Summertime on the Boardwalk

California

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk opened in 1907. This is the only remaining oceanfront amusement park on the coast. Two of its amusement rides have become National Historic Landmarks. One is the hand-carved Looff Carousel dating from 1911 and the other ride is from 1924, the wood-framed Giant Dipper roller coaster. You can enjoy saltwater taffy.

Along the beachfront boardwalk there are many food vendors and Santa Cruz is considered to be one of the best beach destinations in California. The two most popular beaches are Main Beach and Cowell Beach.

Built in 1914 the Santa Cruz Wharf served deep-water vessels. Today it is a fishing wharf and sightseeing vantage point. There are lots of shops and things to do at the wharf. On the wharf, you’ll find upscale dining with amazing ocean views. The wharf is also the place where you can see playful sea lions.

Tourists enjoy bird-watching and viewing sea lions. Sea lions are here all year round and love to splash about. Their barking can be heard from the pier. There is a viewing area to see them better. Other sea critters that can be seen are whales, dolphins, and otters. There are water sports shops to rent fishing gear, boats, and kayaks to get up close to the animals and get out on the water.

The Venice Boardwalk known as the Ocean Front Walk in Venice Beach, California is known as a place for eccentric characters. People enjoy watching others and it is the place to see and be seen, This 3-mile stretch includes tattoo artists, fortune tellers, roller bladders, joggers, cyclists, and street performers. There are lots of places to sit and watch the view and restaurants to dine in.

Santa Monica Pier is a favorite by the Pacific Ocean. It is located at the end of Route 66 just outside of Los Angeles. The pier is part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Among the favorite attractions here is the Ferris wheel. There are other rides as well as the carved and painted carousel that was featured in the movie “The Sting” with Robert Redford and Paul Newman.

There are many shops and eateries. Visitors can enjoy the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. Anglers love gathering at the west end of the pier. There are also outdoor concerts, movies, and other entertainment.

Delaware

Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk in Rehoboth, Delaware is a lovely boardwalk on the mid-Atlantic coast. There are many shops and eateries.

Among the highlights is the Funland amusement area and arcade with thrilling rides.

In the summertime, people enjoy free bandstand concerts. There are clean, pristine beaches to enjoy the sun and the waves.

Illinois

In Chicago, Illinois you’ll find the exciting Navy Pier that stretches adjacent to Lake Michigan. Its popular attraction is a 150-foot-high Ferris wheel offering spectacular views of the lake and the skyline of Chicago. There are other rides too. There are 50 acres of gardens, attractions, shops, restaurants, concert venues, and parks. The pier is home to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, an outdoor stage, and the Chicago Children’s Museum.

Maine

Old Orchard Beach in Orchard Beach, Maine has a boardwalk and an amusement park. Old Orchard Beach is an old-fashioned beach resort. It has a pier and thrill rides. The full-scale amusement park on the beach is the only such remaining one in New England.

At Palace Playland you can expect all the usual rides including a Ferris Wheel that will take you right over the waves, a roller coaster, and an old-fashioned carousel among others. On the pier, you’ll find fries, soft ice cream, saltwater taffy, and fried dough.

The highlight here is the golden sand beach with a barrier of grassy dunes. It is the only beach in Maine at which you can arrive by train since the Amtrak station is opposite the pier and amusement park.

Maryland

Ocean City Boardwalk is a three-mile-long boardwalk at the southern tip of Ocean City, Maryland. It dates back to 1902 and has become one of the top attractions in the city. The boardwalk features games, rides, eateries, and shops.

Among the highlights is the Herschel-Spellman carousel.

In the summer there are outdoor movies, free concerts, and Beach Olympics. The Life-Saving Stations Museum explores the history of shipwrecks and the rescue teams who came to their aid.

The Inlet Indian Sculpture was carved from a century-old oak and gifted to the state in 1976.

New Jersey

The Atlantic City Boardwalk is four miles long and is known as the “grandfather of boardwalks” since it dates back to 1870. There are a lot of attractions on the boardwalk, shops, and food vendors. The boardwalk takes people past glitzy hotels, arcade halls, and casinos. Atlantic City is one of the most popular coastal resort towns in New Jersey and lies on the northeastern coast by the Atlantic Ocean.

When you tire of walking along the boardwalk you can hop aboard the iconic electric tram. The trams go from one end of the boardwalk to the other and will let you out at certain stops. Another interesting mode of transportation is the large wicker chairs that are pushed like rickshaws.

From the boardwalk, you can access the popular Steel Pier with many amusement rides. It was built in 1898 and is a very popular tourist attraction. The pier juts out 1,000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. There are rides for all ages. For those who want spectacular views over the Boardwalk and Atlantic City there is The Wheel which is a Ferris wheel that rises up to a height of 227 feet and can hold up to 240 passengers.

Also along the boardwalk is another old pier called Playground Pier dating from 1906. This pier has become home to a high-end shopping mall the Pier Shops at Caesars. Visitors enjoy the musical fountain.

Wildwood Boardwalk in Wildwood, New Jersey is world-famous. This two-mile-long boardwalk has four huge piers with thrill rides and all kinds of amusements. There are many shops, eateries, and action-filled waterparks.

Among the amusements is the Great White which is renowned as one of the fastest and tallest wooden rollercoasters in the eastern US. There are miles of sandy beaches with white sand.

New York

Rockaway Boardwalk is located in the borough of Queens in New York City. The boardwalk stretches for 5.5 miles and has 170 acres of sandy beaches. For people visiting New York City, it is easy to get to Rockaway by subway. Along the boardwalk are many concessions for refreshments of every kind.

The boardwalk is a concrete deck in Rockaway Park, at the edge of Belle Harbor. Within the park, there are many recreational facilities that run parallel to the boardwalk and the beach.

Coney Island Boardwalk is located in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. The boardwalk has many places to eat including the first Nathan’s Famous with their signature hot dogs. On the boardwalk, you can find movies on the beach all summer long and fireworks. There are various amusement piers among them Luna Park and Dreamland.

Among the highlights is the Wonder Wheel built in 1918 and opened in 1920. The wheel will take you up high for spectacular views. It holds 144 riders and stands 150 feet tall. At night it is illuminated by neon tubes. It is part of Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.

The Cyclone built in 1927 is the nation's oldest wooden roller coaster and is still in operation. It is located across from the new Luna Park.

In the summertime, the beach always draws large crowds.

South Carolina

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenade in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a fairly new boardwalk since it was launched in 2010. Along the boardwalk are most of the town’s hotels, tourist attractions, souvenir shops, and restaurants. The 1.4-mile-long promenade has multiple stages featuring concerts and other entertainment.

Among the highlights is the 187-foot-tall Myrtle Beach SkyWheel,

Beautiful Myrtle Beach stretches along the oceanfront for 60 miles with white-sand beach.

Texas

Kemah Boardwalk in Kemah Texas is a 60-acre boardwalk amusement park. It is located southeast of Houston along west Galveston Bay.

It is home to the only rollercoaster on the Texas Gulf. The Boardwalk Bullet is a 96-foot-tall coaster that achieves speeds of over 51 MPH.

There are many other attractions, shops, and restaurants. There is also a 400-slip marina.

Virginia

Virginia Beach Boardwalk stretches for three miles along the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It is a concrete boardwalk with live music venues, hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, and amusement rides. There are interesting sculptures to see including the famous 34-foot-tall King Neptune in bronze.

Other highlights include the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum, Grommet Island, and the Old Coast Guard Station.

Visitors can fish off the pier, cycle along the bike path, go paddle boarding, parasailing, and kayaking. During the summer theater productions are offered and live music.