Things to Do in Atlantic City

Assateague Island sits along the eastern coast near the spot where Maryland and Virginia begin to touch. The National Park Service safeguards the 37-mile island's varied ecosystem, in which wild horses brought there by 17th-century colonists still trot freely near the salt marsh. In 2009, a trio of college pals made it their mission to introduce nature enthusiasts to this dynamic wilderness. After Tom Simon, Neil Nimrichter, and Dale Barber left The Ohio State University with degrees in Environmental Science and Adventure Recreation, the friends were drawn to Assateague's complexity and coastal beauty as a spot to begin their careers. Today, their company, SuperFun Eco Tours, leads customers on various kayaking explorations of the island's wonders, quenching theirs and their customers’ thirst for adventure by exploring the areas of the island accessible only by boat or human catapult.

Comprised of beersmiths at locally-owned, nationally-distributed breweries such as 16 Mile Brewing, Dogfish Head, and Iron Hill Brewery, the Delaware Brewers Guild forms a single, sudsy hub for beer connoisseurs in the First State. In 2012, the guild has organized the first-ever Brews by the Bay festival, an afternoon of music, food, and craft beers on the brink of Delaware Bay. Besides planning frosty, foamy festivals and hilarious pranks like filling fire hydrants with wort, the guild works to promote and protect the interests of local brewers big and small.

The air over New Jersey Motorsports Park pulses with the roar of engines, a siren's call to professional and amateur racers and the crowds that cheer them on. From spring through late fall, the track’s major events entice fans young and old and range from open-wheel racing to karting. With little to no experience, amateur drivers can arrive and drive with the track's F1 karting program, which sends similarly skilled drivers careening around the bends of a 1.1-mile track that features six different configurations and 11 prime spots to throw a well-aimed koopa shell at the competition.

The track's educational program molds amateurs into masters by giving them access to world-class instructors with years of experience driving with their feet. Between lessons or races, drivers can fuel up at an onsite snack bar, or take the postrace edge off at the pub.

Ayers Creek softly ripples by the idyllic location where Steven and Suzy Taylor run their kayak and canoe center. Despite being situated near Ocean City, the watery spot is quiet except for the occasional stirring of a duck, heron, or standup paddleboard. Steven has been a neighbor to the animals in this stretch of coastal Maryland since childhood, and the couple now operates their business from their own bankside property. Both Suzy and Steven spent decades mastering the waters on their own before they began giving tours of the salt marshes and wetlands. Steven, an environmental consultant, often narrates on these tours, reliving his boyhood awe for visitors as groups encounter deer and fly-by cameos by bald eagles. Committed to preservation, the Taylors sprinkle guided adventures with educational factoids about the area's diverse ecology as paddlers conquer the headwaters.

In addition to the physical aspects of the art form, yoga, for some, can take on a deeper meaning than a traditional workout involving weights and treadmills and frozen turkeys. For the instructors at Rehoboth Beach Power Yoga, the ancient discipline has come to mean several things. It’s a way to empower the self, it’s a way to watch others grow, and it’s a way to thoroughly enjoy the journey of life. The instructors' omnipresent enthusiasm for movement infuses itself into each session of yoga at their studio, promoting a positive atmosphere.

Classes take place in a heated room to warm the joints, muscles, and breakfast pastries. Beginner classes acquaint new practitioners to basic postures in a pressure-free setting. Open-level courses—such as the therapeutic slow flow or cardio-boosting Vinyasa—can challenge students after they have mastered the basics.