Atlantic City has evolved to become much more than a place to go for a wild weekend at the beach. It may even be entering its second golden age as it continues to draw foodie travelers—and innovative star chefs like Bobby Flay, Michel Richard, Wolfgang Puck, and Marc Forgione—as a desirable culinary destination. Here are five reasons to plan a trip to Atlantic City this spring and summer.
Margaritaville | Opening June 2013 | margaritavilleatlanticcity.com
Jimmy hasn’t played himself off into the sunset just yet. In fact, he seems to be taking the concept of Margaritaville quite literally. The island crooner has built a new destination in Atlantic City featuring beachfront restaurants like the LandShark Bar & Grill and a tiki bar that is sure to make you dust off your favorite Tommy Bahama. I don’t know the reason, but you just might stay all season. Right, Jimmy?
AC Wine & Food Festival | July 25 – 28 | gourmetshows.com
At the AC Wine and Food Festival, celebrity chefs offer up a taste of some of their best-kept secrets with four days of cooking lessons and fine dining. But if learning to cook like Rocco DiSpirito and swill wine like a sommelier aren’t enough, a massive pool party at Harrah’s Resort, a southern blues and brews fest, and an island-style beach party provide the hedonistic foodie in each of us a chance to go all in.
Cali-Ital Summer Winefest | June 21-23 | Golden Nugget Atlantic City
From a wine dinner ($125) at Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse to a grand tasting ($75) featuring over 140 wines, live jazz, a haute couture fashion show, and silent auction benefiting Wounded Warriors Project, to a wine reception under the stars ($39), this event brings the best of both California and Italian wines to the Jersey Shore. Tickets for all three events are $139.
Boardwalk Wine Promenade | May 4-5 | atlanticcitynj.com
Had a tough night at the Craps table and just feel like drinking your way down the boardwalk? Well, do it with some class! With 150 wines offered at seven different locations, this outdoor festival is sure to put a bit of magic back in your hand.
Taste of Revel | May 10 -12 | revelresorts.com
Revel luxury resort and casino puts it all on the table for a weekend of innovative dining events—including a Mother’s Day Brunch ($75), Belgian Beer and Cheese Pairing ($65), One Sweet Party ($55) with models hand painted in chocolate, and Conquer the Steak ($85)—featuring their award-winning chefs. If you have an adventurous palate and a taste for the finer things, you don’t want to miss this. No bluff.
Bacon Week | May 12 – 18 | tropicana.net
Pig out on your next trip to Atlantic City, where specials like bacon chocolate martinis and bacon bourbon burgers are sure to pair well with blackjack and the beach.
For more great ideas for things to do in Atlantic City, visit atlanticcitynj.com
How to get there: Consult oM’s transit guide to AC.
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