DOWN THE BEACH SOUTH OF ATLANTIC CITY, three shore towns feature oceanfront high-rises, multi-million-dollar mansions, upscale boutiques and gourmet restaurants.

Ventnor, Margate and Longport offer easy access to Atlantic City with none of the attendant craziness. The area is primarily residential, so accommodations consist of vacation home rentals and bed-and-breakfasts. Each town has a distinct identity and a different clientele.

LONGPORT IS KNOWN FOR ITS SPECTACULAR REAL ESTATE, a mix of modern architecture and genteel old beach homes, most of it “super-sized.” The quietest and priciest of the three towns, Longport boasts beautiful beaches and little commerce.

FROM BAY TO BEACH, MARGATE OFFERS A MIX of restaurants, nightclubs, shops and attractions. One of the area’s most well-known attractions is Lucy the Elephant, 9200 Atlantic Avenue, a six-story-high elephant-shaped building that stands alongside the beach in Margate. Originally built as a real estate stunt to attract land buyers to the area in the 1880s, the wood and tin structure has over the years been a beach cottage, hotel and tavern. Though it was nearly torn down in the 1960s, the Margate Civic Association rescued it and restored it to its former glory. Today, visitors can climb to the top and view the surrounding area from the howdah perched upon the beast’s back.

VENTNOR PROVIDES A TRANSITION TO ATLANTIC CITY with more restaurants and shops than its neighbors to the south. Ventnor’s Boardwalk connects to the Atlantic City Boardwalk.Together the boards run for more than 6 miles and make for great running and cycling.

Beach tags for each of the three municipalities can be purchased for the day, week, or season from kiosks along the beach or from each town’s city hall. Margate and Ventnor have a shared tag.

Ventnor is home to some of the best restaurants in the region and Margate’s clubs and pubs on Washington Avenue have long been a popular spot for nightlife.

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