The Boardwalks of New Jersey Offer Fun for the Whole Family

Nothing evokes the feel of the Boardwalks of New Jersey better than the Drifter's fifties hit "Under the Boardwalk": "In the park, hear the happy sound of the carousel, You can almost taste the hot dogs and french fries they sell. Under the boardwalk, down by the sea..."

The Big Mama of all the great Jersey Shore "boards" is the one at Wildwood. Incredible rides, food stands, water parks and old fashioned midway games make this a great destination even if it wasn't connected to a fabulous beach! Acres of water rides that chute you, spin you or just plain cool you are a great break if you get tired of the ocean. Some of the water parks realize that Mom and Dad may not want to be shot down a rocket raft, so they wisely offer shaded cabana areas that offer food, wifi access and peace while the kids get wet and wild.

The amusement piers of Wildwood are chock full of rides, from kiddie trains and mini scooters to roller coasters, the famous Tilt-a-Whirl and of course great games to impress your girlfriend with.

Wildwood's Boardwalk is close to other great beaches such as Cape May or Ocean City. so if you tire of the genteel life of Cape May or want a break from the gambling of Atlantic City, you can visit Wildwood for a great change of pace.

Ocean City’s must be one of the most used in the State! In the morning, count on lots of traffic by bikers, walkers, joggers and the many people who just enjoy sitting and watching. There is lots to do in the evening, of course. Lots of amusement parks that offer rides, go-karts, a water park, two movie theatres, arcades and miniature golf theme parks with water falls, sharks, pirates and more.

Every Thursday in July and August on the Ocean City Boardwalk in July and August is “Family Night”. Live entertainment and celebrations such as classic, pop and oldies bands, a strolling barbershop quartet, and lots of fun for the kids, such as face painting and magicians. OC’s boards also have lots of great shopping, eating, parades, beauty contests, festivals at all times of the year and the famous New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge! Not too many towns can offer more.

Seaside Heights is not to be outdone, however. The great Ferris wheel that can be seen from miles away will make it easy to find this landmark summer fun place. There are also wonderful arcades and rides as well as a wide variety of foods and desserts. For a great summer day's entertainment, watch professional volley ball from the Seaside Boardwalk; Seaside Heights hosted the AVP volleyball tournament for 2 years during the Summers of 2006 and 2007. For many, Seaside Heights epitomizes the down and dirty, fun and grungy old fashioned boardwalk.

Atlantic City's Boardwalk has seen better days, but it still has a lot to offer. One of the problems with the "AC" is that most people now go to Atlantic City for the ritzy casinos, so a lot of the emphasis has been taken away from the boardwalk. It's too bad, since Atlantic City once had a proud boardwalk in it heyday, with the first boardwalk built in 1870 proving such a success that it was added onto until it reached 7 miles long. A major hurricane in 1944 destroyed large parts of it and it was never rebuilt from the 4 miles it was reduced to. Wide swaths of boardwalk real estate is devoted to the fronts of the casinos. The ocean side has arcades and games, but for any real rides and games, visit the Steel Pier amusement park.

Famous as the home of Miss America, Atlantic City's boardwalk is a shadow of it former self, and as a destination, most people would prefer to drive the 5 miles to the family beaches of Margate. But if you are in Atlantic City for the casinos or for a conference or convention, take the time to stroll it, visit the steel pier and take one of the famous rickshaw drives.

Not all boardwalks are about exciting rides and arcade games. If you want the old fashioned experience of quietly strolling by the ocean with an ice cream cone, or perhaps watching the moon rise over the ocean without all the flash of bright lights and the noise of the hawkers, there are quiet, tranquil boardwalks on the Jersey Shore as well.

Avon, New Jersey calls itself a "square mile of heaven" and it pristine boardwalk has nothing more intrusive than the beach badge shacks, the bathrooms and a small restaurant and an ice cream stand at the north end. Pots of petunias color your walk and the only distraction is the sound of the ocean waves.

Spring Lake is the least commercial boardwalk on the entire Jersey Shore. The residents wouldn't have it any other way. A walk along the Spring Lake boardwalk is like a walk through Architectural Digest. Every home on Ocean Avenue is a perfectly cared for masterpiece. It is hard to decide which is more beautiful to look at, the ocean or the sumptuous homes. There are two food stands, one in the middle of the boardwalk and one at the south end, but That Is It!

Manasquan boardwalk is not quite as quiet, but it is far from commercial. Just expect lots of kids and teenagers dominating the boards. Manasquan has the best surfing because the Manasquan Inlet corrals and refracts the waves, pushing them up to 15 feet high onto Manasquan beach. So expect to trip over some surfboards on your stroll. There are snack stands, but not a lot else on this boardwalk that caters to locals and not tourists.

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