INDEX

• 8211 Reunion Report
• 8211 Reunion Final Agenda ( As of 6/22/1997 )
• Travel Info of Metro New York Area
• Directions to Somerset Marriott Hotel

8211 Reunion Report

Guo Duanyang and his wife Feng Jimei,  Ji Xuan(Sam) and his wife Liu Qing,  Jin Zhefei and her husband Yang Guang (798) and their son Ben and her parents, Liu Ming and his wife Li Dan (8312) and their daughter Lucia and future son, Liu Minzhi and her boyfriend Zhu Guangjian (Alex, 831), Shui Min and his wife Xu Jie and son Shui Boying, Sun Dequan and his wife Zhang Peihua, Tong Yu and Tu Tong couple, Wang Ziyi and his wife Lu Zhao (853), Xiao Bing and his wife Jia Jing, Zhang Yue and his wife Wu Changlu, Zhao Hao and his wife Zhang Yang and daughter Zhao Jingyan, son Zhao Hanfeng, Zhong Jianhua and his wife Mei Qing(Susanna), and Zhou Jianhua and his wife Chen Minhong and daughter Zhou Xingyi.

Ji Xuan actually arrived on July 3rd and stayed in Zhao Hao's house during the night. The rest of 8211ers arrived on July 4th. Since AVIS, the car rental company failed to provide us the van that we booked, all the local hosts and the guests who drove in, provided the ground transportation.

On July 4th, every one checked in Somerset Marriott Hotel. Chinese takeout was served as meal in late afternoon. 8211ers met each other in their hotel rooms and then the pool-side. The next morning, we got up around 6:30 AM and arrived at the beach around 8:00 AM.  Every one enjoyed the time on the beach. We held a beach volleyball game. Some of us also played football (not soccer). Following is the picture of all 8211ers on the beach.

 

All the gentlemen :

All the ladies:

 

We had a dinner in a nearby Chinese Seafood Restaurant. After the dinner, Liu Minzhi and Zhao Hao hosted the reunion party. Every 8211er gave a short speech about him/herself and introduced the spouse and family. Wang Ziyi recited a poem. Almost every 8211er sang at least one karaoke song. Xiao Bing brought us a Chinese Rock'n Roll.  All gentlemen sang another Chinese Rock'n Roll "I have nothing (Yi1 Wu2 Suo3 You3 -- by Cui Jian)". Obviously the 8211ers now have much more than nothing, e.g. their beloved family and successful career, comparing to the good old days when we were in the school. During the party, the chairman of reunion committee, Tong Yu announced that the committee decided to award Zhu Guangjian (Alex, 831, Liu Minzhi's boyfriend) an Honorary 8211 Classmate for his assistance in this reunion.

After the party, 8211ers chatted in the hotel's lobby till 3:00 AM in the morning of July 6th. We all agreed that it was a completely successful reunion. We should get together again in future. All 8211ers checked out the hotel 11:00 AM. The reunion was officially over.  However many 8211ers and their families were still in the Metropolitan Area to continue their planned vacations.

8211 Reunion Agenda

After several weeks' negotiation with Somerset Marriott, 8211 reunion committee has signed a contract with the hotel. Under this arrangement, any 8211er who is interested in attending the upcoming 10th graduation anniversary and college reunion, please dial 1-800-238-3198 to make reservation. You should mention USTC reunion when you call, then you will get $72 per room per night ( regular price starts at $109 per room per night ) for Friday, July 4th and Saturday, July 5th. If you change your mind or you just can not come,  please call the same toll-free number to cancel the reservation, there will be no penalty and no question asked.

Currently the hotel has reserved 5 rooms with one king-size bed and 10 rooms with two twin-size beds. This is an incredible deal! Since it is a limited-time offer, please make you reservation ASAP. YOU CAN CANCEL IT ANY TIME AFTERWARD WITHOUT ANY PENALTY.

