Let me be honest with you. When most people hear “Atlantic City,” their minds go straight to casinos. Maybe the boardwalk. And yes, all of that is real, and all of it is worth your time. But there is so much more happening in this 44-block city by the sea, and most visitors never see any of it.
I know this because I sat down with someone who has spent her entire life watching people miss it.
Meet Kiara Davis
Kiara Davis is the Tourism and Community Affairs Manager for Visit Atlantic City and a proud Atlantic City native. She grew up in this city, her family is woven into its history, and she has made it her mission to show the world what Atlantic City really looks like when you step off the casino floor and into the streets.
The Monopoly Connection
A lot of people who have played Monopoly their entire lives have no idea the game is actually based on Atlantic City. The street names are real. The properties are real. And the history behind how the game got made is genuinely fascinating.
It started as something called The Landlord’s Game, with no Atlantic City street names and no iconic board. It wasn’t until 1929 that Quaker residents of Atlantic City made their own version, using streets where their neighbors actually lived. Someone else borrowed that version, made some tweaks, sold it to Parker Brothers, and took the credit.
Today, Visit Atlantic City is leaning into that legacy in a big way, celebrating the Monopoly connection and inviting visitors to experience the real places behind the board.
The Orange Loop
If you want to understand what Atlantic City is becoming, start at the Orange Loop. Three blocks, New York Avenue, St. James Place, and Tennessee Avenue, that sit right on the Monopoly board and have quietly become the most vibrant neighborhood in the city.
This is where you’ll find Heyday Coffee, the Anchor Rock Club, Tennessee Beer Hall, Cardinal restaurant, community gardens through CROPS, and the Atlantic City Arts Foundation working behind the scenes to weave art and culture into every corner. The 100th mural in the city was painted right onto the Cardinal building.
Kiara described the Orange Loop as feeling authentic, resilient, artistic, nostalgic, and ever evolving. Walking through it, she said, you feel like you’re in the real Atlantic City and not the tourist version.
100 Murals and Counting
Atlantic City has over 100 murals spread across the city, each one by a different artist, each one telling a different story about this place and its people. The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is behind this extraordinary public art project.
Every mural has its own personality. Every mural sits in its own neighborhood. And guided mural tours are coming soon for visitors who want to experience them with context and story.
Kiara told me that public art makes culture visible and accessible, and that’s exactly what these murals do. They turn the city itself into a gallery. And unlike the Mona Lisa behind a velvet rope, you can stand right in front of them, touch the walls, and feel the stories.
The Museum That Will Give You Chills
In the heart of Atlantic City, right off the expressway, sits a museum that most visitors have never heard of. The African American Heritage Museum was founded by Mr. Ralph Hunter through his personal collection and his lifelong passion for preserving Black history and culture.
Kiara’s connection to this museum is deeply personal. Her grandfather was Mr. Hunter’s collaborator and mentor. She has known him her entire life. And when she talks about what he has built, the original signs from Kentucky Avenue’s legendary nightclubs, the directory of over 1,000 Black-owned businesses that once thrived on the north side, the rotating exhibits, the traveling museum that brings history to schools across the city. Her voice carries the weight of someone who understands exactly what would have been lost without him.
Mr. Hunter is, by all accounts, a storyteller of rare gifts. Kiara said you could listen to him for hours without losing interest. He has a talent for that.
If you visit Atlantic City and you only have time for one stop beyond the boardwalk, make it this one.
The Food You Cannot Miss
Atlantic City has a food scene that deserves its own episode. But here are the non-negotiables, according to a local who has eaten her way through it all.
White House Subs — not an option, a requirement. The most famous sub shop in Atlantic City and a must for first-time visitors.
Tony’s Baltimore Grill — historic, open nearly 24 hours, a Cheers vibe where everyone knows your name, insane pizza and Italian food, and an Anthony Bourdain mural on the back of the building because of course there is.
Back Bay Ale House — across the city in the Gardner’s Basin area, bayfront dining, relaxed and chill, perfect for a sunset meal over the water.
And saltwater taffy, which was born in Atlantic City in 1883 when a flood soaked a candy shop, and a joking shopkeeper named his soggy inventory. A Kiara pro tip that changed everything for me: take a lemon and a strawberry piece, twist them together, and create your own flavor combination. New level unlocked.
The Local Summer
Kiara’s advice for when to visit? Consider the fall. Atlantic City locals call September and October the local summer when the crowds thin out, the weather stays perfect, the beaches are yours, and the 48 Blocks Arts Festival fills the streets with vendors, music, and community in September.
A little more cost-effective. A little less crowded. Still perfect. The way to go, honestly.
Much More Than Casinos
Kiara’s takeaway from our conversation was clear, and I want to make sure you hear it: Atlantic City is layered and full of stories. History, culture, creativity, community. Authenticity is a part of its charm. Grit and resilience are woven into every block.
If you haven’t been, get there. If you haven’t been in a while, come back. To start planning your trip, head to: VisitAtlanticCity.com
