for the charity Chrysalis

h o l i days at charitable .trav e l four ways to fund holidays Help fund

FOR THOSE IN NEED

Everyone is ‘desperate’ for a holiday but for some it’s not just a fun change of scene, it’s a lifeline. Use your holiday to offer those in need one too through these great charities

DEMENTIA ADVENTURE

After being diagnosed with dementia people are at risk of being indoors too much, resulting in an unnecessary further decline in their physical, emotional and social well-being. Exercise, fresh air and stimulation can help people retain their skills and interests for longer and improve wellbeing and resilience. Dementia Adventure provides a range of services – all with nature in mind – including holidays, short breaks and outings for dementia sufferers and their carers. Thanks to the support of trained staff and volunteers, both parties benefit hugely. dementiaadventure.co.uk

GO BEYOND

This charity offers breaks for children and young people who have been bereaved, abused or bullied, who are living in poverty or are caring for loved ones. Its holidays are a chance for them to escape their worries in the countryside and are packed with activities intended to encourage self-belief and inspire adventure, from splashing through rivers in wellies to braving a rockclimbing wall. With expert staff and committed volunteers on-hand, the aim is for each child to go home knowing they can achieve more than they ever thought possible. gobeyond.org.uk

REVITALISE

Focusing on disabled people in need of a holiday, Revitalise offers essential respite breaks to boost wellbeing, rejuvenate relationships and bring disabled people and carers closer together. Its revitalising holidays are filled with entertainment and new experiences backed up by 24-hour nurse-led care and full accessibility. Despite the fact that two in three people in the UK are affected by disability by the time they are 85, finding an accessible break is not easy. Revitalise breaks down obstacles by creating holidays at its three centres across the UK in Essex, Southport and Southampton. revitalise.org.uk

FAMILY HOLIDAY ASSOCIATION

Exploring somewhere new with the ones you love is a powerful tonic yet so many families are unable to experience this, whether that’s because of a lack of funds, a severe illness or disability, or being trapped in a cycle of domestic abuse. For over 45 years the Family Holiday Association has been offering those in need with short breaks and day outs, relieving stress and helping to create cherished memories. The majority of the families the charity helps have never had a family holiday but its research shows that the benefits last long after a family returns. familyholidayassociation.org.uk

Atlantic City GLAMOROUS GATEWAY TO NEW JERSEY

Located on a barrier island along the famous Jersey Shore, action-packed Atlantic City is a launch pad for New Jersey’s small towns full of authentic Americana, says Jeff Heilman

Two-plus hours by car from New York City and an hour from Philadelphia, Atlantic City (AC) on Absecon Island was established in 1854 and is an American seaside playground for the ages. My introduction to AC was sensational, seeing the Rolling Stones play historic Boardwalk Hall in 1989, and it's been pure satisfaction ever since.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City is one of six casino-resorts lining the ocean-facing Boardwalk. The signature rock memorabilia inside includes the menu from the original 1971 Hard Rock Café in London; Elvis Presley’s Rolls Royce; and tour uniforms from the Beatles, who played Boardwalk Hall in 1964.

Las Vegas-based titan Caesars Entertainment operates a trio of big resorts, while MGM International’s luxurious Borgata is one of three properties in the bayside Marina District.

AC is a safe bet for foodies, offering up Gordon Ramsay and other swish celebrity outposts as well as historic eateries like Dock’s Oyster House (1897) and Prohibition-era Knife and Fork Inn (1912). Appetite boosters include strolling AC’s inviting beaches, swimming in the Atlantic or cycling the iconic five-mile Boardwalk.

Scenic outings include ocean cruises, fishing charters, helicopter tours, and rides in eco-friendly updates of AC’s legendary 1915 Jitney shuttles. Featuring 40 temperature-controlled gondolas, the 227-foot-tall ferris wheel is among the rides at the fabled Steel Pier amusement park.

Other lures include golf; outlet and boutique shopping; luxury spas, nightlife, art galleries, and beach concerts. Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, which opened in 1929 as America’s first convention venue, houses a 33,000-piece pipe organ – the largest ever built.

ATLANTIC CITY'S STEEL PIER

NORTH BEACH, ATLANTIC CITY LUCY THE ELEPHANT IN MARGATE CITY LITTLE WATER DISTILLERY

RHYTHM & SPIRITS

AC behind the scenes

You only need to head ‘downbeach’ from AC to Margate City to see Lucy the Elephant. Built in 1881 to promote local tourism and real estate, this lovingly restored six-storey pachyderm is America’s oldest roadside attraction.

AC inspired the American version of Monopoly and the city's 'Orange Loop' is where you can find the three reallife orange streets from the U.S. board game. This is a dynamically evolving neighborhood of restaurants, bars, live music, coffee, yoga and more on the blocks just behind the Boardwalk.

Little Water Distillery is the city's first legal craft distillery - started by two brothers, and serves small-batch spirits including whiskey, rum, vodka, and gin.

First lit in 1857, Absecon Lighthouse is New Jersey’s tallest lighthouse. Climb the 227-step landmark for panoramic AC skyline views.

Anchoring Absecon Island on the lower-third of the 130-mile Jersey Shore, AC’s proximity to other storied coastal resorts and inland attractions also provides for rewarding day or overnight trips.