Following is the list of 8211ers that we have spoken with and confirmed to attend the reunion:
Zhao Hao and his family, Liu Min Zhi and her boy-friend, Tong Yu and Tu Tong, Guo Duanyang and his wife, Liu Ming (probably his wife and daughter), Sun De Quan and his wife, Shui Min and his family, Xiao Bing and his wife, Zhang Yue and his wife, Zhong Jian Hua and his wife, Jin Zhe Fei and her family, Wang Zi Yi and his wife, Zhou Jian Hua and his wife.

8211ers who can not come:
Xu Xue Jun, Wu Jian, He Dong, Luo Gong, Liu Dan, Liang Rong Gang, Wang Li Feng, Shen Xiao Wei, Zhang Qiang and all other 8211ers who are not in the states.

Those who are still interested:
Ji Xuan

Following is the FINAL agenda of 8211 reunion on July 4th, 1997:

1) Since other 8211ers will either fly into New Jersey or drive long distance, the hosts ( Zhao Hao, Liu Min Zhi, Tong Yu, and Tu Tong ) decided to cover the cost of local ground transportation for all the guests. We will pay the 2-day rental of a 15-passenger van ( ~$300) and volunteer to drive the van and our family vehicles to pick-up and drop-off our guests at the Newark Airport and nearby railway station as well as the trip to the beach.

2) Friday, July 4th, Arrival.
Airport Pickup. Check-in at the hotel front desk, please ask for the room number of USTC College Reunion Command Center. Check-in with the Command Center. A $55 per adult fee in cash or personal check will be collected.  Un-officially meet with other 8211ers. Chinese take-out will be ordered as meal. Beer and snack will be available for late night chatting needs. Please do not stay up too late.

3) Saturday, July 5th, Reunion.
If it is not raining, daytime activities will be at the Jenkinson's white sandy beach at Pt. Pleasant ( 1 hour driving distance from the hotel). We will ask the hotel to provide us wake-up service at 6:30 AM. We will go to the hotel cafeteria to have continental breakfast at everyone's own expense.  We are leaving at 7:00 AM to avoid holiday traffic. Please bring your swim wear, beach towel, sun block lotion (15 SPF or above). If you have small kids, they will have a lot of fun to play sand with bucket and spade. For our grown-ups,  beach volleyball, Frisbee, chicken-fighting, swimming, tanning, and other activities will be arranged. Pizza and French fries will be ordered as lunch.  We will leave the beach around 3:30 PM.

If it is raining, we will go to nearby Grand Buffet to have brunch and in-door social, every one will tell his/her story of past, present and future. We can share our interests on any topics with other 8211ers. We can also play pictionary and other in-door games.

Saturday night, we have already made reservation at KC Seafood Restaurant. We will have formal dinner between 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM. If we go to the beach during the daytime, starting at 7:00 AM, every one will give a 5~10 minutes talk. We will also play word game like composing a sentence like where and how somebody does something. We will also vote several the most of 8211.  After 9:30 PM, there will be dancing and Karaoke till mid-night. The cost of the dinner and karaoke dancing party is covered by the reunion except alcoholic beverage.

4) Sunday, July 6th. Departure.
Every one will take care of their own breakfast at the Hotel cafeteria. Guests can visit hosts' homes or arrange their own activities. Every one will check-out before noon. Hosts will drop off guests at the airport.

According to our estimation, the reunion will cost 8211ers $55 per adult which include the meal and beer in Friday evening, Saturday daytime the out-door beach admission and food or in-door Grand Buffet brunch, Saturday night formal dinner, and souvenir (very nice glass mugs with USTC 8211 reunion logo).

8211ers who attend the reunion will receive an itemized balance sheet and any change of the pre-collected fee. If we exceed the budget, additional money will be collected.

These are the assignments among the committee:
    Tu Tong: Hotel Reservation,  Accounting
    Zhao Hao: Van Rental, Travel info
    Liu Min Zhi: Dinner Arrangement, Souvenir Purchasing
    Tong Yu: Coordinating
    Guo Duan Yang: Planning

There was  a rehearsal on Saturday, June 21. Tong Yu, Tu Tong, Zhao Hao, Guo Duan Yang and his wife (Feng Ji Mei) got together and went to the Pt. Pleasant beach. We finalized all the details. Tu Tong will try to contact the beach business office on June 23 to seek possible discount on admissions and rentals.

