Hilton To Return To Atlantic City As Part Of A New Hotel-Condominium Project, Developer Says

Hilton has reached a deal to operate a hotel at a former Atlantic City casino once the building is refurbished into a combination hotel and condominium complex, according to the developer behind the project.

Colosseo Atlantic City Inc. has plans to rehabilitate the former Atlantic Club Casino, a boardwalk property that has been vacant since closing in 2014, turning one tower into 100 condominiums while the other tower will be hotel rooms.

Rocco Sebastiani, president of Colosseo, said the property could reopen by 2026. Colosseo purchased it in 2019 from TJM Properties and it had previously been eyed by Stockton University as a site for a satellite campus.

“There’s a strong demand for a second home, and there’s just no inventory,” Sebastiani said. “There is a generation of people that are looking for – we don’t want to say luxury – they just want a Shore home. They want something new.”

Hilton operated a casino-hotel at the building until 2012. Last called the Atlantic Club, it closed in 2014, a year that saw several city casinos shut down.

“Hilton is committed to growing our presence in New Jersey and meeting our guests’ needs in the destinations where they want to travel – with the right hotel in the right place at the right time,” a company spokesperson said. “We recognize the opportunity for growth in Atlantic City and look forward to announcing exciting details in the future.”

Sebastiani said he’s dealt with a cumbersome permitting process while Atlantic City officials said Colosseo had been in “non-compliance” with state construction codes.

The state’s Division of Codes and Standards will now have jurisdiction over the project, said Lisa Ryan, a spokesperson for the Department of Community Affairs. Atlantic City officials praised the decision to keep the project moving forward.

“This decision was made because the city construction official (Anthony Cox), who had also been performing building subcode duties, resigned last month from doing building subcode work,” Lisa Ryan, a spokesperson for the Department of Community Affairs, said. “Without a building subcode official, the city cannot conduct a building plan review or approve certificates or permits related to the project.”

Atlantic City Solicitor Michael J. Perugini said in a statement, “Mr. Cox was, at all times, within his rights to enforce the New Jersey construction code to protect the interest of the City of Atlantic City and the community in which the developer is moving forward with his project.”

https://www.nj.com/staff/eric-conklin/posts.html

Caesars Atlantic City Plans Lobby, Casino Floor, Pool Upgrades This Year

Caesars casino will renovate its casino floor, lobby, valet area and outdoor pool this year as part of a $200 million makeover, its parent company said Tuesday.

Caesars Entertainment said the work is part of a $400 million investment it is making in its three Atlantic City properties, which also include Harrah’s and the Tropicana.

“This major investment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to elevating guests’ experiences at our resorts as well as advancing the Atlantic City tourism economy,” said John Koster, regional president for the company’s Eastern Division.

The Boardwalk casino will get a new lobby and valet area.

It also will renovate its outdoor pool on the rooftop of Qua Baths & Spa, including cabanas.

The casino recently completed renovations to 750 hotel rooms and suites featuring a Roman theme and elements of the Atlantic City beachfront. It also plans restaurant projects including Nobu Atlantic City, a restaurant and hotel within Caesars.

Nobu Hotel Atlantic City will open following the restaurant’s debut, on the top three floors of Caesars Centurion Tower and will feature redesigned rooms and suites with Japanese-inspired decor.

The casino has said chef Gordon Ramsay will open the East Coast’s first Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen restaurant at Caesars this summer.

The projects at Caesars casino will cost $200 million, half the company’s $400 million investment into Atlantic City that should be completed by the end of 2023.

Crucial Summer For Atlantic City Starts With New Investments

This summer is a crucial one for Atlantic City as it tries to recover lost business during the third year of the coronavirus pandemic, and casinos and non-gambling resorts are putting millions into renovations and new attractions to compete for visitors.

Casinos and non-gambling companies are making big investments in what they hope will be a corner-turning season with customers more willing than in the previous two years to visit Atlantic City attractions amid the still-not-over pandemic.

“This is a really important summer for Atlantic City,” said Phil Juliano, senior vice president of Bally’s casino, which opened a 360-degree rotating bar and a part of an indoor-outdoor beer garden on Thursday. The projects are part of $100 million the company is investing in the property.

