Let’s look at the facts. The beach is made of sand. The hotels are built on the beach. And when guests came into their rooms they tended to bring some of that beach with them. There was plenty left – that wasn’t the concern. The problem was, it made the hotels completely filthy.

The Boardwalk – named not after its wooden boards, but after its builder Alex Boardman – was created as an elevated walkway first to, then along, the hotels. It was also a lovely place to promenade at one time. In fact, as late as the mid-1960’s, gentlemen wore jackets and neckties (albeit, often with Bermuda shorts), and ladies wore dresses and heels to “walk the boards.” An entrepreneur actually created a plug for the bottom of a woman’s high heel to prevent it (pretty much) from getting stuck between the boardwalk slats.

The Boardwalk became extremely self-contained with restaurants, stores, games and amusement piers so there was really no need to go into town. All customer traffic was concentrated into one area, as was most social activity.

But then The Boardwalk began to hit the skids. At the end of the 70’s the casino boom began, and with it hope that the city and the Boardwalk would be revived.

Sorry. While the casinos grew into palaces of neon and glitz, the Boardwalk deteriorated even more. And the ways to the ocean were often blocked off and the beach was even narrowed with sandbags. The thinking apparently was, “they can’t gamble if they’re walking the boards or swimming in the ocean.”

So, for all of the “elegance and gentility” of Las Vegas (well, they *did* open a Hooter’s Casino – if dat ain’t class, whud is?!), Atlantic City is sadly not much more than a second rate Las Vegas, and the Boardwalk is virtually non-negotiable for a pleasant stroll (or not worth it if you do, unless you enjoy sharing your pocket change with strangers).

But you don’t need to wear a tie.

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