If you are not into casinos, then forget about a trip to AC. The city itself is pretty grim. While it is very cheap to get there, you get what you pay for.

There are plenty of other NJ seashore destinations that you can reach for a very modest sum via NJ Transit (check the stops on the North Jersey Coast line). A walk on the boardwalk is nice in the end of April. The train line goes quite close to the beach in spots, so it's just about a 20-minute walk from the stations in Long Branch, Asbury Park, etc. (I grew up right there.) Asbury Park is worth a look--people have touted its "renaissance" but for me, the draw is the sort of crumbling seediness that has taken over this once-high-toned town. It makes for a good photo tour.

You can take in a show at the NJ Performing Arts Center in Newark and eat some good Portuguese food there. You can take NJ Transit + SEPTA to Philadelphia (much cheaper than Amtrak) and do pretty much anything.