He said Atlantic City was showing signs of growth in early 2020, only to have those hopes dashed by the coronavirus pandemic which closed the casinos for 3 1/2 months in March, and led to operating restrictions for more than a year afterward.

“This is an interesting summer: You have inflation, you still have COVID and high gas prices, but you also have pent-up demand,” Juliano said. “People are coming out again, and we need that.”

Also on Thursday, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small announced the receipt of a $6 million federal grant to rebuild a section of the Boardwalk between Florida and Missouri avenues that is over 100 years old. Work will begin in the fall and be completed next summer.

The Atlantic City casino industry is vital to southern New Jersey’s economy, said Christina Renna, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey.

“As we continue to rebuild and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry’s growth and prosperity is more important than ever before,” she said.

Atlantic City enters the summer amid some encouraging signs — and some concerning weaknesses. The casinos’ collective revenue and profitability are up this year, but not all the casinos have surpassed the levels they were operating at in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

On Saturday, the Showboat hotel, the former casino, will open its $1.5 million indoor go-kart track, even as it works to build a $100 million year-round indoor water park, private financing for which was secured on Thursday, owner Bart Blatstein said.

He said his go-kart course is “another non-gambling amenity in a market where only 8% of visitors are families. It’s a way to bring in a new market.”

Resorts is working on a multi-million dollar renovation of its rooftop outdoor pool, including a retractable roof and party areas that should be ready in late June. On Friday, Resorts will open Coral Lounge, a new under-the-sea-themed pop-up bar.

The Ocean Casino Resort is in the midst of $85 million worth of projects, including the completion of over 460 hotel rooms and suites; a new sportsbook and lounge, and multiple new food and beverage outlets. It also will offer bicycle rentals outside its main entrance this summer.

Hard Rock will spend $20 million this year on renovations including adding 70 slot machines and seven more table games; renovating its convention space, beach bar and employee areas.

Caesars casino will start work this year on a new theater and resident show due to open in the first quarter of 2023. The project will incorporate the facade of the former Warner Theatre from 1929, which is currently part of the casino’s exterior facing the Boardwalk.

Also planned for Caesars in 2022 is a new restaurant, opened by a hospitality company involving actor Robert De Niro that also will renovate hotel rooms there. Caesars Entertainment is partnering with Nobu Hospitality for a project to be called Nobu Hotel Atlantic City.

Tropicana is adding eight new food and beverage outlets this year and Harrah’s will open three casual dining outlets.

By WAYNE PARRY

Ground Is Broken On $100M Indoor Water Park In Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Philadelphia developer Bart Blatstein broke ground Wednesday on a $100 million indoor water park on the Atlantic City Boardwalk that is designed to give families a year-round option in the seaside resort that doesn’t involve gambling.

The $100 million, 103,000-square-foot park will be called the Island Waterpark.

It will feature water slides, pools, a lazy river, food and beverage outlets, retails space, lounge areas, and a party room. It also will include an adult section with alcoholic beverages and amenities, including foot massages and manicures, Blatstein said.

“This water park is going to crush it,” he said confidently in a ceremony under a tent on a frigid January day as swimsuit models frolicked in a swimming pool set up for the occasion and others rode an indoor surfing machine.

Blatstein and Mayor Marty Small both said the project is needed to give families thinking of visiting Atlantic City something to do other than gambling.

“We need to diversify our entertainment offerings,” Small said.

Small cited a long history of water parks being proposed for Atlantic City — and then never being built, including a 2017 proposal for one at the former Atlantic Club casino.

“We’ve all heard stories of water parks coming here to Atlantic City and for whatever reason, it didn’t happen,” he said. “This is happening.”

Blatstein doubled down on the guarantee.

“How do I know it’s going to happen?” he asked. “Because I say so. It’s my money going into this place. I promise you, it’s going to happen.”

He said he would like to have the park open by Memorial Day weekend 2023.

It is to be built on a vacant lot next to the former Showboat casino, which Blatstein owns and operates as a nongambling hotel.

