One of the things I love to do for fun is travel to see concerts – a trend that’s known as “gig tripping.” The first time I did it the idea seemed absurd – could I, a busy working mom of two – really plan a vacation around a concert? Well, it turns out that yes, I could and I did (and so can you!).
I love the feeling of being in a place where everyone is singing along to the same song, basking in the shared experience of music. Over the past few years, I’ve traveled to shows as far away as Spain and California, and also used that time to sightsee and catch up with my sister and friends. As moms, we all need those girlfriend getaways – time to relax and just take a break from the day-to-day work and responsibilities and what better excuse than seeing your favorite artist perform? When I realized the opportunity to do this just a short drive from home here in NJ, I was psyched.
Not being a gambler, I initially did not think that Atlantic City would ever be on the top of my desired destinations list. But when I saw that Duran Duran was playing a show there, I was all in! On a recent weekend, I got to experience firsthand all that Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa has to offer and I was blown away.
While Borgata was just a short drive down the Atlantic City Expressway for me, my friend Jenny flew in from Chicago for our weekend adventure. On a Friday evening, we checked into the MGM Tower at Borgata and both marveled that it felt more like checking into a gorgeous, high-end hotel than a casino. The former Water Club was completely renovated and reopened in 2023 and for these two moms, it was the perfect place to stay.
The immaculate and well-decorated lobby was extremely inviting and moments after getting our keys, the elevators whisked us up to the 28th floor where our queen resort room had an amazing view of the Atlantic Ocean. The room itself was fantastic with super comfortable beds and white, fluffy bedding, fun and colorful art on the walls and a marble-accented bathroom that was immaculately clean and inviting. But as much as we loved the room, this was A.C. baby, so we had to get out and explore the nightlife!
The promise of steak and cocktails led us directly to B Prime Steakhouse, one of 13 eateries on the property. The restaurant had a jovial, dinner party atmosphere and our waiter was humorous and entertaining in just the right measure from the moment we ordered our cocktails until the last bite of chocolate cake was cleared from the table. In between, we indulged in oysters, Caesar salad, filet mignon, lobster tail and couple of side dishes to round things out. All of the food was perfectly cooked, extremely delicious and on par with some of the best places I’ve dined in NYC and elsewhere.
The next morning, we were in for an epic day of fun. While grabbing a quick breakfast in the Food Hall Eatery at Lavazza, we made a mental note to come back later to get a drink at The Daquiri Bar. Featuring an expansive wall of frozen drinks all swirling in their own receptacles, I knew a frosty drink had to be in my future.
Our first activity of the day was massages at Spa Toccare. Jenny and I both got the Signature Massage, a relaxing 50-minute Swedish massage that culminates in a back scrub. The spa itself was cozy and welcoming, and our therapists were both extremely skilled and professional. If we had more time we would have stayed to use the hot tubs, sauna and steam room, but it was time for lunch at Noodles of the World, a fun restaurant that offers Asian cuisine. We sampled spring rolls, pad Thai and dumplings here. Open from noon to midnight (2 am on the weekends!) it’s a great lunch spot or that place that you stumble into after a full night in A.C.!
Next, we had the chance to get a lesson in Baccarat on the casino floor from Vice President of Operations James Bruno. He explained the game in an easy-to-understand way that made us feel like it was both accessible and highly glamorous!
I was getting excited for the main event which for me, was seeing a concert. But first we enjoyed dinner at Angeline, James Beard Award-winning Chef Michael Symon’s take on classic Italian food. It was at this point that I realized we had not even gone outside the entire day – there is so much to do (including the amazing swimming pools, indoor and outdoor) that you can truly be occupied here all day long and still not get to experience everything.
The high point of the night was getting to see Duran Duran perform at the Event Center. I’m a huge fan and have seen them many times, but getting to experience their show in such an intimate venue made it feel like an up-close-and-personal experience. Borgata has so many great shows (upcoming ones include Jerry Seinfeld, John Legend and Dancing with the Stars Live) to me it’s the perfect reason to make a weekend of it.
After the show, still buzzing with excitement from dancing and singing for two hours, we finally hit The Daquiri Bar for a drink! There were so many good options – from Mai Tai to Rum Runner to Feelin’ No Pain – but in the end we decided on Frose! (And yes, it was as delicious as it looked!)
Though it was way past our normal bedtimes, we could not end the evening without a visit to Premier, Borgata’s nightclub. Pauly D from “The Jersey Shore” was DJing and we got to experience bottle service. Sitting in our private area, with pink Champagne flowing, we were both certain that this was what girls’ weekend was all about!
On Sunday morning, as we headed to the car and airport, we still couldn’t believe how much fun we managed to pack into such a short amount of time. While Borgata offered so many fun experiences, perhaps the best part of it was just getting to let loose and spend time together catching up and having fun.
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is located at 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, NJ. View all of their upcoming shows here.
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