Atlantic City

America’s Playground, Atlantic City, has a long and rich history and is a story of epic grandeur followed by urban blight and then by an amazing rebirth. In its heyday during the 1930s and 1940s, Atlantic City and its grand hotels and famed boardwalk made it the place for the rich, famous and notorious to be and to be seen. But then the city fell out of favor with tourists and over the next couple of decades slowly declined. Many saw the 1964 Democratic Presidential Convention in the city as its last hurrah. Most of the city’s grand hotels were torn down, unemployment rates skyrocketed and urban blight set in. But as everyone knows, that wasn’t the end of the story for Atlantic City and its rebirth began with the 1977 passage of legislation legalizing gambling there. In the decades since, legalized gambling combined with a number of revitalization projects have restored the city’s preeminence as one of America’s favorite destinations as well as a great place to call home.

No longer a playground just for adults, the city is now a year-round family entertainment center. Attractions include some of the country’s top casinos including Harrah’s, Golden Nugget and Caesars. Casinos and other entertainment venues feature top national entertainment acts from comedy to jazz to rock to theater. Atlantic City’s famed boardwalk is an attraction to be enjoyed by the entire family and leads to a variety of shops, amusements and restaurants along its way. The Steel Pier Amusement Park is another top family favorite and attractions like Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum are always a favorite of the kids. For those hungry for great food in addition to great entertainment, top chefs like Wolfgang Puck, Michael Mina and Bobby Flay have made Atlantic City one of the country’s hottest culinary destinations as well. And for the shopaholic of the family, the city is home to incredibly diverse shopping opportunities and bargains.

With just about 18 percent of homes in Atlantic City being single-family detached, the city is home to many high-rise oceanfront condo communities. One of the highest appreciation rates in the country – 53 percent in a 10-year period – make the city a favorite among investors for vacation rentals. And the city’s median home price of around $180K is another reason properties in the city are so popular.