Atlantic City – Kid-Friendly Attractions

While Atlantic City has a long history of gambling, drinking, and nightlife, it’s now a family-friendly vacation destination.

In addition to making sandcastles and swimming in the ocean, there are lots of activities for kids to enjoy. Check out a few of these kid-friendly attractions during your visit to Atlantic City.

Steel Pier Amusement Park

You can’t bring kids to Atlantic City without checking out the boardwalk! One of the best parts about the Atlantic City Boardwalk is the Steel Pier Amusement Park. This is the site of the city’s recognizable Ferris wheel, which can be seen from miles away.

The Steel Pier Amusement Park has classic attractions like bumper cars, carousels, and arcade games. There are options for all ages, so the entire family will have something to enjoy.

The Steel Pier Amusement Park even has a promotion called “Rockin’ Wristband Thursday.” During this promotion, a $30 wristband gives you unlimited access to all the rides. If your kids are energetic thrill seekers, this investment is sure to pay off. There’s 1,000 feet of amusement park attractions to enjoy, promising lots of family fun.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

While it might seem like a touristy spot, it’s undeniable that kids love visiting Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Their Atlantic City location is popular year-round, as it provides hours of fun for the entire family.

The 12,000-square-foot attraction features 14 themed exhibit areas filled with hundreds of artifacts. You’ll see authentic shrunken heads, a model of the world’s tallest man, creepy skeletons, an executioner’s sword, and a bust made out of buttons.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is open 365 days a year, so you can escape from the summertime heat or warm up in the winter when many other attractions are closed. There are usually Groupons available, making a visit more affordable. Take time to explore everything Ripley’s has to offer, and your kids are sure to be entertained.

Atlantic City Aquarium

Between its relatively small size and exhibits geared towards visitors of all ages, the Atlantic City Aquarium is perfect for families. There are three floors filled with more than 100 kinds of fish and marine life. In addition to fish, the Atlantic City Aquarium features animals like turtles, lizards, and frogs.

While at the museum, younger visitors can enjoy watching the creatures and coloring pictures. Meanwhile, older kids can explore some of the touch tanks there. The Tropical Shark Touch Tank allows guests to interact with small, calm sharks, while the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Zone Touch Tank features creatures like horseshoe crabs and sea urchins.

Once the family is done learning about aquatic life, venture upstairs to the observation deck, which provides a panoramic view of the ocean. The aquarium is the perfect place to bring kids, especially if you’re exploring Atlantic City on a rainy day or in the off-season.

Sugar Factory

Sugar Factory made a name for itself by inviting countless celebrities to enjoy its sweets, meals, and cocktails. Celebrities such as Nicki Minaj, Nick Cannon, Mike Tyson, the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Drake, Mario Lopez, and the Kardashians have all tried out the treats Sugar Factory has to offer.

The entire restaurant is filled with sweets, making it a kid’s paradise. Sugar Factory’s candy store has floor-to-ceiling shelving with more than 500 types of candy. Sugar Factory is most famous for its Couture Pops, which feature beautifully designed handles and a refillable lollipop on top. In addition to candy, Sugar Factory has sweets like giant sundaes and milkshakes. Anyone with a sweet tooth will absolutely love Sugar Factory, especially kids!

In addition to sweets in the cafe and confectionery, Sugar Factory also has a full restaurant, which is perfect for families or groups celebrating a special occasion. Adults can order a variety of cocktails, such as a cotton candy cosmo and a bubblegum martini.

As for actual meals, one of the most outstanding options is their Sugar Factory rainbow sliders. These miniature burgers are nestled between buns dyed brilliant shades of blue, red, yellow, green, and purple. With so much to see, do, and taste, guests of all ages will feel like a kid again at Sugar Factory.

Storybook Land

While this attraction is 20 minutes from Atlantic City, it’s still one of the most kid-oriented places in the area.

Storybook Land is an amusement park that has been transporting guests into the world of their favorite fairy tales since 1955. Venture into the mouth of the whale from Pinocchio, witness the Big Bad Wolf in Grandmother’s clothes, and explore a little red schoolhouse. Throughout the park, there are statues of storybook characters, toy houses, trains, castles, and kid-friendly roller coasters. Other rides include a chair swing, a rocking boat, a small tower drop, and spinning teacups.

Storybook Land also hosts seasonal activities, such as pumpkin picking, hayrides, Santa meet-and-greets, and a holiday parade. This destination brings childhood stories to life, creating a fantasy world just a few minutes from Atlantic City.

Rainforest Cafe

If you’re looking for a kid-friendly place to eat, Rainforest Cafe is an ideal option. From the immersive decor to the simulated thunderstorm every 20 minutes, kids will enjoy every moment in this eatery. The dimly lit restaurant is filled with trees, vines hanging from the ceiling, and various wild animals hidden among the greenery. The sound of birds chirping and other animal life fills the air, and thunder can be heard in the distance.

The names of the dishes are on-theme as well. You can choose from Beef Lava Nachos, the Awesome Appetizer Adventure, Anaconda Pasta, Jungle Steak and Shrimp, a Rainforest Burger, and more. There are no volcanoes in the dining area, but you can still get one in the form of a dessert! The Sparkling Volcano consists of a giant, warm brownies stacked up like a volcano, with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. The dish is completed with chocolate sauce and a sparkler.

Lucy the Elephant

Just outside Atlantic City is Lucy the Elephant, a historic landmark that’s older than the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty! This six-story elephant structure was built in 1881 and is a great photo op for those visiting the area.

Those interested in learning more about Lucy the Elephant take a guided tour. The tour goes over the history of the one-of-a-kind building and culminates in a 360-degree view of Atlantic City from the top floor.

The affordable admission, $8.50 for adults and $4 for children, goes to the maintenance and preservation of Lucy. Whether you venture inside or not, the entire family will surely remember your visit to this historic structure.