Things for Kids to Do in the Atlantic City, New Jersey, Area During the Winter

As the Atlantic Coast's largest gaming resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, features a fast-paced macrocosm of first-class casinos, luxury hotels, glitzy nightclubs and a bawdy boardwalk. Things are changing in this oceanfront playground, however. Over the last decade, the city that is always turned on has broadened its appeal beyond a summer gaming area to a year-round, family-friendly vacation destination. From cafes and aquariums to lighthouses and fairy lands, Atlantic City has a wide scope of activities for kids to enjoy, even in the winter.

  1. Lighthouses

    • First illuminated in 1857, Absecon Lighthouse is the last lighthouse in the state that still has its original first-order Fresnel lens, a massive 36-plate lens made in Paris, France. The yellow and black tower ranks as New Jersey's tallest lighthouse and the nation's third-tallest. Open Thursdays through Mondays during the winter, families can ascend the structure's wrought-iron spiral staircase -- 228 steps to the top for panoramic views of the Atlantic City skyline and the glistening waters of the Atlantic. A reconstructed, red-roofed lightkeeper's house is also open for visits, along with a gift shop and museum. Several other lighthouses are about a 40-minute drive south of Atlantic City. Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is a Swiss-Gothic-style structure that features its original whale-oil lamp, and Cape May Point Lighthouse is within steps of a museum, nature trails and a beach where kids can search for sea glass and view a World War II bunker.

    Historic Gardner's Basin

    • Historic Gardner's Basin has a number of wintertime, kid-centric elements. Formerly a 1700s pirate cove, centuries later the basin was transformed into a nautical plaza on the bay. Window shop at Crafter's Village, stroll the docks and watch clam boats and pleasure crafts head out to sea. The year-round Atlantic City Aquarium anchors the maritime park and features 17 tanks of tropical and local sea creatures. Diamondback terrapins, baby stingrays and "Finding Nemo" clownfish delight young children, while older kids can get up close and personal with a variety of sharks at the touch tank. The maritime center has a second floor with a captain's wheel, diving suit and interactive computer stations where youngsters can watch and learn about barrier reefs and life under the sea.

    Attractions

    • Storybook Land's gingerbread house, Noah's ark and miniature train rides were built for the summer crowd, but the fairy-tale theme park has become so popular that its doors are now open from March through December. If you visit during the holiday season, you'll be mesmerized by the million festive lights that sparkle on the roadside castle, Jack and Jill's slide and Cinderella's pumpkin coach. Lucy the Elephant, one of the Atlantic City area's most frequented non-casino attractions, is open in November and December. An interior spiral staircase takes visitors to the howdah on top of the six-story novelty structure, and Lucy books, banks and bobble heads are available for purchase at the gift shop.

    Dinner and a Movie

    • Youngsters can work up an appetite after a full schedule of Atlantic City fun. Rainforest Cafe offers a children's menu with all the usual fare, including hot dogs, mini burgers and popcorn shrimp, but the restaurant's real appeal is its tropical rainforest theme. Animatronic jungle animals, bugs and creatures come to life as waterfalls crash, a light mist sprays and a talking tree teaches guests about the rainforest. After a kid-friendly lunch or dinner, head to Tropicana's IMAX Theatre for a 3-D flick. The theater is located in the Quarter, a high-end shopping complex featuring an old-world Havana theme. A visit to the Quarter during the holiday season, with its dazzling decorations and falling indoor snow, makes an entertaining family outing.

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