Ol Jersey Gal Remembering The Shores

The above photo is an angled view of a piece of Atlantic City, New Jersey in 2025. Photos like this one have me reminiscing about my childhood in New Jersey and many summer holidays spent at "The Shores". For my family there were three swimming spots that we frequented: Asbury Park, Seaside Heights, and McDonald Park - which was a lake and park, no longer open to the public today. I never went to visit Atlantic City when I was a child, though I had heard plenty of the adults talk about their mini-vacations there especially the women who loved bingo and the slot machines.

As an adult, I resided in Keansburg, New Jersey, and did get to visit Atlantic City at least twice. I recall going with my Aunt to Atlantic City for a weekend stay to celebrate the New Year (changing from 2009 to 2010) and we had a very nice time. We had a special "package" deal that included the hotel stay, buffet, and an extravagant dinner. The casinos were open for any gambling interest, and we mostly spent our meager allowances at the slot machines. I don't usually play slot machine games, but it was fun at that time because my $20 didn't get lost super fast on the penny games. I could bet the lowest bet of 1 or 2 pennies, and sit there with my $20 for at least an hour (or two, if the machine was being "nice") while enjoying my complimentary Pina Colada.

I wasn't the only one who enjoyed Atlantic City or gambling though some people have to be careful that they don't get addicted. The vacation packages were perfect for people like me (Grinder-types who just like to play but aren't trying to break any banks including their own) because the money saved from the discounted hotel room and the free food and drinks, gave us the means to play on the slot machines.

The other beaches (known as The Jersey Shores) may have some things in common with Atlantic City (such as boardwalks, restaurants, and hotels) but as far as my travel experience is concerned I only know Atlantic City to have been the casino destination of New Jersey. If a Jersey Gal wanted to gamble and didn't want to go to Atlantic City, she had to travel about two or three hours out of state into Pennsylvania to get to another style of Casino. (In Philadelphia I once played Bingo at a Hall that was as large as the Bingo hall that existed at Seminole Casino in Tampa, which was replaced by the Hard Rock Casino.) There is a casino in Pennsylvania, but I don't think it's run by Hard Rock.

I mention these casinos that I've been to because some people think that Las Vegas is the only place that has casinos and some of us know that isn't the case. Here in the Tampa Bay area, the Hard Rock Casino has been thriving for a long time. It is not located on the beach, but the hotel is luxurious and the ambiance of the casino is what one would want or expect of a casino. I just got finished reading two articles mentioning Trump's business moves in Atlantic City and also the decline of Atlantic City, so I was making comparative notes in my mind about the various casinos that I have visited. My mother was a Poker Dealer at the Seminole Casino for a long time, and I worked there as a cashier. I have also been a Brush at the Derby Lanes establishment where the dogs used to race and they still run Poker tables though it's not considered a full-fledged casino. Since I've known about these businesses for most of my life (as a fan, employee, or gambler) I have lots of thoughts and opinions to contribute to the conversation when it comes up.

I do not think of "Sex" or "Religion" as taboo topics, but for me "Politics" is much more difficult to discuss; Therefore the comments currently being made about Trump or his history in business is a blurry subject that I don't want to speak on without all the facts. I think the most "polite" thing I can say is that I admire his ambition and drive, and his accomplishments are still something he should be proud of regardless how many "failures" it took. I never had the opportunity to work with the amounts of money that Trump got to work with, therefore far be it for me to say that I know what he went through.

Looking at the photo above of Atlantic City, I can see that it has changed since the last time I got to visit there. That really doesn't surprise me considering how many changes occurred here in the Tampa Bay area in the past 35 years. In 1996, Seminole Casino was still owned and operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Today in 2025, I don't know who owns it, but it doesn't look like the casino where I worked all those years ago. Hard Rock is a brand and they have a very certain style so the changes were inevitable.

On an end note, I will say that "The Jersey Shores" and Florida beaches are very different. My favorite part of vacationing at "The Jersey Shores" was walking on the boardwalk looking for Salt Water Taffy, riding the carnival rides, and playing the cheap silly carnival games for the cheap silly prizes displayed on the walls. Those were good times.