Born to run

Around 80 miles to the north, Asbury Park is another destination for rock pilgrims. Immortalized in Bruce Springsteen’s 1973 debut album Greetings From Asbury Park, this resurgent Victorian-era beach resort is known worldwide for The Stone Pony, the 1974 music temple where ‘The Boss’ along with Jon Bon Jovi and other area legends got their chops down. Lined with historic venues, including the 1,600seat Paramount Theater, the Boardwalk was featured in the hit TV series The Sopranos. The boutique Asbury Hotel features a popular rooftop bar.

Just to the south is Long Beach Island, or LBI. Attractions in this causeway-accessible 21-mile barrier island and busy summer colony include panoramic views from Barnegat Lighthouse at the island’s northernmost tip.

Back on the mainland, Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen’s Museum is a maritime heritage village that celebrates the people, folklore, and history of the Jersey Shore. The 40-acre site includes 17 boardwalk-connected recreated buildings surrounded by maritime forest and a wetlands nature trail.

Bordering Atlantic County to the west, bucolic Cumberland County is for leisurely country drives and encounters with the past. Settled in 1686, Bridgeton is home to New Jersey’s largest historic district, encompassing more than 2,000 buildings. With its main Ye Greate Street laid out in 1684, time capsule Greenwich Township was one of America’s first ports-ofentry under British rule. Heritage venues include the Gibbon House, a replica of a London townhouse.

Surrounded by expansive farmland, the nearby Delaware Bay coastline was once a hotbed of oystering and caviar. Head to Hancock Harbor Marina to eat at the seasonal Bait Box restaurant or have a drink at the outdoor Liquid Therapy bar. There’s also a chance to see a fading Futuro House. Created by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen in the late 60s, fewer than 100 of these UFO-shaped pre-fab structures dot the globe.

For more information on Atlantic City, or to book a holiday to New Jersey, see charitable. travel/Atlantic-City

SEAVIEW GOLF CLUB

Ripe for discovery

Ten miles inland from AC, in Galloway, the 1914 Seaview, A Dolce Hotel is a storied base for exploring the diverse attractions within 30 miles of AC.

Set on 670-acres, the resort’s hosting history includes the 1942 PGA Tournament; Grace Kelly’s 16th birthday party; and the Rolling Stones, who camped there for their 1989 AC show. The distant AC skyline backdrops two bayside championship golf courses.

Once a stop for stagecoaches on the King’s Highway, nearby Revolutionary War-era Smithville Village features restored historical buildings, 80-plus shops and dining at the Historic Smithville Inn.

Twenty miles northwest, Batsto Village originated in 1766 as a Revolutionary War iron works before converting to glass production. Nestled in Wharton State Forest, the expansive campus features some 33 preserved historical structures including a mansion, gristmill, and worker’s cottages.

New Jersey is among America’s agricultural leaders and nearby Hammonton is the self-

JIM WHELAN BOARDWALK HALL PIPE ORGAN

ABESCON LIGHTHOUSE

TENNESSEE AVENUE BEER HALL

Shore Bets

An hour south of AC, The Wildwoods has claim as the cradle, if not the birthplace, of rock and roll. The post-WW2 rise of this collective of coastal communities on Five Mile Island included a raucous new sound from bands like The Treniers (who sang Everything’s wild in Wildwood and Wildwood by the Sea) and Bill Haley & His Comets, who first performed Rock Around the Clock – rock’s first record – here in 1954.

Featuring expansive white-sand beaches and a 38-block Boardwalk, the Wildwoods’ midcentury emergence as a holiday destination also produced an architectural revolution in the form of ‘Doo Wop’ motels. Featuring eye-catching design, neon signs, and swimming pools, some 50 still-operating properties, preserved as the Wildwoods Shore Resort Historic District, include the Caribbean Motel (1950), Bel Air Motel (1960), and Lollipop Motel (1970).

The Doo Wop Museum features the Doo Wop Experience and Neon Sign Garden. Annual events such as the Fabulous ’50s & Beyond Weekend, with 1960s British legends Herman’s Hermits routinely on the bill, enhance the retro ambiance.

Just below the Wildwoods, picturesque Cape May, famed for its Victorian architecture, is America’s oldest seashore resort – founded in 1761. The circa-1869 Gingerbread House is among several B&Bs in the historic district. Other restored grande dames include the Virginia Hotel, now a 24-room boutique, and the 106room Congress Hall, known locally as the Big House, which features an underground pizzeria and club in its old boiler room. Two miles out of town in the 62-acre Beach Plum Farm with five historic cottages and barns for overnight stays.

Attractions include the free-admission Cape May Zoo and world-class birding at the Cape May Bird Observatory. At Cape May Point’s Sunset Beach, look for the half-sunken USS Atlantus, an experimental concrete ship from WW1.

Smithville Village features restored historical buildings, 80-plus shops and dining at the

Twenty miles northwest, Batsto Village originated in 1766 as a Revolutionary War iron works before converting to glass production. Nestled in Wharton State Forest, the expansive campus features some 33 preserved historical structures including a mansion, gristmill, and

New Jersey is among America’s agricultural leaders and nearby Hammonton is the selfproclaimed ‘Blueberry Capital of the World’. Nearly 60 farms, or barrens, produce between 40 to 50 million pounds of the native fruit annually. Pick-your-own farms include DiMeo’s and Blueberry Bill.

Visitors can also enjoy tastings of internationally recognised wines and locally crafted beer along New Jersey’s original Wine & Ale Trail. Or there is Atlantic County’s Winery Trail which includes the circa-1864 Renault Winery Resort & Golf in Egg Harbor City, offering wine tours, golf and the 50-room Tuscany Hotel.

FISHING IN AC