Should you have any comments or suggestions regarding to the reunion, please send us email or just call us.

For those who have booked airline tickets, please send a email with your flight number and arrival time to us. For those who will drive, please check out the maps and the directions. If you get lost, please call the hotel main number for directions.

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Travel Info of Metro New York Area

In a nutshell, when visiting NYC, don't miss Chinatown, Fifth Ave. (the world's most expensive shopping district), Time Square, Empire State Building, World Trade Center, Greenwich Village. If you plan an extended visit, try to see some museums. You can save some time visiting Statue of Liberty from the New Jersey side. United Nations headquarters is also worth seeing.

Now is the more detailed info.

New York City:

Do see the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, South Street, Seaport, and Central Park. New York is very much a walking city, so hit the pavement and stay alert -- half the fun is uncovering all the sights between the sights, and few places on Earth are better for people watching.

LANDMARKS, MONUMENTS AND HISTORIC SITES OR DISTRICTS

Carnegie Hall. A landmark concert hall with continuous performances of classical, chamber music, opera, pop and jazz. Tours Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday 11:30 am, 2 pm and 3 pm. Adults $6, seniors and students $5. 154 W. 57th St. (at Seventh Avenue), (212) 247-7800.

Chinatown. The Chinese district in New York City is a labyrinth of narrow streets where crammed storefronts dispense everything from herbal remedies to exotic foods to souvenirs. When the frenetic activity on the streets wears you out, stop in at a restaurant that serves dim sum. Located in Lower Manhattan, Chinatown extends from Canal to Pell Street and from the Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue) as far east as the Bowery. Major streets are Canal, Pell and Mott.

Ellis Island National Monument. Ellis Island allows visitors to retrace the steps of their ancestors and share the excitement and heartache of the immigrant experience.Circle Line Statue of Liberty Ferry departs from Battery Park (on the Lower West Side of Manhattan) every 30 minutes, stops at the Statue of Liberty, then heads on to Ellis Island. Daily 9:30 am to 3:30 pm; tickets can be purchased from 8:30 am on. Adults $7, children (ages 3-17) $3, senior citizens $5. Ellis Island recorded information, (212) 363-3200; ferry information, (212) 269-5755. (IRT subways 4 and 5 to Bowling Green and 1 and 9 to South Ferry and BMT trains N and R all stop across the street from Battery Park.) (Note: expect long lines, especially during holidays. If you are on tight schedule, skip this place.)

Empire State Building. From King Kong to Sleepless in Seattle, Hollywood has always paid homage to this distinctive landmark. Incredible views of the city day and night from the various observatories. Daily 9:30 am to 11:30 pm. Adults $4.50, children and seniors $2.25. A new attraction is the New York SKYRIDE, a flight simulator that makes you feel like you're soaring over the city. Adults $9, children and seniors $7, under 5 free. Daily 10 am to 10 pm. The ride lasts 30 minutes. Children age 4 and under not allowed. 34th Street and Fifth Avenue, (212) 736-3100. For SKYRIDE information, call (212) 279-9777.

Greenwich Village. This long-time artist community, replete with coffeehouses and off-Broadway theaters, is also distinguished by its large and politically active gay community (in the West Village) and bars that serve either old Ukrainians or young hipsters (in the East Village). Wonderful, winding cobblestone streets, old town houses, and the smaller scale of streets and apartment buildings make the Village a great place to dine, shop or just take a long walk. Houston Street north to 14th Street, Broadway west to the Hudson River.

Little Italy. Little Italy has dwindled significantly over the years as Chinatown has expanded, but it remains the best place in Manhattan to find authentic Italian breads, meats, pasta and cheeses. During warmer months you can eat alfresco at the restaurants or just have an espresso and a pastry. In lower Manhattan, just north of Chinatown, Little Italy extends from Mott to Mulberry on Hester Street and from Hester to Grand on Mulberry Street.

