Atlantic City

Saltwater taffy. Picture postcards. Amusement parks. The boardwalk. If you envisioned the beach vacations of your childhood, many of Atlantic City's features might come to mind. Today, the city is perhaps best known for its 14 casinos. Each year they attract 30 million visitors who spend $8 million a day on the gaming tables and slot machines. But the casinos didn't arrive until 1978. Before its incarnation as the gambling capital of the East Coast, Atlantic City was the "Queen of Resorts" and she set the standard for middle-class American vacations.

By Alexis Sweeney