Half-Day Trips Along Absecon Island

Atlantic City sits at one end of Absecon Island, and most guests never make it past the Boardwalk to see the rest of it. If you've got a spare afternoon and a rental car or rideshare budget, here's where our concierge desk actually sends people.

Ventnor & Margate

Just south of the city, these two towns trade the casino energy for a quieter, more residential beach scene. Lucy the Elephant, a six-story wooden elephant landmark in Margate, is the single most-requested stop for families with younger kids — it's odd, it's photogenic, and it takes about twenty minutes to see properly.

Gardner's Basin

On the bay side rather than the ocean side, Gardner's Basin is a working harbor with a small aquarium, a handful of casual seafood spots, and boat charters that run half-day fishing and sightseeing trips. It's a solid pick if the group wants a break from the Boardwalk crowd without leaving the city.

Gardner's Basin is the answer we give most often when a guest says they've "already done the Boardwalk" and want something different for an afternoon.

Ocean City

A short drive south, Ocean City runs a quieter, dry-town Boardwalk of its own with a different pace entirely — worth the trip if your group wants a contrast to Atlantic City's casino energy for an afternoon.

Brigantine

North across the inlet, Brigantine has some of the least crowded beaches in the area and a marine mammal rescue center that runs public tours — a good half-day option for anyone traveling with kids who want something other than another beach afternoon.

The Takeaway

None of these trips require more than half a day round-trip, which makes them easy to slot into a two-night stay without giving up an evening on the gaming floor or a dinner reservation. Ask our concierge desk for current hours before you go — several of these spots run seasonal schedules.