Rockefeller Center. Perhaps most famous for its Christmas tree-lighting ceremony and ice-skating rink, Rockefeller Center is also home to NBC Studios. Studio tours given every 15-30 minutes from 9 or 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. $10 ($8.50 if you're in a group of more than 10). You can book a tour months in advance. No children under 6 years old. Also in Rockefeller Center: an underground shopping concourse and a patio for outdoor dining. Between 47th Street and 52nd Street, (212) 698-8900. For NBC Studio tours: (212) 664-7174.

Times Square. The site of the country's biggest New Year's Eve party, this square (really more of a triangle) is famous for its huge billboards, porn palaces and Broadway theaters all crunched together and clamoring for your attention. Gentrification is under way with the opening of the Virgin Megastore (the world's biggest music emporium) and the Disney Store and the renovation of the historic New Amsterdam Theater -- the area remains over-the-top and sleazy. (The TKTS ticket booth sells same-day half-price tickets at 47th Street and Broadway. Opens noon for matinees, 3 pm for evening shows.) Broadway to Seventh Avenue, between 42nd Street and 47th Street.

World Trade Center. The Observation Deck offers a view from 107 stories up that lets you see beyond New York harbor. Free musical performances on the plaza. Deck open daily 9:30 am to 11:30 pm, depending on the season. Adults $8, children (ages 6-12) $3, seniors and students $3.50. Discount theater tickets available on the mezzanine of 2 World Trade Center. Downtown on the West Side, bordered by West, Church, Liberty and Vesey Streets, (212) 323-2340.

MUSEUMS

Most New York museums are closed Mondays and holidays.

Metropolitan Museum of Art. The 19th-Century European Paintings and Sculpture Galleries house treasures by Monet, Renoir, Manet, Gauguin, Van Gogh and others. Paintings by Whistler, Eakins and John Singer Sargent occupy the wonderful American wing. The entire museum covers 5,000 years of culture from all over the world, so wear comfortable shoes and give yourself a few hours at a time to browse. Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday 9:30 am to 5:15 pm, Friday and Saturday 9:30 am to 8:45 pm. Suggested donation: Adults $8; students, seniors and children $4. Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, (212) 570-3711.

International Center of Photography. New York City's only museum devoted exclusively to photography. Exhibits include works by such socially conscious photographers as Sebastiao Salgado and Mary Ellen Mark. Tuesday 11 am to 8 pm, Wednesday-Sunday 11 am to 6 pm. Adults $4, students and seniors $2.50, children (under age 12) $1. 1130 Fifth Ave. (at 94th), (212) 860-1777. Midtown branch: 1133 Sixth Ave. (at 43rd), (212) 768-4680.

Guggenheim Museum. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the building itself is a work of art. Spiraling hallways are also galleries for impressionist, post-impressionist, modern and contemporary paintings. Holdings include Chagall's Green Violinist, Picasso's Woman Ironing and Kandinsky's Composition 8. Sunday-Wednesday 10 am to 6 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am to 8 pm. Adults $10, seniors and students $5, children (under age 12) free. 1071 Fifth Ave. (at 88th Street), (212) 423-3500. The Guggenheim Museum SoHo has cutting-edge exhibits often featuring interactive videos and multimedia. Sunday and Wednesday-Friday 11 am to 6 pm, Saturday 11 am to 8 pm. Adults $6, Saturday-Sunday $4, under 12 free. 575 Broadway (at Prince Street), (212) 423-3500.

Whitney Museum of American Art. Constantly changing exhibitions of paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, film and video; past exhibits have featured Jasper Johns, Georgia O'Keeffe and Andy Warhol. Wednesday 11 am to 6 pm, Thursday 1 to 8 pm, Friday-Sunday 11 am to 6 pm. Adults $8, free Thursday 6-8 pm, seniors and students $6, children (under age 12) free. Wednesday, Friday-Sunday 11 am to 6 pm, Thursday 1 pm to 8 pm. 945 Madison Ave. (at 75th    Street), (212) 570-3676.