A 20-year state tax incentive will help finance the project. The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority in 2020 approved designation of the project as an entertainment retail district, which entitles it to an annual rebate of as much as $2.5 million in sales tax generated by it for 20 years. There also will be tax breaks on construction materials used for the project.

Blatstein refused to say Wednesday if he is still interested in opening a casino either at the Showboat or as new construction on land he owns nearby. He said as recently as 2019 he wants to open a casino at or near the Showboat site, but has been silent about that proposal in recent years as the water park plan advanced.

The water park will include parallel slides to allow for racing.

A retractable glass-paned roof will cover the entire project, enabling it to be open all year.

Investments In New Projects On Tap For 2022 In Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Atlantic City’s casinos are forging ahead with ambitious new projects in 2022, even as the coronavirus pandemic continues to make it harder to do business.

And non-casino projects involving family entertainment, education and the offshore wind industry will take flight in the new year.

But challenges lurk, as well.

In-person gambling revenue at seven of the nine casinos is down compared with 2019, before the pandemic hit. Sports betting and internet gambling revenue has filled some of the gap, but that money must be shared with third parties, including technology platforms and sports books, and is not solely for the casinos to keep.

A law passed signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in December gives the casinos some relief from big increases in payments they were due to pay to Atlantic City, Atlantic County and the schools system in lieu of property taxes.

A big unknown is how long and how seriously the COVID19 pandemic, and particularly the fast-spreading omicron variant, will affect customers’ willingness to come out and gamble in person in 2022.

And a big challenge is right around the corner when New York begins allowing people to bet on phones or other mobile devices anywhere in the state, as soon as January but almost certainly in time for the Super Bowl in February.

Gambling industry executives and analysts expect New Jersey to lose at least 20% of its sports betting volume as New York residents who formerly had to cross over into New Jersey to bet will be able to do it at or close to home.

Mark Giannantonio, president of Resorts casino, said he is “tremendously optimistic for a great year” in 2022.

Starting in February, Resorts is renovating its rooftop pool, adding a retractable roof to enable it to be used year-round. Resorts also is investing $5 million into new table games and slot machines, remodeling its high-limit slots area, and creating a new VIP Asian-themed room.

The Ocean Casino Resort plans to begin a $75 million project in spring or summer to finish 12 floors of hotel rooms that were never completed when the casino first opened as Revel in 2012.

Caesars casino will start work in 2022 on a new theater and resident show due to open in the first quarter of 2023. The project will incorporate the facade of the former Warner Theatre from 1929, which is currently part of the casino’s exterior facing the Boardwalk.

Also planned for Caesars in 2022 is a new restaurant opened by a hospitality company involving actor Robert De Niro that also will renovate hotel rooms there. Caesars Entertainment is partnering with Nobu Hospitality for a project to be called Nobu Hotel Atlantic City.

Bally’s will unveil 750 renovated hotel rooms, a redone hotel lobby and bar, and an indoor-outdoor entertainment venue in 2022.

A $100 million indoor water park to be built next to the former Showboat casino, which now operates as a nongambling hotel, plans a ground breaking for early 2022.

Atlantic City will host a three-day country music concert on the beach in August headlined by Luke Bryan and Morgan Wallen.

Construction is to begin in 2022 on a new ShopRite supermarket in Atlantic City, designed to end the city’s status as a “food desert” without a major supermarket. The project should open in 2023.

Stockton University hopes to complete a new student residence hall in the city in 2022.

Atlantic City will play a big role in the burgeoning offshore wind energy industry. Atlantic Cape Community College plans to open a wind energy workforce training center on its city campus in the fall, and wind developer Orsted hopes to start work in 2022 on a maintenance and operations center in Atlantic City to support its offshore wind projects in the area.

And a plan that has gotten little attention outside of Atlantic City but which will affect most visitors to the city is due to begin in 2022.

The city plans to reduce Atlantic Avenue, one of its two main north-south thoroughfares, from two lanes in each direction to one lane in each direction, in the name of pedestrian safety.

