5 Great Summer Beach Boardwalks
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Nothing says summer quite like a classic oceanfront boardwalk. With amusement park rides, walking and biking paths, beautiful coastal views, and plenty of entertainment, you can’t go wrong. Vacationing in a beach town with a great boardwalk gives you so many more opportunities for entertainment, recreation, and photography. I tend to get a bit bored just lying around the beach, so I love visiting active beach areas with more amenities. In this guide, I will highlight a few great boardwalks that I have visited in recent years.
Each one spotlighted on my list is located in a fun touristy beach city. The beach aside, you will find also find waterfront resorts, tourist attractions, and many dining and shopping opportunities so really these are all great all around vacation destinations. Check out a few of my favorites from Virginia Beach to sunny San Diego!
Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is home to one of the best boardwalks in the country in my opinion. I’ve visited a lot of beach towns and really nothing compares to this beautiful path. Not only is the boardwalk clean and well-maintained, it’s also lit up at night for enhanced safety. The highlight is a 3 mile long walking and biking path, each conveniently separated for less congestion. I really loved this separate path – it was so nice as a biker not to have to look out for walkers and signal constantly. The flat route is an absolute breeze, especially with gorgeous coastal views the entire journey. As you stroll or bike along, you will pass several unique attractions including a giant bronze statue of Neptune.
On any given day, you will see bikers, runners, walkers, photographers, and tourists out enjoying the beautiful weather. Summertime, the boardwalk livens up with free shows and entertainment all season long. I recommend staying at a hotel with direct access and great views like the Best Western Oceanfront Plus (now SureStay Studio).
Virginia Beach is a great summer vacation destination with lots to do. In addition to the boardwalk, you will find the Virginia Aquarium, First Landing State Park, and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. There are so many options for entertainment, relaxation, and recreation that make it worthy of a place on your summer bucket list.
San Diego
The Mission/Pacific Beach Oceanfront Boardwalk in San Diego is definitely a must-see during your visit to “America’s Finest City.” A ride or walk on the 3 mile shared pedestrian/biking path will give you a picturesque tour of 2 of San Diego’s most popular beach cities: Mission and Pacific Beach. Along the way, you’ll take in gorgeous views of the Pacific, enjoy near perfect (year-round mild summer) temperatures, take in the sights of eclectic beachfront homes & vacation rentals, and enjoy endless people watching opportunities. This was one of my favorite attractions on my first trip to the city. I highly recommend checking it out if you love people watching.
The course is very flat and scenic with never ending views of the water. This path was really exciting – the definition of Socal fun. I loved watching the volleyball players in action, surfers attempting to catch the perfect wave, and tourists enjoying some fun-in-the-sun.
The entire walk is about 6 miles RT. Bike it, walk it, skate it, or run it – it doesn’t matter, the views are fabulous no matter your preferred activity. Visit on mornings for a less congested experience, especially if biking as it tends to get a bit too busy to bike later in the day with the big groups of walkers.
A few sights of interest include the Pier at Pacific Beach, the historic Belmont Amusement Park, and waterfront restaurants & bars.
In addition to the boardwalk, other great San Diego attractions worth putting on your bucket list include: the world-famous San Diego Zoo featuring the Great Panda, Torrey Pines State Reserve, and La Jolla Cove beach (known for its’ large sea lion population).
Ocean City
Ocean City’s historic wooden boardwalk is often rated amongst the best in the country. The 2.5 mile length is perfect for long strolls or leisurely bike rides. I loved the low-key vibe and wonderful views of the ocean along the route. Tourist attractions which you can stop at along the way include: the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum, historic Trimper’s Carousel (built in 1912), carnival games, and the Jolly Roger pier amusement park.
There are many places to eat and shop along the way. Treat yourself to some classic fries from Thrashers. Or pick one of the numerous oceanfront restaurants to dine alongside spectacular beach scenery. If you want to pick up a souvenir, you will find plenty of shops to do so.
During the summer months, be on the lookout for live entertainment & events such as firework displays, movies on the beach, and concerts. There is always something to do whether you are looking to watch a unique street performance or enjoy a summer treat while taking in amazing views of the Atlantic coast.
Dozens of hotels are located directly on the boardwalk, most moderately priced.
Other popular Ocean City tourist attractions include cruises, miniature golf courses, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and water sports.
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach’s gorgeous 6.5 million dollar boardwalk opened in 2010 making it one of the newer choices on my list. The short 1.2 mile stroll offers beautiful views of the amazing South Carolina coast. Myrtle Beach is part of “The Grand Strand,” a 60 mile stretch of uninterrupted beaches along the South Carolina coast.
The boardwalk is clean, maintained, and nicely landscaped. Summer is the best time to visit as you can enjoy a full lineup of events including concerts and fireworks shows. There are a handful of restaurants and souvenir shops, but not too many, so the area does not feel overly commercialized.
The 2 main attractions are the SkyWheel, one of the largest Ferris Wheels in the country and Pier 14, a restaurant and fishing/sightseeing pier. We really enjoyed the views from SkyWheel – it’s worth a splurge in my opinion.
For just a buck, you can walk out onto Pier 14 and take in the beautiful sights around you. This is a beautiful location for photography, both of the beaches and boardwalk. Also plan an evening visit to take in the views of the SkyWheel lit up at night. In addition, the pier is a hotspot for fishing.
Great oceanfront lodging choices include: Bay View Resort, Island Vista Resort, and Anderson Ocean Club.
Myrtle Beach is a fun beach town with plenty of attractions outside of the boardwalk. Top rated tourist attractions include: Myrtle Beach State Park, The Carolina Opry, Broadway at the Beach (a dining, shopping, & entertainment complex), Ripley’s Aquarium, mini golf courses, cruises, watersports, and dozens of shows.
You can check out my full guide to visiting Myrtle for more ideas
Venice Beach
Venice Beach is the most interesting of all the boardwalks, and well known due to its’ presence in the media. Along this eclectic boardwalk, you will be able to watch crazy street performances, browse all different sorts of crazy tourist shops, and try out diverse treats at various food stands.
This is definitely a people watching paradise. I’ve never been to a stranger place. Jugglers, glass walkers, fortune tellers, tattoo artists, magicians…you will find it all here!
Venice is also home to iconic Muscle Beach, home to the iconic Southern California bodybuilding competitions. Did you know that Arnold Schwarzenegger once trained here? In addition, you will find the famous basketball courts featured in various movies and TV shows like “White Men Can’t Jump.”
The Santa Monica Pier is another must visit on your trip. Here, you can ride the iconic roller-coaster while taking in gorgeous panoramic views of the Pacific! I also recommend a ride on The Strand, a gorgeous 22 mile beachfront bike ride stretching from Torrance to Pacific Palisades. A portion of the path rides right pass the Venice Beach boardwalk, thus making a bike ride the most fun & easiest way to get to see all the action here and all the other quirky beach towns. While living in the Long Beach area a few years back, Mike and I basically made this path our weekend go-to spot for any type of exercise. I sure miss this wonderful city gem, although on the bright side we did pick up biking as a hobby after living here.
While in L.A., be sure to check out the Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios, The Getty Center, Runyon Canyon park, and of course all the gorgeous beaches! My favorite thing to do in L.A. is hiking in the Santa Monica mountains with Los Liones being my top pick (this hike features gorgeous coastal scenery via moderate effort).
There are plenty of budget and luxury hotel options in the area. The Inn at Venice Beach and Venice on the Beach Hotel are 2 moderately priced options in the area. If you want something a bit fancier, you can check out Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica or the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.
Have you visited any of these boardwalks? What are some of your favorite beach cities? Share with us on our Facebook page!
