Condé Nast Traveler Discovers the Real Atlantic City

Hey Folks,

If you’ve been following me for a while, you already know I’ve been saying this for years — Atlantic City is one of the most misunderstood destinations in America.

Now the rest of the country is starting to catch up.

I recently had the opportunity to spend time with travel writer Jessica Chapel from
Condé Nast Traveler,
and let me tell you something… she got it.

Not just the casinos. Not just the lights. She understood the history, the energy, the characters, the Boardwalk, the food, the weirdness, the nostalgia — all the things that make Atlantic City unlike anywhere else in America.

Jessica’s feature, “Atlantic City Is America’s Most Misunderstood Resort City—Here’s Why You Should Visit”, is one of the best national travel pieces I’ve seen written about AC in a long time.

And yes… your guy AC Mike made the article too.

Jessica joined me on one of the Boardwalk Tram Tours, and what impressed me most was how genuinely curious she was about the city. She wanted to know the stories behind the landmarks, the old entertainment history, the changing skyline, the neighborhood legends — the real Atlantic City.

That matters.

Too often, people fly through town for a weekend and never scratch beneath the surface. Jessica actually took the time to experience Atlantic City the way locals and longtime visitors understand it.

Her writing captures something I always try to explain on the radio and during my tours: Atlantic City isn’t perfect… but it’s authentic. There’s history here. Soul here. Personality here. You can feel Sinatra, boxing nights at Boardwalk Hall, summers on the Steel Pier, late-night laughs on the Boardwalk, old-school supper clubs, rolling tram cars, and generations of families making memories down here.

And let’s be honest — today’s Atlantic City has layers people don’t expect. Families are spending weekends at Showboat Atlantic City, kids are running wild inside Lucky Snake Arcade, and visitors are still grabbing that classic Atlantic City feeling riding the ferris wheel at Steel Pier.

That mix of old-school nostalgia and new energy is exactly what makes this city special right now.

That’s why this kind of national exposure is such a big deal.

When a global publication like Condé Nast Traveler shines a positive light on Atlantic City, it helps people see the Shore differently. It reminds travelers that AC is more than headlines and stereotypes — it’s one of the great original American resort towns.

Jessica also writes incredible travel content beyond Atlantic City, covering destinations, hotels, culture, and experiences through a smart but approachable lens. Definitely check out more of her work here:

Read Jessica Chapel’s travel stories at Condé Nast Traveler

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• Visit Atlantic City
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• Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
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• Lucky Snake Arcade
• Steel Pier
• Atlantic City Boardwalk Tram Tours

If you’re looking for things to do in Atlantic City, Jessica’s article honestly nails the balance between old-school AC and the new energy happening here right now.

I appreciate her taking the time to tell the story the right way — and I appreciate Condé Nast Traveler for recognizing what so many of us already know:

Atlantic City still matters.

Live-Work-Play-AC!
See you on the 48

AC Mike