Best Beach Boardwalks

We’re madly in love with the sweet charm of small coastal towns, but we’d be lying if we said a weekend fling with Coney Island on the side didn’t give us a thrill. Fair warning: Like the big city of New York that it is a part of, you have to take the good with the tawdry. From hot dog–eating contests to snake charmers and fire eaters, this boardwalk is a little bit sideshow, a little bit burlesque, and a whole lot of fun. You come here to raise your arms into the air and scream on the Cyclone roller coaster, built in 1927, and act out childhood fantasies like dressing up in “tails” for the annual Mermaid Parade. And if you look closely enough, you can even see behind the frills and the makeup: Sunrise over the ocean is utterly breathtaking and living proof that natural beauty is still here—buried beneath a few layers of honky tonk, maybe, but here nonetheless.

STAY AT HOTEL BPM BROOKLYN: This hipster haven embodies the Brooklyn renaissance with edgy decor and Frette linens.

This old-school boardwalk is more like a school of rock these days—100 free concerts are held at the waterfront Seashell Stage and Casino Ballroom, and you can always count on live acts rocking out in lounges on the 1.3- mile-long boardwalk. When you’re not dipping your toes in the warm Atlantic waves, landlubbers will find that the boardwalk thrives with beach volleyball tournaments and talent shows, beauty pageants, a sand-sculpting contest, and a seafood festival all the way through September.

STAY AT LAMIE'S INN: A five-minute drive from the boardwalk, this family-run (and pet- friendly) inn has been around since the late 1950s.

You’ll feel as though you’ve traveled back in time to Old Florida on this shoreline dotted with palm trees, tiki bars, and nary a high-rise condo in sight. Hollywood retains a small-town charm perfect for families or couples who crave a beach where nobody feels out of place. The 2½-mile boardwalk (called the “broadwalk” because the path is so wide) is active with joggers and young skaters—but it’s also the spot to kick back and order a great meal next to the beach, like the rum-glazed mahi on the terrace at Latitudes Restaurant & Tiki Bar. And while you may not find a wizard at the end of this mellow brick road, there are plenty of adventures along the way.

STAY AT WALKABOUT BEACH RESORT: This throwback to the 1940s flaunts Florida Art Moderne architecture on the shore.

Sure, most boardwalks tempt with scents of popcorn and saltwater taffy, but there’s something especially sublime about the aromas and eats along this mile-long, wood walk on the Delaware coast. Here, you’ll happily rove back and forth from the Atlantic Boardwalk Grille, which serves up a grouper sandwich of the day, to time-honored beach munchies like Thrasher’s fries, Kohr Bros. frozen custard, and the more than 70 flavors available at The Ice Cream Store. Rehoboth’s melodic menu is just as eclectic: The Clear Space Theatre Company presents a summer-long slate of performances, from one-man shows to rousing musicals like Chicago.

STAY AT THE BELLMOOR INN & SPA: Two blocks from the beach, The Bellmoor’s European decor lends the place a bygone feel.

Long before Disney, there was Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk—California’s original amusement park and still one of the best. Launched in 1907, the boardwalk has meticulously preserved its bygone ways. Whether it’s corn dogs and cotton candy or wooden roller coasters and screechy bumper cars, this stretch of sand 90 minutes south of San Francisco is like stepping into one of those old Frankie Avalon/Annette Funicello movies. Must-stops along the path include Momo’s Beach Shack, and Olitas Cantina & Grill for a margarita and fish tacos. As daylight fades, the Giant Dipper roller coaster offers an unforgettable view of the sunset over Monterey Bay.

STAY AT DREAM INN: This swank property sits right on the beach at one end of the boardwalk, with mod rooms and bay views.

“Cowabunga!” could easily be the motto of this outdoor sports oasis along the San Diego coast, the least known and most laid-back of California’s great boardwalks. If ever there were an endless summer, this is it, a length of sand that stoked both the surfing and skateboarding crazes, as well as a hotbed of other sports: beach volleyball, kite surfing, and over-the-line softball. Fully paved today, the meandering boardwalk stretches three miles from the grassy knolls of Palisades Park in Pacific Beach to the sandy volleyball courts at the bottom end of Mission Beach. Along the way are open-air bars and cafés, places where you can rent beach cruisers and surfoards, and the Giant Dipper roller coaster at Belmont Park, a wooden behemoth that’s on the National Register of Historic Places.

STAY AT CRYSTAL PIER HOTEL & COTTAGES: The refurbished cottages at this 1936 Pacific Beach landmark offer a rare chance to sleep above the waves on the wooden pier.

Live bands and buskers, bikinis and bikes blend easily along this 3-mile stretch of Mid-Atlantic coast during the summer months. It’s actually a double boardwalk: a pedestrian walkway along the outside and a cycling/skating path on the inside, with ramps that flow onto a golden-sand strand. We promise you won't be able to resist a photo op in front of the giant King Neptune statue—and if you’re up for a quest, Titus International Surf School’s buff instructors will teach you how to hang ten. In addition to preserving the maritime history of the Virginia coast, the boardwalk’s Old Coast Guard Station organizes eerie after-dark walks about the area’s ghosts and shipwrecks.

STAY AT THE HILTON VIRGINIA BEACH OCEANFRONT: One of the few full-service hotels along the boardwalk, the Hilton boasts oceanview rooms and a rooftop bar.

This state ranks as the boss of the boardwalks. The classic promenades at Ocean City and the Wildwoods achieve just the right balance of sea breezes, nostalgia, and delicious tackiness. But our favorite remains the oldest of them all, created in 1870 to reduce the amount of sand tracked into local businesses. Today it provides easy access to glitzy oceanfront casinos, as well as such older though equally gaudy attractions as the circa-1898 Steel Pier, an amusement park on pilings.

Watch the kites from this half-mile boardwalk at the town of Long Beach, just north of the Oregon border. Bring lunch; picnic tables dot the route at convenient intervals.

Filled with shrieks of laughter and the aroma of steamed crabs and vinegar-drenched french fries, Ocean City's salty air welcomes throngs of summertime shoppers, bikers, and food lovers. It's hard to believe this three-mile boardwalk got its start over a century ago as a roll-up walkway stored on porches during high tide. Today, along with arcades and other thrills, Ocean City boasts the oldest continuously operating two-level carousel. At night, cool off with a cone of your favorite ice cream and head for a ride on the Ferris wheel to get the best view in town.

California's star-studded pier attracts more than just tourists—the sparkling blue view, unending rides, and an eclectic mix of vacationers and locals make Santa Monica's boardwalk a hot spot for film producers as well. On Thursday nights, gather to sing and dance with popular performers at the summer Twilight concert series. Before you leave, catch a ride on the pier's famous carousel.

If glitz and glamour aren't your thing, stroll down the boardwalk in this quaint North Carolina town. Friendly locals abound, as well as boaters who've docked their craft to get a better view of Carrot Island's wild horses, or to peruse an antique store or two. The view (and beer) from the Dock House is exceptional, and the live music and fresh crabs on a summer night can't be beat.

In the center of South Carolina's 60-mile "Grand Strand," the Myrtle Beach boardwalk provides a diversion from abundant golf courses and high-rise hotels. For a panoramic view of the Atlantic, take a ride 200 feet above sea level in the gondola of the boardwalk and promenade's Skywheel.

Miami Beach has a boardwalk? Yes, but not in the eternally trendy area of South Beach. It runs a little farther north, between 21st and 46th streets. Along this stretch of sand, you can indulge in a leisurely stroll or lace up your running shoes for a breezy jog on the oceanfront walk.