Getting There

By Plane -- You can fly into Atlantic City International Airport (tel. 609/645-7895), 10 miles from downtown. Atlantic City Airport Taxi (tel. 877/568-8294 or 609/383-1457) can whisk you to your hotel from the terminal for $25; another good option is Yellow Van (tel. 800/224-9945). There are also several car-rental agencies with desks at the airport.

By Car -- Atlantic City is on the southern New Jersey shoreline, 60 miles southeast of Philadelphia and 120 miles south of New York City. From Philadelphia, take I-76 to State Road 42, which connects to the Atlantic City Expressway. From Manhattan, take the Lincoln or Holland tunnels or the George Washington Bridge to the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) south; pick up the Garden State Parkway at Perth Amboy and follow it south to Exit 38, which connects to the Atlantic City Expressway.

By Bus -- A car isn't necessary in Atlantic City, so if you prefer not to drive, bus service is available from Philadelphia and New York (trip time: about 1 1/2 hr. from Philly, 2 hr. from New York) via Greyhound (tel. 800/229-9424) and NJ Transit (tel. 800/772-2222 or 973/762-5100). Buses arrive at the safe and relatively new bus station adjacent to the Convention Center at Atlantic and Michigan avenues, 2 blocks from the Boardwalk. Academy Bus Lines (tel. 800/442-7272 or 800/992-0451) offers direct service from New York's Port Authority to a number of Boardwalk casinos.

Most Atlantic City casinos offer bus packages, which often include such value-added premiums as $20 in coins or free meals, from major northeast cities -- including New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh -- aboard casino-direct charters. They generally cater to day visitors who want to come in to gamble for 12 hours or so without the expense of a hotel room. Call the casinos directly or check your local paper to learn about current offers.

By Train -- NJ Transit's Atlantic City line (tel. 800/772-2222 or 973/762-5100) offers frequent service from Philadelphia (trip time: 1 1/2 hr.). There's a free shuttle bus from the station to the casinos.

Visitor Information

Contact the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority (tel. 888/AC-VISIT or 609/449-7130) and request its free visitor's guide. Their newly redesigned website is easy to navigate and helpful in planning a trip.

The Atlantic City Visitor Welcome Center, right on the Atlantic City Expressway, makes an ideal first stop. You can't miss this state-of-the-art resource center at the city's gateway, open from 9am to 5pm daily and from 9am to 8pm summer weekends. Another welcome center is located on the Boardwalk right next to Boardwalk Hall at Mississippi Avenue. The staff at the centers can give you a good map, brochures, and answers to specific questions.

Getting Around

If you don't want to walk from casino to casino along the mile-long stretch of the Boardwalk where most of the action is, you can catch a ride in an old-fashioned rolling chair. These shaded surreys are rolled up and down the length of the Boardwalk by experienced guides, who are out soliciting riders day and night. The fee is based on the distance traveled, but expect a minimum fare of $5 plus tip.

You can also travel between the casinos along Pacific Avenue, which runs parallel to the Boardwalk 1 block inland, aboard the Atlantic City Jitney (tel. 609/344-8642), a fleet of minibuses that run 24 hours a day; the fare is $1.50. The baby-blue or green versions run to the Marina section of the city, where the Trump Marina and Harrah's casinos are located.

Fun Fact: Do Not Pass Go . . .

Monopoly was created in 1933 by Pennsylvanian Charles Darrow, who used the streets of Atlantic City as the basis for his game board.