With the recent shuttering of Revel, Trump Plaza, the Showboat and the Atlantic Club, not to mention the expected closure of Trump Taj Mahal in November, things aren’t looking so good for America’s Playground.
But for travelers seeking a budget-friendly getaway, now is the time to book a trip to the Jersey shore, just two and a half hours from NYC. While we placed our bets on a sweet offer from The Borgata, atlanticcitynj.com has plenty of packages (check out The Chelsea’s “Rise & Shine” from $79/night or Tropicana’s “Romantic Getaway” from $156) tailored to a wide range of interests.
One of the nicer properties in AC, The Borgata beckons us this season with a fall package that makes an easy case for taking off a Friday. Available Sunday-Thursday through December 19, 2014, the $169 deal includes an overnight stay for two in a classic room (pictured above), a $100 dining credit for any of the on-site restaurants, two tickets to the Comedy Club or newly revived Burlesque Show on Thursday night at The Music Box, and complimentary wifi.
Consult oM’s guides to AC for great ideas on things to do on your next trip.
How to get there: Take Megabus ($30/one way) from 34th St between 11th Ave and 12th, or Greyhound’s Lucky Streak ($37/one way) from Port Authority (it drops off at a number of the casinos). The Atlantic City Jitney runs regularly, picking up and dropping off in front of most major casinos, including The Borgata.
The co-founder and editor-at-large at offMetro, Lauren is a sustainable travel specialist and freelance journalist with frequent bylines in National Geographic, Bicycling Magazine and Shape. Follow Lauren’s adventures at @laurenmati.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram