Best Boardwalk in New Jersey

From Sandy Hook to Cape May there are many boardwalks.

Some are quaint, some are historic, and others are just a pathway to a party.

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The national website Fodor's Travel named one Garden State boardwalk the best in all of America.

Mike Brant - Townsquare Media

How about Asbury Park? This town and boardwalk have been through a lot over the past decades.

There's a chill vibe when you walk these boards. You can almost feel the musical history step by step.

It's not Asbury Park.

Photo by Jesse Gardner on Unsplash

Ocean City perhaps? This boardwalk is always hopping with activity from the arcades and attractions. Nope.

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Long Branch has a beautiful boardwalk and the best of both worlds.

If you want a relaxed stroll with just the sand and waves to occupy your attention, Long Branch has got it.

If you're looking for more excitement and entertainment, there's Pier Village.

Boardwalk in Wildwood NJ - Photo: Chris Coleman

If it's none of the above it's got to Wildwood, right? Wrong.

The designation of the best boardwalk in America goes to a famous town that often gets a bad rap.

Photo by Harold Wainwright on Unsplash

Fodor's Travel says Atlantic City is home to the best boardwalk in the U.S. Here's what they had to say:

Atlantic City’s boardwalk is internationally famous. It is said to be the world’s first and longest boardwalk dating way back to 1870. The structure’s original intent was to protect the nearby hotels from unruly ocean waves, but over time, as the boardwalk grew to its current length of 5.5 miles, it became an international entertainment hub. Explore the high-end hotels and casinos like the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, or take a swing at Atlantic City Miniature Golf. Walk the adjacent piers, which offer visitors several additional attractions and shopping spots. Check out the Central Pier Arcade and Speedway for extensive choices of arcade games. At “Steel Pier,” take a ride on the carousel or the observation wheel overlooking the city. Nearby, “Garden Pier” is the arts and cultural center of the boardwalk, featuring the Atlantic City Historical Museum and Atlantic City Art Center.

Is Atlantic City nicer than these 50 best beach towns in America?

Every beach town has its share of pluses and minuses, which got us thinking about what makes a beach town the best one to live in. To find out, Stacker consulted data from WalletHub, released June 17, 2020, that compares U.S. beach towns. Ratings are based on six categories: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. The cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. Read the full methodology here. From those rankings, we selected the top 50. Readers who live in California and Florida will be unsurprised to learn that many of towns featured here are in one of those two states.

Keep reading to see if your favorite beach town made the cut.