Daytrippin' to Atlantic City for free

What better way to spend a weekend than a spontaneous trip to the shore? Sure, New Jersey beaches don't hold a candle to the beaches I grew up with in Maine (I don't particularly enjoy the trash, the noise, or the jellyfish...), but at least it's water. Last year, I heard about the mysterious casino bus that takes people from the Greyhound terminal in Philly to Atlantic City for free. Apparently, when you purchase a $20 round-trip ticket in Philly, you can get reimbursed at the casinos because they expect you to gamble the money away. If you're not into gambling, and you just want to go to the beach, this translates into a free trip!

My boyfriend and I decided to give it a try. Here's how we spent a recent summer day.

10am: Wake up late, make waffles, eat on the deck with the cats.

11am: Do some work (ok that part wasn't very fun, but it had to be done).

12:30pm: Get ready for the trip by gathering our towels, sunscreen, swimsuits, books, and Frisbee. Pack a cheap, vegan snack of cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and water.

1pm: Take the El to the Greyhound station on 10th and Filbert Streets. The buses leave approximately every hour and stop at different casinos, but only some give you a cash voucher; others give you a card that you have to use at the slots. We made sure to get tickets for the bus going to Taj Mahal because they promised cash, but if you're planning on going, I'd recommend double checking the schedule.

1:15pm: Get in line and marvel at the folks who seem to be regulars on the bus. One guy has a stack of slot cards to all the different casinos and it's about three inches high. Another woman is listening to gospel music and praying that she win some money today. An enthusiastic man behind us gives instructions on where to go to get our cash, and kindly offers to lead us there when we get to the casino.

1:45pm: Get on the bus. Read and nap during the hour and a half trip.

3:15pm: The bus rolls up at Taj Mahal and a representative from the casino tells us where to get a $20 voucher, which we can exchange for cash at any of the tellers in the casino. We follow our newfound friend into "the Taj," as the regulars call it, and I'm immediately struck by the sensory overload. It's loud! And bright. And bustling. I'm afraid I'm going to get lost if I don't pay attention to where we're being led. People sit at the slot machines with glazed looks, pressing buttons and ripping receipts out of the machines while waitresses call out to no one in particular, "Cocktails? Drinks?"

3:30pm: At the window, the teller asks for our IDs and bus receipts. They only give vouchers to people 21 and over. We take our vouchers to a machine that looks like an ATM and it spits out $20 each. I can't believe it!

3:45pm: We find the nearest door and make our way to the beach. First, we have to cross over the boardwalk where we see a number of exciting things: a man riding a motorcycle inside a metal sphere, buggies pushed by people instead of horses, domestic fights, and about 14 cats lounging on the beach near a sign that says not to feed them because they are being taken care of by the Cat Action Team. Most of the cats have the tip of one ear cut, indicating that they've been spayed or neutered and then returned to their feral lifestyle. Apparently, over 300 cats live under the boardwalk!

4pm: Play Frisbee, while being careful not to step on any sharp shells... or glass.

5pm: Swim! The water is warm and the waves are high. I'm a little freaked out by all of the rocks and shells underwater, and sometimes it feels like I've stepped on a crab. Every so often, I hear a "crunch," and feel as if something is attached to my foot. To combat this, I try to go out deeper where there isn't as much debris on the ocean floor.

6pm: The lifeguards blow their whistles and wave everyone in. We get out, but see some people return to the water after the lifeguards go home for the evening.

6:30pm: Walk the boardwalk and find Philly Pretzel Factory where we get three soft pretzels for $1.50. We bring this back to the beach, along with our pre-packed snack, and sit on our towels and people-watch. There's a tiki bar to our right with a very loud sound system, and they sing Happy Birthday to someone named Nicole.

7:30pm: Head to Bally's casino to get in line for the 8:15 bus. Even though we got off at "the Taj," our tickets allow us to depart from any casino.

8:15pm: A bus pulls up, waits a few minutes, and then pulls away still empty. No one knows why, but we're told the next bus won't be coming until 9:15. When riding Greyhound, one should always be prepared for situations like this.

9:15pm: There's mass chaos as we file onto the bus because the 8:15 and the 9:15 people are both trying to squeeze on. Miraculously, my boyfriend and I fill the last two seats, but unfortunately, I have to sit in the three-seater at the back, right next to the bathroom and a couple that's arguing about the last time they had sex (it was over seven months ago, the woman said).

10:45pm: We make it back to Philly, but we're hungry. Since we're already in Chinatown, we decide to walk a few blocks to my favorite vegan Chinese restaurant in the city, New Harmony. I love that they are open late and the owner always gives us free food. We order Dim Sum because we know they're closing soon, and he also brings out free soup and smoothies.

11:45pm: Take the El back to my house. Feed the cats, who are a little peeved that we're home so late. Go to bed.

It was a great way to spend a summer day, and I recommend it to any Philadelphian who is car-less, cheap, and looking to get away to the beach!