‘A’ tale of two cities: Rediscovering, cherishing travel

By Rakiyah Lenon | Co-editor in chief

Born and raised here in Augusta, I had never strayed too far from the South. I have ventured across many of the southern states from South Carolina to Texas, capturing the energies from Charleston to Dallas. In fact, I would say I have grown quite accustomed to I-20 thanks to many road trips over the years.

This summer, I had the opportunity to visit somewhere new. That place was Atlantic City, New Jersey, the city my mother was born in. I had never traveled to the north eastern side of the United States, despite my previous travels. After months of uncertainty throughout the globe, I rediscovered the sense of cherishing new experiences through travel, reminiscing and creating memorable moments.

Known to be a tourist attraction, Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island off the coast of New Jersey, commonly referenced to as the Jersey Shore. The city is famous for its Boardwalk, beaches and the casinos that surround the town.

My mother has always spoken about living near water, and being able to smell the saltwater from the ocean. She spoke of strolling the Boardwalk with her father as a little girl, and playing with crabs on the beach. I could only think of Augusta’s Riverwalk on the Savannah River, and playing in the sand at Clarks Hill Lake to make a comparison in my mind.

Stepping foot into the town provided a profound difference in scenery for me. Seagulls and seashells, the boardwalk and the breeze from beach can only capture part of the view and feeling. It felt one could spend days, even weeks, throughly covering just one section of the city’s avenue. The Broadstreet in Augusta was the closest thing I could liken it to, though it was unique in its own way.

The pace of life in Atlantic City seemed to move so quickly compared to Augusta. The choice in words amongst the locals and dialects seemed to vary across a wide perspective. Everything ran like a 24-hour-clock. Business from tourists was way of life. A world of cultures, backgrounds and ethnicities could be experienced in one place. In my mind, I could only picture things being that busy during a usual Masters tournament or Arts in the Heart festival.

In having a wider scope of the town, I saw how badly an economy like Atlantic City’s would be hurt by quarantine and lockdowns due to the coronavirus. So many people are employed by the hospitality business and rely on it for a stable economy. Without a bustling boardwalk, or hosting hotels, I saw how difficult it would be for a city as this one to thrive in lockdown.  It would be as if Augusta’s economy ran solely on a continual Masters that suddenly came to a stop.

 While in Atlantic City, I listened to my grandfather explain how much the city has changed over the years. I cherished his view in seeing the city from a different perspective from what it is known for. It reminded me of times I thought of what people might wonder about my hometown. He spoke of the places he had traveled, and what it had taught him. It was then that I reflected on how much travel taught me the and importance of appreciating other places. 

From afar, it is easy to view a city as buildings, stores and sky scrapers. Yet, it is ultimately the people, environment, and values that create it. I saw that connection and it sparked wonder in my mind. How would it be if Augusta’s Riverwalk had shops alongside? What would continue to stand in Broadstreet? Who will our town continue to be known for?

I feel sentimental in thinking of what I have seen in Augusta and what it can become. The idea of knowing I can witness the history of my town as well as create it, is an enlightening one in the fullest.

Email Rakiyah Lenon at rlenon@augusta.edu.

Here is the Augusta skyline with the Savannah River in the foreground. At the top of the page, Atlantic City moves at a much faster pace than Augusta. (photos by Rakiyah Lenon)