The Best Day Trips From Atlantic City NJ

There’s plenty to do in Atlantic City, but if you’ve got a day to spare, head to these nearby towns to experience all the best adventures South Jersey has to offer.

Cape May

At the southernmost tip of New Jersey, just a 40-minute drive from Atlantic City, is one of the most charming towns on the East Coast. Cape May is a village trapped in time – a massive fire in the mid-19th century discouraged new developers, so today there are still hundreds of spectacular Victorian mansions lining the streets.

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If you’re traveling with kids, the Cape May Zoo is a must-see attraction. It’s consistently ranked among the best zoos in the country, and best of all, it’s completely free. Donations of a few dollars are definitely encouraged, though.

From the zoo, it’s just a short drive to Historic Cold Spring Village, where re-enactors give you a glimpse into life in the late 1700s. Cold Spring hosts events and festivals throughout the year, which are definitely worth checking out.

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1. Pilesgrove

Market

You’d probably guess that the oldest running weekly rodeo in the country is somewhere in Texas, right? Wrong! It’s in Pilesgrove, NJ.

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The Cowtown Rodeo has been putting on a show every Saturday night from May through September since 1929. The family-run affair features bull riding, steer wrestling, saddle broc riding, bareback riding, roping and barrel racing. If cowboys and cowgirls aren’t your thing, there’s also a sprawling farmer’s market on the rodeo grounds.

Cowtown Rodeo, 780 Harding Highway, Pilesgrove, NJ, USA +1 856 769 3200

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Smithville

The quaint village of Smithville offers a dose of historical charm and a full day of shopping. More than 60 tiny shops line the town’s square and winding streets, offering everything from artisanal peanut butter to wine tastings and American Indian crafts and gifts. You’ll be busy window shopping all day long.

When you’re done shopping, grab some grub from one of Smithville’s endless number of delicious eateries and take a seat on one of the benches or picnic tables that dot the village square.

If you’ve got little ones, they’ll love climbing aboard a paddleboat in Smithville’s lake, taking a train ride around the village or climbing aboard the carousel. There are always friendly ducks and chickens hanging around, ensuring you’ll never hear the dreaded, “I’m bored!”

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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.