PARKS, GARDENS AND ZOOS

Central Park. In 1856 New York officials set aside an amazing 843 acres/341 hectares of valuable city land between Fifth and Eighth Avenues and 59th and 110th Streets for a park. To this day, flowing meadows, bridges, lakes, ponds and playing fields maintain a fragile serenity in the heart of this metropolis. Visitors of all ages enjoy the various and whimsical sculptures, the skating rink, the boat pond and the zoo. John Lennon fans can pay their respects at Strawberry Fields, the area of the park dedicated to his memory, on the west side near 72nd Street. During the summer, residents flock to the band shells for afternoon and evening concerts. A motorized trolley tour will take you through the park to different  points of interest. Departures Monday-Friday at 10:30 am, 1 pm and 3 pm from Grand Army Plaza, 60th Street and Fifth Avenue. Adults $15, students and seniors $13. (212) 397-3807. For a horse-drawn-carriage ride through the Park, find an empty buggy at Tavern on the Green or at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue. Ride costs $34 for 20 minutes, $10 for every 10 minutes after that. Central Park Information: (212) 246-0520.

Note Never venture into Central Park after dark, and don't go alone into the park's upper regions (above 89th Street), even during the day.

PLANETARIUM

The Hayden Planetarium. Daily shows re-create the movements of the constellations and planets. Sunday-Thursday 10 am to 5:45 pm, Friday-Saturday 10 am to 8:45 pm. Adults $8, seniors and students $6, children $4.50. Museum of Natural History, Central Park at W. 81st St., (212) 769-5920.

SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOURS

For information on walking tours, pick up a free copy of The Big Apple Visitor's Guide. It's an excellent resource, and you may find it indispensable during your stay. Available at the New York Convention and Visitor's Bureau information center, 2 Columbus Circle, (212) 397-8222. Pick up a free Walking Tour of Rockefeller Center pamphlet at the information desk in the lobby of the GE Building, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, (212) 664-4444.

LOCAL TOURS

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises. Three-hour narrated cruises around Manhattan with sightings of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the World Trade Center and the United Nations. Group rates available. Tours take place March-Dec 17; departure times vary depending on the month. Adults $18, children $9. Pier 83, 42nd Street on the Hudson River, 10036-1095, (212) 563-3200.

Citywalks: Walking Tours of New York offers Saturday and Sunday tours of Greenwich Village, downtown and the Lower East Side, for individuals or groups. Closed January-February. Contact John H. Wilson (owner), 410 W. 20th St., 10011, (212) 989-2456.

Guides Association of New York City. A nonprofit association that represents 200 NYC licensed guides. Many are multilingual -- more than 25 foreign languages are spoken. Guides available to narrate motor coach tours, to meet and greet visitors at the airport, etc. 161 W. 75th St., Suite 8F, 10023, (212) 969-0666.

Joyce Gold Tours. Eclectic walking tours of the Financial District, Greenwich Village, Ellis Island, Harlem and other historical locations. Groups from 1 to 60. Tours March-November, Saturday-Sunday, $12 a person (tours last 2-4 hours). Private tours $100 an hour for fewer than six people, $125 an hour for six to 60 people (minimum of two hours). 141 W. 17th St., 10011, (212) 242-5762.

Harlem Spirituals offers a variety of tours, some multilingual, including a Soul Food and Jazz tour of historic Harlem; a Harlem and Gospel tour; and a Saturday tour of Upper Manhattan, including Harlem, the Cloisters and parts of the Bronx. Some evening tours include dinner and music. Prices vary. 1697 Broadway, Suite 203, 10019, (212) 757-0425.

Big Apple Greeter. Not a tour guide, exactly, but a volunteer "friend" to greet you and give you an insider's perspective on New York. Call three days in advance of your visit and discuss what you would like to see. One greeter per 2-3 people or a family. They will match languages. Free. (212) 669-2896.

NY Apple Tours. See New York from a double-decker bus. The route includes Rockefeller Center, Times Square, the Empire State Building, South Street Seaport and more. Full tour: Adults $28, children $16. Hop on and off at 48 different locations. Tours start at 9 am from the Plaza Hotel, Rockefeller Center or in front of JoJo's (Broadway and 46th Street). Buy tickets on the bus or at various hotels. (800) 876-9868.

