Top 5 Summer Boardwalks 2023

If you grew up on the east or west coast – or had a chance to visit during the summer – one of your best childhood memories might be a summer excursion to the “shore” and a promenade down a classic walkway of wood.

The sounds and smells are iconic – salt water taffy, corn dogs, funnel cakes, and the clickity clack of an old wooden roller coaster. 

Boardwalks also capture the unique flavor of the local area. Nathan’s hot dogs on Coney Island, crab cakes in Virginia, or fish tacos in Santa Monica.

ThinkFives surveyed our friends on the coasts and we developed our Top 5 List of East and West Coast Boardwalks. So, pack the car and head to the shore!

Uniquely Californian, you’ll find the Venice Art Walls which continue a tradition of free speech, with artists taking turns painting the walls. There’s also the outdoor Muscle Beach Gym known for its renowned bodybuilders, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and the original Hulk, Lou Ferrigno.

And it wouldn’t be California if it didn’t have an outdoor skate park, beach volleyball courts, surfboard rentals, and long stretches of bike path. So hey dude, it’s time to check out the Venice Boardwalk.

Maybe not the jewel it once was, the Atlantic City Boardwalk is still family-friendly including restaurants, miniature golf, escape rooms, and the Steel Pier, a 1000-foot-long amusepark connected to the boardwalk. Dedicated in 1870, it took over 100 years to add its most adult fun: gaming casinos.

So, stream some Bruce Springsteen “put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty, and meet me tonight in Atlantic City.”

Hot summer nights are particularly festive with live music twice a week during the summer – not to mention the weekly fireworks, carnival style games, caricature drawings, balloon artists, Top Golf and more. What more would you need on a hot summer night?

What’s there to do? Well, you can start with a hotdog and fries at Nathan’s Famous. Then you can take a ride on one of the most recognized structures in New York, the Coney Island Wonder Wheel, a classic ferris wheel that celebrated its 100th anniversary last year.

To end the trip, there are the Luna Park rides and, of course, the most famous of all, the Coney Island Cyclone, the wooden roller coaster dating back to 1927. Hold on tight as it’s almost 100 years old.

Thanks to LA’s great weather, the park is open year-round, so you can enjoy games, restaurants, concerts and more whenever you’re in the area.

Honorable Mentions

It was so difficult to narrow down our choices for the Top 5 that as a bonus we created this honorable mention Top 5. If you’re vacationing along the mid-Atlantic coast, out west or even on the shores of the Windy City, there are sunny days of fun for you, too.

Don’t miss the Midway Games for 16 family-fun and thrill-seeking rides like the Gravitron, Slingshot, and Sea Dragon for your teenagers.

Trimper’s Amusement Area has rides for children of all ages including Trimper’s Carousel which has been entertaining children since 1912. A ferris wheel, roller coasters, and drop rides are all there as well — perfect for your teenagers. There’s just so much to do. No wonder why it’s considered one of the best boardwalks in America.

The paved boardwalk allows for rollerblading and leisurely bike riding. Walkways have the Southern California vibe with boutique shops, outdoor eateries, and street performers. And unlike East Coast boardwalks, you get that San Diego weather 365 days a year.

The wide beach and splash of waves from the Pacific are almost inviting — if it weren’t for the chill of NorCal water. It’s home to a number of attractions including the Giant Dipper, a large wooden roller coaster that first opened up in 1924. It’s been generating screams and thrills for decades.

Nowadays, the Boardwalk is filled with lots of other rides, from a 125-foot drop ride to the 1911 Looff Carousel for youngsters to a huge arcade with mini-golf, laser tag, and skee-ball.

And before you leave — but maybe after riding the Giant Dipper — make sure you check out the funnel cakes, corn dogs and the booth where they fry everything from Oreos to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

Stretching into Lake Michigan, this year-round destination truly comes to life in the summer with fireworks, live music, theater, and cruises setting sail daily. It’s also home to the Centennial Wheel and Pier Park, with rides for children of all ages.

Harkening back to the 1893 World’s Fair, this mecca of attractions will impress with beer gardens to restaurants to a 4000 sq ft. Funhouse Maze. You can grab a Chicago-style hot dog, a deep dish pizza slice or just a frothy beverage. If you’re in Chicago and the weather is nice, head down to Navy Pier.

What’s your favorite East or West Coast boardwalk?