Yesterday I had the glorious experience of spending the day in Atlantic City.

There is a wonderful bunch of us who do this annually and it is a very special time to connect in a carefree atomosphere.

The great thing about AC is that you can gamble in the shiny casino(s), or go to the beach to sun & swim, or go to the outlet shops and find a great deal on something you may or may not need, and eat some really good food. Originally we went to Carmine's but the last couple of years have gone to Dock's (since 1897! http://www.docksoysterhouse.com/) for the delicious seafood.

Or, just sit quietly on the beach or the hotel deck and read a good book.

Last week I discovered that you can get on an Academy bus at Port Authority, ride for less than 2 hours and end up 2 blocks from the beach in Ocean Grove, NJ. A truly delightful place. To top it off, the senior fare is $9.50. Spend the day and return, or stay the night at a million spots, I like The Quaker Inn (http://www.quakerinn.com/). One of the main reasons I love Ocean Grove is because it is so not a party town, you can't buy alcohol here. You can bring it with you to the great restaurants, but there are no bars or clubs or discotheques. More goood food, check out the Seagrass (http://www.seagrassnj.com/).

Just don't let this summer pass you by, there are a lot of great beach days left. Get off Long Island and enjoy a different perspective.

Of course, the ULTIMATE beach escape is the Klein Cottage in Key West....

If you're nice to Fred, he may tell you the availabilty.

“Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.” –Chinese Proverb