Atlantic City to Unaccompanied (?) Tours On the Radio

On the boardwalk at Atlantic City, NJ. Photo © Judy Wells.

Casinos, urban renovation, steel piers, diving horses and salt water taffy, yes, but an island? Never thought of Atlantic City that way.

Urban renovation has a long way to go, casinos are, well, casinos, the steel pier is concrete, there are no more diving horses, but the ocean and salt water taffy are very much there.

Ducktown for Italian food. Photo © by Judy Wells.

Mangia

Ducktown and the back or bayside are where the natives gathers. Southern Italian food rules Ducktown - Angelo's Fairmount Tavern, Formica Bros. Bakery and Angeloni's II - are particularly popular. Best northern Italian meal? Definitely the elegant Capriccio's in Resorts overlooking the ocean.

For breakfast head to Gilchrist's at Gardner Bay where blueberry pancakes melt in your mouth, the service is fast and friendly and the marina view from the 34th floor is hard to beat.

It's high season at the moment so don't expect any deals. After Labor Day when schools are back in session but the weather is still good, keep an eye out for specials.

Spa or Spaaah?

View-tific Lap pool room at Immersion at Borgata's. Photo © by Judy Wells. set up for a special event.

Spa prices are pretty much the same so you might as well go for the best. My vote goes to the sophisticated Immersion Spa at Borgata Water Club, a world away from beachfront casinos, and the efficient Spa at nearby Golden Nugget.

Not Your Mother's Tours

Forget the "If it's Tuesday this must be Belgium" image of packaged tours. Travelers' expectations have changed and so has the tour industry.

Take Collette Tours, which many may remember from their come with us to Italy commercials. In 2014 they are paying homage to Elvis  - Jan. 8, 2015 will have been his 80th birthday - with an eight-day, three-city - New Orleans, Memphis and Nashville - tour of Southern American music hubs. More far-reaching, a 15-day tour of South Africa's floral wonders.

New in 22015 are four- to six-night city tours which include morning activities such as guided orientation tours, local hosting and some meals but leave afternoons and evenings free for your own independent explorations. Initial packages will be for Florence, Rome, Venice, New Orleans, San Francisco, Paris, Dublin, London, Barcelona, Madrid, French Riviera, Beijing, New York and San Antonio.

Prices go from $999, land only, for Beijing to $1,749 for Paris and New York and $1,899 for Barcelona.

Another company, Lynott Tours, offers escorted, self-drive, car and driver and city packages with day tour options.

Confederate Re-Enactments

Two unique events during the Civil War - the Union Army's arrest and deportation of Roswell, GA's female mill workers and the Confederate capture of the Shriver House, now a heritage museum, and the battle's gruesome aftermath - will be reenacted during July.

Gettysburg 

What: Confederate sharpshooters take over a strategic house and how 2,400 residents coped with 7,000 dead men, 5,000 dead horses and 21,000 seriously injured soldiers.
When: 5-9 p.m., July 5, 2014.
Where: Shriver House Museum, 309 Baltimore St., Gettysburg, PA.
 717-337-2800,  www.shriverhouse.org.

Roswell

What: In July 1864, The Union Army arrest 400 mill workers for treason and send them north via train to prison camps. Includes encampment by Federal troops on the front lawn of Barrington Hall, demonstrations of 1860s formal dancing, Civil War Era music, 1860s style (wet plate) photographers – weather permitting and a sutler (1860s merchant who followed the troops).
When: 1 p.m. and again at 3 p.m., July 12 & 13, 2014.
Where: Town Square, Roswell, GA.
 770-640-3855; www.visitroswellga.com

Frugal Furnishings

Go to the source for good deals.
What:  Furniture Festival and Clearance Sale features meet-ups with artisans and craftsmen plus markdowns of up to 60-70 percent on name furniture brands at North Carolina's famed furniture mart.
When: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. July 25and 26, 1-6 p.m. July 27.
Where: 2220 US Highway 70 SE; Hickory, NC.
800-462-MART; www.hickoryfurniture.com

 

Rail to Italy's Highlights

Shop on Amalfi Coast. Photo© by Judy Wells.

What: Mid-week 14-day highlights of Italy package - two nights in Venice, four nights in Florence, three nights in Salerno and four nights in Rome - via high-speed train (second class seating) with air conditioning, reclining seats, catering, free Wi-Fi and live TV.Includes cooking class, tours of
Cinque Terre, Sienna and San Gimignano, ticket for 48-hour hop-on, hop-off bus in Rome plus transfer to airport.
When: Daily departures now until Oct. 31, 2014.
How much: Starts at$2,665 in three-star hotels, $2,925 in four-star, land only.
Fine Print: Per person, double occupancy, does not include air fare or city tax  (must be paid daily in euros to hotel.
Tour Crafters, 800-482-5995; www.tourcrafters.com ("Special Offers" "Deal of the Week").