But many residents and businesses oppose the plan, predicting that traffic that is already difficult to navigate under current conditions will become even worse with only one lane in each direction.

Caesars, De Niro-Backed Nobu Unveil Project In Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — A hospitality company involving actor Robert De Niro will open a restaurant in Caesars casino in Atlantic City and renovate hotel rooms there.

Caesars Entertainment said Tuesday it is joining with Nobu Hospitality for a project to be called Nobu Hotel Atlantic City.

The development, including a Nobu restaurant, is part of a $400 million investment Caesars Entertainment is making in Atlantic City over the next three years. It also will include the rebranding of several floors of hotel rooms in Caesars as the Nobu Hotel.

The new eatery and rebranded rooms are expected to be ready by summer 2022.

Caesars casino in Atlantic City was founded by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, De Niro and film producer Meir Teper. The company is doing similar projects in New Orleans and Las Vegas.

Escape Winter And Plan For Summer Fun On The Water At The Progressive® Insurance Atlantic City Boat® Show February 26 - March 1, 2020 At The Atlantic City Convention Center

 

Twiggy the Waterskiing Squirrel, Indoor Paddle Pool and more than 550 boats

at the Mid-Atlantic’s premier boating event

             The 40^th annual Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show^® docks at the Atlantic City Convention Center February 26 – March 1 featuring over 550 boats and family activities to give water lovers and boating enthusiasts alike an all-access pass to discover why life is better with a boat. Boat hop and shop magnificent motor yachts, tricked out runabouts, serious center consoles and watersports boats, with a full selection of boats for every budget and lifestyle, including boats that can be financed for less than $250 a month. Plus, explore new technologies, meet Twiggy the Waterskiing Squirrel, experience paddlesports in an indoor paddle pool, and talk with experts about all aspects of boating, fishing and fun on the water at the new Discover Boating Experience.

 

WHEN:             Wednesday – Sunday, February 26 - March 1, 2020

                        Wednesday – Friday: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm; Saturday: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm; Sunday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

                          Atlantic City Convention Center, One Convention Blvd, Atlantic City, New Jersey

Now take the Atlantic City Rail Line directly to the Show! For specific arrival details by train, bus and car, visit ACBoatShow.com

 

TICKETS:         $15 for advance tickets purchased online by 2/25/20 at ACBoatShow.com $17 for adults during the days of the Show; children 12 and under get in FREE. Super Thursday Tickets $5 after 5 p.m. Thursday, February 27 ONLY.

                         

WEB:               Visit ACBoatShow.com for full details, plus stay tuned to Instagram and Facebook for up-to-the-minute information, giveaways and more #ACBoatShow

 

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

·       NEW! Twiggy the Waterskiing Squirrel – The world’s most famous waterskiing squirrel is coming to the Boat Show! Twiggy will amaze and entertain as she waterskies behind a radio-controlled boat in her very own pool.

 

·       NEW! The Discover Boating Experience (DBX) is a new ‘Hub for Boaters,’ providing the perfect place to mingle, relax and experience the boating lifestyle. The new interactive space features expert demos, educational seminars plus refreshments, live music on the weekend, and so much more!

 

·       NEW! New Jersey SkillsUSA State Championships gives boating tech students and pros of tomorrow the opportunity to compete in a statewide contest, connect with NJ boating businesses and showcase their skills. The gold medal winner from the Show goes on to the national competition, and it all happens during Career Day at the Boat Show.

 

·       Tour the Queen of the Show and her Court of Beauties: Boat Show tradition dictates that the largest boat at the show each year is named the Queen, and the 2020 title goes to the 46 Viking Billfish. The Queen’s court includes the 44 Tiara Coupe, Formula 430SS and other luxurious craft featuring innovations like joystick docking and virtual anchoring, as well as creature comforts including retractable sunroofs, on deck grills, and more.

 

·       Shop, Save & Win Big on “Super Thursday” – Elevate savings, shopping and boat show fun to superstar levels at the annual “Super Thursday” on Thursday, February 27. Super Thursday specials include even deeper savings on the best in boating, plus $5 off after 5 p.m. on tickets, $5 parking all day at the Wave Garage, food & drink specials, and exclusive giveaways including overnight accommodations, restaurant certificates, and more courtesy of Meet AC!