The Municipal Art Society. Architectural, historical, walking and bus tours. Tours include Rockefeller Center, Immigrant New York, Times Square Theaters, Irish New York, the Subway System, Skyscraper Evolution and more. Adults $10-$15, students and seniors $8, Saturday tour prices vary. For reservations (needed for Saturdays only), call (212) 935-3969 (Monday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm). For tour information, call (212) 439-1049.

Spirit Cruises. Sail away on a three-hour tour of the New York Harbor on either the Spirit of New York or the Spirit of New Jersey. A dinner and dancing cruise is an option. Prices run from $30 to $72. Cruises every day. Reservations necessary. (212) 727-7735.

Big Onion. Twenty walking tours of historic and ethnic New York, including Governors Island and the Lower East Side. Adults $9, students and seniors $7. Tours last 2-2\'20urs. No reservations. (212) 439-1090.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCES

St. Patrick's Cathedral. The seat of New York's archdiocese, St. Patrick's Cathedral is an enormous and ornate Gothic-style cathedral that has the souls of even the most exhausted travelers rejoicing after a visit. Monday-Friday 7 am to 8 pm, Saturday-Sunday 8 am to 7:30 pm. Fifth Avenue at 50th Street, (212) 753-2261.

The United Nations. The largest international governmental organization in the world. Free tickets to the General Assembly and various councils are sometimes available. Guided tours every 30 minutes, daily 9:15 am to 4:45 pm. Adults $6.50, seniors and students $4.50, children $3.50; children under age 5 not admitted. First Avenue at 46th Street, (212) 963-7713.

Sony IMAX Theater. An eight-stories-high screen plus 3-D. See New York City through the eyes of a young Russian immigrant in Across the Sea of Time. Eight shows daily. Sony IMAX Theater: Adults $9, seniors $7.50, children $6. Broadway and 68th Street, (212) 336-5000.

Crime During the day the streets and subways are bustling, so walking or riding the subway alone poses no particular threat, other than from the occasional pickpocket. Naturally, you should be cautious -- make sure your purse is zipped and held close or your wallet is tucked in your front (not back) pocket. Don't wear expensive-looking jewelry. At night, darkness and decreased activity make walking and riding the trains a riskier business. Never walk through Central Park after dark, and if you're taking the subway after dusk, know your destination and stay alert. As a rule, take cabs rather than the subway at night. Be wary of pickpockets and con games in tourist areas, especially around the theaters of Times Square. Occasionally, for instance, scam artists will volunteer to help travelers with their bags, only to demand outrageous payments afterward. Or they'll try to hook you with various moneymaking schemes. Just remember, if it's too good to be true, it's a con. Keep in mind that no one but the dealer ever wins at three-card monte and that genuine Rolexes and Coach bags are never displayed on cardboard boxes. Avoid Hell's Kitchen (just west of the Theater District), Harlem and the Bowery at night. Trust your instincts: Do not walk down any block that looks particularly desolate (shuttered, abandoned and dark) or sinister (people standing on corners). Cars parked on the street are likely to be broken into and their radios stolen, so take a deep breath and pay the huge fee for parking in a garage. Nearly every square block has its share of panhandlers; expect frequent requests for money on the subway as well. But remember, despite all of the above, New York is not the most dangerous of the large U.S. cities, and using common sense should keep you out of trouble.

New Jersey:

