You’ll uncover some true hidden gems when visiting these beautiful piers!

Linking ocean shores to bustling streets, boardwalks have always been an appealing tourist attraction due to their abundance of carnival rides, specialty boutiques, and restaurant collections.

But much more than that, piers and boardwalks offer an expansive view of some of the most stunning waters in our nation, making for a perfect stroll.

Whether day or night, summer or winter, many boardwalks around the US attract locals and visitors alike, especially these 10 beautiful piers and boardwalks, which are most notable for their fun-filled and family-friendly attractions!

Navy Pier: Chicago, Illinois

Navy Pier in Chicago has always been a delightful place with lots of activities over the years, and most recently, it was approved for funding to get a complete makeover. The redevelopment is being done in stages and is still open throughout this process.

The city plans to make this beautiful pier even better with a mix of culture, education, shopping, recreation, dining, and entertainment venues. Some new things being added include a lighted ice skate rink, an indoor walkway into the food area, and a water fountain in Gateway Park.

Santa Cruz Wharf: Santa Cruz, California

The Santa Cruz Wharf provides some of the best waterfront views along the stunning California coast and is a “Must See Place” for travelers who enjoy pleasant strolls along a scenic boardwalk.

This beautiful pier extends 2,745 feet across Monterey Bay, delivering a mile-long out-and-back path that’ll simply take your breath away. In fact, it’s considered the longest wooden pier in the nation.

So be sure to bask in all its glory while sipping on a hearty cup of clam chowder or freshly brewed iced coffee. Around the boardwalk, you’ll have endless options for entertainment and dining, with an abundance of trendy gift shops, seafood restaurants, and historical landmarks.

Pier 7: San Francisco, California

Also in California, if you wish to get away from all the crowds and find a fantastic place to take pictures of Treasure Island or the San Francisco Bay Bridge, then Pier 7 is the spot for you!

This beautiful pier is the best place for photographers at both sunrise and sunset, with its ornamental handrails and the magnificence of the wood on the dock, along with antique lights, to ignite your way.

You’ll love the scenic views of San Francisco and Treasure Island. There’s also a fishing area on the pier beside the Ferry Building worth checking out.

Ocean City Pier: Ocean City, Maryland

Ocean City Pier presents you with three miles of boardwalk covered in entertaining amusement spots. The Travel Channel even picked this beautiful pier as the best in America, and it has rides, ice cream, candy apples, funnel cakes, arcade games, and much more.

There’s a 1902 antique merry-go-round that features animals hand-carved from wood for the little kiddos. Plus, there’s also a tilt-a-whirl ride, a haunted house, and the Tidal Wave roller coaster for more exhilarating fun.

Visitors can also eat some amazing foods, shop, visit Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum, see the nearby golf courses, or simply relax at the beach.

Atlantic City Pier: Atlantic City, New Jersey

With the famous boardwalk just a stone’s throw away, you can’t go wrong by choosing to visit New Jersey to check out the magnificence of its Atlantic City Steel Pier.

This beautiful pier was established back in 1898 and has been supplying guests with top-notch entertainment ever since. It’s chock-full of games, amusement parks, and fun dining options.

You can grab a to-go drink at the Steel Pier Pub or stay for a jam session to enjoy some live music, enjoy all-you-can-eat seafood at the Ocean Reef Oasis, and be sure to save some room for classic park foods like those ice creams and funnel cakes.

Crystal Pier, Pacific Beach: San Diego, California

Spreading joy since 1927, the Crystal Pier is one of the area’s most famous landmarks. This 872-foot-long wooden pier is found on Garnet Ave, and it’s renowned for the cottages and hotels on its raised surface.

Travelers love staying in these cottages because they can hear the sea waves swaying back and forth around this beautiful pier, and it soothes them to sleep at night. But besides that, there are tons of places to shop, as well as lots of nearby restaurants.

It’s also a fantastic place to go fishing for species like stingrays, yellowfin croakers, spot fins, barred surfperch, and guitarfish. Another bonus? The parking is free!

Jennette’s Pier: Nags Head, North Carolina

Spanning more than 1,000 feet across the ocean, Jennette’s Pier is one of the state’s oldest attractions along the Outer Banks. Even though it’s been around since the 30s, a severe coastal storm left it in ruins in 2003.

So the beautiful pier you see today is a new construction. But it’s extremely popular for fishing, and there’s a shop to rent a fishing rod if you want to join in on the fun.

Besides that, you can also check out some of the area’s fish by heading to the pier’s educational center.

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier: Galveston, Texas

Many folks don’t know that Texas has the same white sandy beaches you can find in places like The Florida Keys. But, the lucky few who make this their tropical vacation goal will be blessed by the nearby Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier.

Dubbed the “Coney Island of the South,” the Galveston Pier has everything you could dream of while on vacation, including lively attractions, world-class views, and everything in between. Unfortunately, like many other stunning locations in the US, coastal storms have taken their toll on this beautiful pier, requiring extensive reconstruction in 2017.

But the good news is that it has since become bigger and better! While here, you can hop on roller coasters at the amusement park, spend some time soaking in the ocean views, and eat barbecue while sipping on an extra-thick milkshake.

Virginia Beach Fishing Pier: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Here’s the good news: You don’t have to get a fishing license to enjoy a leisurely day out on the water at the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier… which just happens to be one of the most beautiful piers in Virginia.

But you also don’t need to be into fishing to enjoy your time at this lovely pier because it’s located right off the bustling boardwalk and boasts attractions like a gift shop and seafood restaurant.

Nevertheless, if you decide to spend your day around this stunning pier, be sure to walk to the edge of the dock to admire the waterfront views and the Virginia Beach boardwalk.

Santa Monica Pier: Santa Monica, California

Pacific Park at Santa Monica Pier is a fun amusement park with fun rides and other attractions for the young and old alike! One of the most unique rides you won’t want to miss is the 5-story tall roller coaster and the 9-story Pacific Plunge drop ride.

It also has a mini golf course and a giant Ferris wheel. Fun Fact: It’s the only one of its kind because it’s solar-powered. This beautiful pier also features the New York Trapeze School if you wish to learn how to fly the trapeze like a pro in the circus, a famous carousel named the Looff Hippodrome that was in the flick “The Sting.”

Then, there’s also Playland Arcade, with over 200 games, and the Santa Monica Aquarium. If you like to wander, put on some comfy shoes and take the oceanfront walk and enjoy the shops and restaurants and the interactive dragon display for the kiddos.

Have you ever visited any of these beautiful piers? If so, be sure to share your experiences with us in the comments below.

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