·       Progressive Insurance Booth: Boost nautical know-how with top-notch mariners and hands-on boating courses for all levels of experience with the Annapolis School of Seamanship – plus, try Progressive’s immersive Oculus Rift virtual reality experience.

 

·       Fishing Simulator & Go Fishing Friday – Feel the strike! Watch the rod bend! Experience the pull as your fish runs for the bottom! This interactive fishing simulator is as "reel" as it gets without getting your line wet. Friendly competition happens all day every day, plus, on Friday, February 28, from 5:00-7:00pm, fishing fanatics can watch see fishing pros battle for the bragging rights of Best Angler and register into the tournament for your chance to win a prize. Plus, enjoy a fish fry, sharpen your angling skills at one of the Discover Fishing seminars, and check out hundreds of fishing boats and thousands of fishing accessories.

·       Step On & Go at the Indoor Paddle Pool! Dive into paddlesports fun at the new 20x30 foot indoor paddle pool with trials and demos of stand up “pedal” boards, kayaks and more thanks to Fin-atics Marine in Ocean City, NJ!

·       Catch more fish at Discover Fishing sessions by the Recreational Fishing Association, The Fisherman magazine and Canyon Runner Sportfishing. Fishing fans will learn expert tips and techniques on saltwater, freshwater, inshore and offshore fishing from the pros.

·       Support “Let Us Eat, Please” – Did you know 1 in 7 kids in New Jersey are hungry on a regular basis? Help make a difference on Thursday, February 27 at the Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show’s Captain’s Table Gala, a special fundraiser for “Let Us Eat, Please” and the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, local nonprofits that help deliver meals to kids in need.

 

·       Annual favorites also return, including Kids Create-a-Boat, Sand Art with John Gowdy, the Classic & Race Boat Display and the Miss GEICO race boat, the world’s fastest catamaran breaking speeds of 200 mph!

           

NATIONAL BOAT SHOW & BOATING INDUSTRY FACTS & FIGURES*

·       The U.S. boating industry generates $170.3 billion in economic activity.

·       Annual U.S. sales of boats, marine products and services are estimated to total $42 billion in 2019.

·       Retail unit sales of new powerboats in 2019 are expected to total approximately 280,000 units. Leading sales are wakesports boats, personal watercraft, and cruisers between 22 and 32 feet.

·       There are 35,000 marine businesses in the U.S. supporting 690,000 direct and indirect jobs.

·       Outdoor recreation accounts for 2.2 percent of U.S. GDP, generating $778 billion in gross economic output—on par with the telecommunications industry (2.3 percent)—of which recreational boating and fishing is the single largest segment, contributing nearly $40 billion in gross output. (Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis)

·       95% of boats sold in the U.S. are made in the U.S.

·       84% of U.S. Boat Manufacturers are small businesses

·       95% of boats in the U.S. are small, towable boats under 26 feet

·       142 million Americans go boating each year.

NEW JERSEY & PENNSYLVANIA BOATING INDUSTRY FACTS & FIGURES*

·       Economic Impact: Boating is Big Business

o   New Jersey’s boating industry has a total economic impact of $6.6 billion.

o   Pennsylvania’s boating industry has a total economic impact of $3.8 billion.

o   Atlantic City Metro New Jersey’s boating industry has a total economic impact of $164 million.

·       Sales on the Rise

o   New Jersey’s boating industry grew to more than $411 million in sales in 2018

o   Pennsylvania’s boating industry grew to more than $418 million in sales in 2018

·       Jobs Growth

o   New Jersey boating industry supports 28,696 direct and indirect jobs

o   Pennsylvania’s boating industry supports 18,355 direct and indirect jobs

o   Atlantic City Metro New Jersey’s boating industry supports 1,307 direct and indirect jobs

*Source: National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)

Borgata In Atlantic City Announces Central Conference Center, Opening In May 2017

$11M venue adds 18,000-square-feet of meeting and convention space to Borgata, bringing the resort’s total event capacity to 106,000-square-feet 

 Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa has announced the unveiling of its 18,000-square-foot Central Conference Center. Scheduled to debut in May, the newly designed $11 million project will provide an exclusive meeting experience while effectively complementing Borgata’s dynamic meetings and conventions program.

