OK, I know it. You come to Atlantic City to gamble, eat good food and maybe see a show or indulge yourself in one of several luxurious spas. So do I.

But it’s summer, and time to think of why Atlantic City was built where it is. Yeah, that’s right. The beach.

As of this morning, the ocean water temperatures were in the mid to upper 60s, which makes it comfortable for a quick dip, at least, and a little more for the hardier folks. Unlike most towns at the New Jersey shore, you don’t have to pay to spread a blanket on the sand.

The beach amenities aren’t as nice as some other towns, but those who can live without certain creature comforts can deal with it. The South Carolina Avenue beach, near Resorts, is where the Beach Patrol headquarters are, and has showers and changing rooms. True, the changing rooms are rustic and get ratty pretty quickly, but you can get out of a wet bathing suit without anyone else watching. There are also outdoor showers at the beach near Bally’s and a few other locations along the boardwalk.

You can also use the casino washrooms. You’re not supposed to change in there, but I’ve done it many times. Unless you look like a derelict, you probably won’t be stopped, but you may want to find a restroom that has less traffic.

Just one reminder. Make sure there’s a lifeguard on duty before you get into the water. A few people nearly drowned last weekend while swimming on an unprotected beach in nearby Ventnor. Several people drown every summer when they get caught in riptides or turn out not to be the strong swimmers they thought they were. The lifeguards are your safety net, so use them. I don’t want to read about you in the paper this summer.

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