As soon as you get to town, drop your bags and head directly to the Boardwalk. To avoid congested weekend traffic, take the city bus. There's a dedicated bus lane on the highway, and you can ride all day for $2. Parking downtown can cost up to $20 for just a few hours.

The Boardwalk stretches some 2.9 miles, tracing the Atlantic Ocean from 28th Street to the Inlet. It's lined with kitschy T-shirt shops, carnival games, and seaside bars, but the area also hosts some of our longtime favorites. A tram will take you end to end, stopping wherever you like, for $2.50.

You can nosh on boardwalk fries from Thrasher's, munch caramel corn at Fisher's Popcorn, sample saltwater taffy at Dolle's, and scoop up a frosty treat at Dumser's Dairyland. Buy a kite at The Kite Loft, and sail it on the beach. Chocolate lovers always gravitate to Wockenfuss Homemade Candies, and it's simply not a vacation until you've ridden the vintage 1902 Herschell-Spellman Carousel at Trimper's Rides.

Keep an eye on your watch. When it gets close to dusk, make your way back to Fager's Island Restaurant, where they play Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture as the sun sets over the bay. After the show, stick around for dinner. There's a casual bar menu and upscale dining.

left: The Boardwalk offers a family-friendly spot for a bike ride.