“The launch of Central Conference Center complements our event space, allowing us to accommodate more weddings, special occasions, trade shows, business expos, and more,” said Mark Vanderwielen, Vice President of Hotel & Property Operations for Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. “As the market-leading resort destination in the region, we recognize the importance of our meetings and conventions customers and are delighted to offer them an exclusive product containing a level of service that is unmatched anywhere in the city.”

Designed by Avenue Interior Design, Central Conference Center features two stories of highly customizable event space including five meeting rooms, a board room, and an office on the lower level; as well as a 6,500-square-foot clear span ballroom on the upper level. The strikingly conceived architecture features oil-rubbed metallic and bronze finishes, incorporating custom tabu zebrano millwork and trims with marble, granite, and quartz stone fixtures. Specialized wallcoverings, sconces, and carpet adorn the entire space, giving the feel of style and sophistication just steps away from the excitement of Borgata’s casino floor.

Occupying what was formally mur.mur nightclub, the bi-level venue boasts the latest in technology, offering high definition digital projection, TV, and internet system capabilities paired with all digital distributed sound systems. Touch panel controls and décor lighting experiences allow for made-to-order services that can be uniquely individualized to fit any need. Borgata Executive Chef Tom Biglan (Borgata Buffet, The Metropolitan, Bread + Butter, Noodles of The World) will manage the culinary program for Central Conference Center with Executive Pastry Chef Thaddeus DuBois (Borgata Baking Company, Borgata Buffet, The Metropolitan, Bread + Butter) overseeing the pastry program.

The addition allows Borgata to devote over 106,000 square feet of meeting, event, and convention space between its three unique venues –The Event Center (70,000 sq. ft.), The Water Club (18,000 sq. ft.), and Central Conference Center (18,000 sq. ft.), while also offering a wide array of group dining from world-renowned chefs, including Wolfgang Puck (Wolfgang Puck American Grille), Bobby Flay (Bobby Flay Steak), Michael Schulson (Izakaya Modern Japanese Pub), Geoffrey Zakarian (The Water Club), and restaurateurs Greg and Marc Sherry (Old Homestead Steak House).

Borgata’s dedicated in-house Group and Hotel Sales teams work in partnership with its Banquets and Catering professionals to provide a personalized experience tailored around communication, service and support with the overarching goal to deliver a positive and memorable experience where business meets pleasure. Reservations for Central Conference Center are being accepted now by calling 609.317.7729 or visiting theborgata.com.

Short Trips From New York City: Readers’ Tips

Readers share their favourite jaunts from the Big Apple, many to upstate New York, but also to New Jersey and beyond

WINNING TIP: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania

A few hours by bus (from Penn station) or car is Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. Rugged, verdant hills and a river of gentle tranquillity hide an impressive industrial past. There’s the town named after athlete Jim Thorpe, a splendid museum in one of the great small stately homes of America (Trout Hall in Allentown), excellent food and boutique B&Bs. It’s spectacular in summer and winter, and hiking, biking and canoeing are all readily available.
• discoverlehighvalley.com
coopers2006

West Point and Bear Mountain, New York

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 The Hudson river and Bear Mountain bridge. Photograph: Alamy

From NYC drive up the Westside highway, cross the Tappan Zee bridge and head north to West Point military academy. It’s a beautiful drive of about an hour. The views of the Hudson river are breathtaking and West Point is a lovely typical Upstate NY town. On the way back, cross the Hudson near West Point on the Bear Mountain bridge and take the river road back to NYC, Route 202. You will go through many small villages, especially Croton-on-Hudson. All of this area has a wonderful history, including the story of Rip Van Winkle.
jpl72948

Hike Breakneck Ridge, NY

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 Photograph: Michael Kirby/Rex

