnor’s part of the boardwalk is mostly just a pedestrian and bicycle thruway. The three towns on that end of the island, Ventnor, Margate, and Longport, have always preferred to be mostly residential with some small businesses, like restaurants or shops. However, Atlantic City and its boardwalk have always relied on tourism as its primary industry, selling itself as “America’s Playground,” offering beautiful beaches and great family style entertainment. Unfortunately, in the past thirty years or so, it has become mostly about gambling and fancy outlet stores. Now the city is paying for letting the casinos dominate its tourist industry.