Obsession of the Day: boardwalks/ The paths best traveled in the sun

The summer breeze weaves in and out along a sand ridden corridor. A million sounds and sights and smells accompany it. Overhead, the roar of speeding amusement rides and the squawk of seagulls echo out. Below, the dunes that meet the ocean waves are ever so still, sending forth a sandy, salty mixture that’s pleasant to the nostrils, less pleasant to the bikini area. Here, where the lights are all neon and everything’s covered in confectioner’s sugar, is that place where vacation begins.

If this is your idea of a boardwalk, you’re not alone, but like most things, boardwalks didn’t quite start out the way they are now. These heavily travelled walkways were once  simple paths designed to keep millions of beach combers en-route. It wasn’t until the innovation of adding commercialized property to the waterfront that the term boardwalk became synonymous with summertime, cotton candy, roller coasters, first kisses and oversized teddy bear prizes. Let’s walk…

USA Boardwalks: The Beginning

For practical purposes we’ll begin where it all started, which, ironically, is also the place diehard boardwalk lovers claim it all ended—the notorious Jersey Shore. Here’s a glimpse of what America’s oldest boardwalk once looked like cerca a postcard sold in the early 1900’s:

As you can see, the promenade holds promise but it certainly lacks its present day allure. Out on the elevated oceanway, beach goers lean over the rail and eyeball the main attraction which, at this point, is still the ocean.

Enter the world renowned Million Dollar Pier and watch the beach combers swoon:

Here you get a better idea of the direction the boardwalk is headed in. By 1917, major corporations had already begun to make use of the esplanade. Below, you’ll witness its first Coca Cola billboards and what appears to be the predecessor to the tramcar.

While the picture above certain shows the commercial transition it still doesn’t explain the wide variety of features we see on present day boardwalks. So how is it that we wound up with so many different kinds of candy, amusement and goods for sale? The answer, simply put, is immigration.At the turn of the 20th century, the United States was a virtual magnet for immigration, with swarms of people sailing in from near and far. The boardwalk, the promenade above the sea , slowly but surely became emblematic of diversity. Everyone from gypsies to hippies to today’s reality stars left their mark along the pier.

Changes In the Economy: Changes In the Tide

By the onset of 1970, after the Great Depression and the Stock Market Crash had turned the economy on its heels, people from all walks of life and all corners of the Earth looked to the Boardwalk as the place to build their empire. They set up shop, selling goods and entertainment that was native to their place of origin. The marvel you see before you today is comprised of millions of different people’s stories. It’s just a tiny glimpse into who they were, the shadows of the corner stores they built.The lights simply illuminate the story but the magic is in who the boardwalk represents as opposed to what the boardwalk presents. 

Night and Day: Today’s Atlantic City Boardwalk

Boardwalk Sights, Sounds And Smells

The carousel, like the one depicted above that is ridable in Singapore, is just one of the many sounds you’ll likely hear on a traditional USA boardwalk. Other classics include:

• Funnel cake
• Arcade Games
• Boardwalk Fries
• Tramcars
• Bicycles
• Seagulls
• Ocean Waves
• Fudge
• Pretzels
• Photo Opportunities
• Ferris Wheels and More

Paving the Esplenade

In closing, when it comes to USA boardwalks, it was Atlantic City that paved the way for future classics like:

• Coney Island-Home to the Wonder Wheel and the now defunct giant elephant hotel, Coney Island presented the first roller coaster to the world.
• Ocean City-This famous boardwalk survived an ancient shipwreck.
• Wildwood-Home of the “tramcar” and, as of 2015, home of the vintage hot rod. You better watch that tramcar please…
• Kemah-Houses the only roller coaster on the Texas Gulf Coast.
• Myrtle Beach-aka the “seaside golf capitol of the world”.
• Rehoboth-This award winning boardwalk hosts the famous Sea Witch Festival.
• Bay Lake- Where else can you catch a show, a roller coaster ride and a healthy dose of character acting all while stocking up on your favorite Disney Merchandise?

Onward to bigger and better things, boardwalk enthusiasts will delight to hear that there’s talk of a year round, fully functioning Steel Peir in A.C. with a 200 foot ferris wheel in the works as well.

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