Breakneck Ridge Trailhead is an hour by train from Grand Central Station on the Metro North line. The hike begins at river level and ascends some 1,500 feet, a mad scramble over big rocks with an incredible view of the Hudson Valley. Trains from NYC run only at weekends, and there aren’t many. To save a long wait for the 4pm return train from Breakneck Ridge station, walk south a few more miles. You end up at the town of Cold Spring (maps available at trail start), where there are loads of places to eat and hourly trains back to NYC.
• hikethehudsonvalley.comeriley1

Lazy Meadow, NY

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Kate’s Lazy Meadow motel is your spiritual home if you love mid-century modern, atomic-themed lamps and place names that could be straight from Mark Twain. Owned by Kate Pierson of punk band the B-52s and close to Woodstock in the Catskills, this is where lovers of psycho rock come to hook trout, ride the river or pose with a perfect martini. There’s the Lazy Shack with its own babbling brook on top of a mountain road and a Lazy Lodge with its own streamed music – of water from the river and falls nearby. Come night time, switch on those atomic lamps and watch bubbles of light swirl around the room, glinting off walls scented with cedar and pine.
• Two-bedroom suites from $155 a night, lazymeadow.com
mignonnette

Hudson, NY

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 Warren Street townhouses in Hudson. Photograph: Alamy

Take a train from Penn Station and two hours later, up the wide Hudson river, you reach the funky town of Hudson. There are glimpses of the out-of-town mansions of the rich and famous, and stylishly restored Warren Street is lined with antique shops, specialist food and wine emporiums, restaurants, bars and not a high-street name in sight. There’s even a theatre. And don’t miss the Spotty Dog, a unique blend of real-ale bar and bookshop in a former brewery. This is where New Yorkers come to chill.
• gotohudson.net
TurkeyVisitorAL

Hobofest, Lake Saranac, NY

The Saranac Hobofest takes place every year over Labor Day weekend (early September) in this mountain village about three hours’ drive north of NYC. Don’t let the name put you off. It’s a long weekend celebrating the independent, hobo-roving spirit of the US, with bands, poets and artists converging on this pretty lakeside town. All events are free and Manhattan’s finest often come out to check out the indie scene – making for a great vibe!
• hobofest.com
TheCapeCruiser

Beach life, Long Island, NY

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 Photograph: Alamy

After a few days in the city you can feel like you need a trip to the beach. Within an hour you can be amid the tranquillity of the ocean and six miles of soft white sand at Jones Beach state park, on Long Island. With lots of free concerts during the summer months, you might find yourself dancing the night away to Latin music with the locals. And there are four miles of cycle paths, so you could hire a bike for a trip along the coast.
• nysparks.comeloisewl

Hyde Park, home of FDR, NY

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 Photograph: Alamy

About 90 miles north of NYC in the glorious Hudson valley is Hyde Park, former home of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. The house and grounds are maintained by the US National Parks Service, and the displays and explanations are very interesting and informative. You could go for a day (easier by car, but train to Poughkeepsie and then taxi is a possibility), but I found a bed-and-breakfast almost immediately opposite and a brew pub with great food nearby.
Adult $18, under-16 free, nps.gov/hofrMartinLunnon

Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, New Jersey

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 Testing Togetherness: sculpture of sleeping students by Seward Johnson. Photograph: Alamy

With galleries inside and beautiful gardens outside, this park has some incredible pieces of contemporary sculpture to enjoy away from the hustle and bustle of NYC. It has great places to eat, including Rat’s Restaurant, The Gazebo and two cafes. Lovely day out.
Maryandbuzz1

Atlantic City Casinos, NJ

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 Borgata Casino, Atlantic City. Photograph: Alamy

Try your luck in the Boardwalk Empire of Atlantic City, the east coast’s answer to Las Vegas. The casinos may be a little worn, but there are still some gems, such as the Borgata. Chill out at its spa between gambling sessions, or catch a show by a world-famous act. With five restaurants, three bars and a nightclub on site, you may find you’re hard-pushed to return to New York!
Sarah Eaglesfield

Source :Guardian readers

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