Atlantic City

 The world-famous beach resort of Atlantic City has ridden the ups and downs of history. Home of the world's oldest beachfront boardwalk and the first pleasure pier, Atlantic City also spawned the picture postcard. Perhaps most significant of all, the street names for Monopoly were coined after Atlantic City's, although the city's layout bears little resemblance to the board game (and there's no "Get Out of Jail Free" cards, either). Atlantic City reached its peak at the turn of the 20th century, when thousands of city dwellers flocked there each weekend. Later on, as automobiles and airplanes brought    better beaches within reach of New York and Philly vacationers, Atlantic City went into a half-century of decline until the 1970s, when gambling was legalized and millions of dollars flowed into the local economy from speculating real estate developers. First and foremost of these was Donald Trump, whose name is emblazoned on four of Atlantic City's five largest casino/hotels, including the massive Taj Mahal, which nearly cost him his fortune. These days Atlantic City (pop. 38,000) has been transformed from a derelict relic into a glitzy gambling resort, attracting thousands of visitors and millions of dollars daily to its casinos. The clattering of slot machines and the buzz of the craps tables continues 24 hours a day year-round. The Boardwalk, backed by a wall of 25-story casino/hotels, is still the main focus, running along the beach for over two miles from TropWorld in the south to the Showboat (which has free parking). Few of the remaining piers offer much of interest. Ocean One, located opposite Caesar's casino at the foot of Arkansas Avenue, is an anodyne shopping mall on the site of  the legendary Million Dollar Pier. Only  the rebuilt Steel Pier holds the  traditional seaside rides and arcade games. It's located opposite Trump's Taj Mahal at the foot of Pennsylvania Avenue. At the heart of Atlantic City,  on the Boardwalk a block south of Park Place, stands the stalwart art deco Convention Center. The largest auditorium in the world when it was   built, the convention center seats 22,000 and still houses a massive pipe  organ; its console is on display in the  lobby.  Besides representing Atlantic City's main attractions, the casinos hold almost all of the places to eat, apart from the dozens of fast-food stands along the Boardwalk. Two old favorites stand out from the crowd, both within blocks of the convention center: the chrome White House Sub Shop at 2301 Arctic Avenue, which is open until midnight every day, and publike Dock's Oyster House at 2405 Atlantic Avenue, a great seafood restaurant since 1871. Except for a number of seedy motels and $75-a-night national chains (Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Holiday Inn, etc.), the casinos also monopolize accommodation options -- expect to pay around $100 a night, since bargains are hard to find even midweek, midwinter. For complete listings and more detailed information, contact the Atlantic City visitors center (800/BOARDWALK).

Directions to the Somerset Marriott Hotel

From Route 287 Traveling South
From Route 287 Southbound, take exit 6 (Route 527/Easton Avenue/New Brunswick). At the bottom of the exit ramp get immediately into the left lane and make a left hand turn. (Go under the overpass of Route 287). Once you have turned left, go straight (bearing to your right - 527 North) to the first traffic light and make a left onto Davidson Avenue. The hotel is the 2nd building on your left, second driveway entrance. Hotel is adjacent to Garden State Exhibit Center.

From New Jersey Turnpike
Take Exit 10 to Route 287 North. Follow directions from Route 287 North.

From Garden State Parkway Traveling North
Take Exit 127 to Route 287 North. Follow directions from Route 287 North.

From Garden State Parkway Traveling South
Take Exit 129 to Route 287 North. Follow directions from Route 287 North.

From Newark Airport
Take the New Jersey Turnpike South to Exit 10 to Route 287 North. Follow directions from Route 287 North.

From J.F.K. Airport and the Brooklyn Area
Take the Belt Parkway to the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. Over the bridge take the Staten Island Expressway (Outer Bridge Crossing) to Route 440 West. Follow 440 West to Route 287 North. Follow directions from Route 287 North.

From LaGuardia Airport
Take the Grand Central Parkway to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Follow to the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. Over the bridge take the Staten Island Expressway to Route 440 West. Follow Route 440 to Route 287 North. Follow directions from 287 North.

From Philadelphia
Take the New Jersey Turnpike North to Exit 10 to Route 287 North. Follow directions from Route 287 North.

From Mid-town Manhattan
Take either the Holland or Lincoln Tunnel to the New Jersey Turnpike (95) South. Take Exit 10 to Route 287 North. Follow directions from Route 287 North.

From Upstate New York/New England
Take the NewYork Thru-way to the Garden State Parkway. Go South to Exit 129 to Route 287 North. Follow directions from Route 287 North.

From Princeton Area
Take Route 202-206 North to Route 22 East to Route 287 South. Follow directions from Route 287 South
 or- Route 1 North to 287 North. Follow directions from Route 287 North.

Map It

Point to Point Driving Directions 

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Last Updated July 13, 1997

©1996 ~ 2000 Harry Yu Tong & Diane Tong Tu