The New Jersey Boardwalks - Home to where amusement parks
and the ocean blend into one another. A roller coaster ride with the sea as a visual back drop is a unique experience.
Major boardwalks along the Jersey Shore are at Point Pleasant, Seaside, Atlantic City, Ocean City, Wildwood, and another
one is being renovated at Asbury Park. Most NJ beach towns have smaller boardwalks that run along the coastline of the Jersey
shore.
The first boardwalk built in America was at Atlantic City
in 1872. It was designed to act as a barrier to keep ocean bathers from tracking sand into the local tourist hotels.
This idea was originated by Alexander Boardman, and the boardwalks of today are named after him.
The two mile
long Atlantic City boardwalk is mostly known for its gambling casinos, but it still retains much of its past, including the
Steel Pier.
The Wildwood Boardwalk is over two miles long, has four
different piers and more rides than Disneyland. It is one of the largest amusement parks in the country. One of its many features
is the "the Great White" which is the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster on the east coast.
The mile long boardwalk at Seaside has the Funtown Pier and the Casino Pier which features
a merry-go-round built in 1913. The game of Skeeball is only found on the NJ boardwalk arcades.
Business establishments along boardwalks include Italian and Seafood restaurants,
pizzerias, miniature golf courses, arcades, game stands, souvenir shops, beach gear stores, boutique shops, ice cream and
waffle stands, night clubs, and sweet shops.
