Fine Dining and Nightlife amid Chic 1940s-Style Decor at Four-Star Atlantic City Hotel

Purple neon lights glow onto a slender 20-story tower topped by a violet-colored sign displaying “the Chelsea” in cursive lettering. This is the centerpiece Luxe tower of The Chelsea, a four-star hotel that looks like it was plucked from a film-noir classic and placed along the ocean, a short walk from Atlantic City’s iconic boardwalk. Inside, retro-chic decor—such as crystal chandeliers in the ballroom and abstract lamps elsewhere—fits right in with the city’s glamorous past. Fodor’s writes, “this boutique hotel has a convincingly swank vibe that could double as a set location for the TV hit Mad Men.”

Luxe ocean-view king rooms embody the hotel's signature style with custom linens, minibars, and spectacular ocean views. You can also unwind at Sea Spa, which has a co-ed jacuzzi, a sauna, and a steam room.

Named after the hotel’s first owners, the onsite restaurant Teplitzky’s serves classic American diner fare and cocktails to guests seated on vintage barstools. Entrees range from handmade gnocchi to smoked short ribs. It’s also a swanky spot to enjoy breakfast in the morning or sample a nostalgia-inducing dessert, such as a warm deep-dish cookie or a root-beer float.

Atlantic City, New Jersey: Casinos and Carnival Rides Lining Historical Beachside Boardwalk

No trip to Atlantic City is complete without a stroll along its signature boardwalk, which stretches for 6 miles along New Jersey's eastern coast. Originally built in 1870 to keep sand out of hotel lobbies, the boardwalk grew in popularity as a place where you could drink and gamble during Prohibition without much trouble from the police, as depicted in HBO's Boardwalk Empire. The boardwalk is still popular for its casinos, but it's family-friendly, too; visitors are just as inclined to sit at the beach or stop at one of the many carnival rides.

On the boardwalk, it's worth it to check out the Absecon Lighthouse, which is more than 150 years old. It's possible to climb its 228 steps to the top, which features sweeping views of the city skyline and the sea. Down at the base, you'll find a replica of the original light keeper's lonely cloister and the collection of sock puppets he created to keep him company.

Proving further that Atlantic City isn't all nightclubs, boardwalk, and casinos is Gardner's Basin, a maritime village along the bay. Here, a community of artisans uses seashells and driftwood to hand-make items such as wind chimes and picture frames. However, the Basin's biggest claim to fame is the 25,000-gallon Atlantic City Aquarium swimming with turtles and rays.

Atlantic City was damaged minimally during Hurricane Sandy. The city and its casinos are ready for business and anticipating a successful 2013 season. Read more in this press release from the Atlantic City Alliance. The Alliance notes that the Boardwalk is “still intact and as beautiful as ever.”

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