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I went to Santa Cruz like 6 years ago, it is beautiful and very nice, but I can't remember if they have an actual boardwalk. They have a walk, they have beach, attractions, rides, vendors, but I don't believe it's a boardwalk. I can't find pictures that show that they have a boardwalk - I believe it is, like other California beachside walks, a paved or concrete walk. Furthermore, while it is very nice, it is very small compared to Jersey's famous boardwalks.
So to those who are complaining about no west coast or Florida being on the list, I think there are really no boardwalks outside of the Mid-Atlantic. Venice is not a boardwalk, it is a concrete and pavement walkway and rollerskate/bike path. Same with the Strand from Hermosa to Manhattan Beach. Santa Monica has a pier, not a boardwalk, but even if it counted as a boardwalk it doesn't stack up to the bigger NJ boardwalks.
I have to insist that Atlantic City is the best boardwalk. It is the Original, for starters, and its history is undisputed. There is something for everyone: casinos, shops, rides and amusements (Steel Pier), beach and swimming, several casino-run outdoor bars right on (or just off) the boardwalk, and the ends of the boardwalk away from the busy center area offer a peaceful, quiet, plain boardwalk for those who just want to walk or take in the peace and ocean air.
Location: Monterey Bay, California -- watching the sea lions, whales and otters! :D
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Santa Cruz's wharf, as part of the Boardwalk, is wooden and large (except where they park cars -- they had to reinforce that part). I'm from the eastcoast, originally, so I know that many of the old boardwalks/amusement parks were built long ago. California is not as old as the eastcoast, and it is different. However, it doesn't mean there is nothing to do out here, nor that the scenery is spectacular, along with the weather. I found this little clip about the Santa Cruz Wharf.
It is really long, and has lots to do. Often there are bands playing, the Woodies on the Wharf (the old cars that carried surfboards) is popular, they have a Clam Chowder Cook-off, there is a lot to do. Fishing is free off the wharf -- no license required. Hundreds of sea lions rest on the pilings underneath the wharf and you can stand there next to a pelican on the wooden rails, while watching a sea otter click together clams to eat and hear the sea lions barking to each other.
Each place has special things about them. I guess what surprised me is how many people on the eastcoast thought nothing existed here. I'm from the east, and I knew there was stuff, so it is surprising. But older cities (in the east) had more land then and more people and built early on. But California not only has very similar things, it also has a spectacular coastline (all preserved -- no drilling here!), and it is nice. It's especially nice for someone like me who lived through too many winters and to have 50 degree winters here, and am able to walk to the beach to watch the tides.
If you ever come to the west coast, the only three places people think of are San Francisco, LA and San Diego. We are a hidden jewel on the Central Coast. Most people never even consider this area, or they have heard of Monterey, but that is a tiny town with very little there except the Aquarium and the touristy Cannery Row. Santa Cruz, however, is an actual college town and has a multitude of things to do, with miles and miles and miles of beaches that are all public (it is a rule in California that all beaches be accessible to the public). It is also the home of Jack O'Neill, the inventor of the wetsuit. There are world-class surfing competitions just to the right of the wharf. It's definitely worth checking out.
To be honest, I had never heard of Santa Cruz either when I lived back east. I only heard about it because I was moving west, and a friend said I could stay with his mother in Santa Cruz -- that was when I discovered it. So, it's not surprising that you have not heard of it, but it IS a beautiful place, tons of surfing, swimming, tide pools, whale watching, sailing, fishing, the Boardwalk, cafes, and beautiful weather.
Santa Cruz's wharf, as part of the Boardwalk, is wooden and large (except where they park cars -- they had to reinforce that part). I'm from the eastcoast, originally, so I know that many of the old boardwalks/amusement parks were built long ago. California is not as old as the eastcoast, and it is different. However, it doesn't mean there is nothing to do out here, nor that the scenery is spectacular, along with the weather. I found this little clip about the Santa Cruz Wharf.
...
To be honest, I had never heard of Santa Cruz either when I lived back east. I only heard about it because I was moving west, and a friend said I could stay with his mother in Santa Cruz -- that was when I discovered it. So, it's not surprising that you have not heard of it, but it IS a beautiful place, tons of surfing, swimming, tide pools, whale watching, sailing, fishing, the Boardwalk, cafes, and beautiful weather.
Hope this helps.
Wisteria
It seems you want to change this thread from "best boardwalk" to "why Santa Cruz is better than a boardwalk".
Santa Cruz is more well-known than you seem to think it is, and it is a very beautiful beach area. It is a fun and enjoyable place to visit.
However, it is not a real boardwalk. This thread is about boardwalks. There are many wonderful beach towns and wharves and piers in CA and other parts of the nation, but actual boardwalks seem to be mostly limited to the Mid-atlantic. I think you're being overdefensive about Santa Cruz, considering that they really don't qualify in a comparison of actual boardwalks.
Location: Monterey Bay, California -- watching the sea lions, whales and otters! :D
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Maybe I don't understand your definition of a boardwalk -- it IS called the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, so I assumed it's a boardwalk. (Plus, it was listed as "One of the Best Boardwalks," so I, again, would assume it was one. What do I know?? -- *throws hands up in air*)
I AM from the eastcoast -- I HAVE been to a lot of those places (nearly had my ear torn off after riding the roller coaster at Coney Island a month after having my ears pierced and wearing dangly earrings that REALLY hurt when that coaster took off) -- I only mentioned Santa Cruz because I'm right near the "Boardwalk," and since the title was Boardwalks, and most people commented that they, first, didn't realize California had them, and secondly even asked about Santa Cruz, I replied.
I said right out that I had never heard of Santa Cruz before going there -- which is true. It's a nice boardwalk, it's got a great wharf, it's just not on the eastcoast. Someone asked for pics -- I put them up. Gees, you'd think I was being insulting -- I wasn't. I was merely giving out information, that, frankly, I wish I had known about before I came to Santa Cruz. I was truly surprised to see what's here. (I did not know much about California except the typical stereotypes.)
So, this is mainly about the eastcoast, I get it -- I'm from the eastcoast, and I was pleased to see something like this here in California. Just let it go. I wish the thread title was clearer or I wouldn't have even mentioned Santa Cruz. It is a nice place, if anyone from the east ever comes out west, then at least they are aware that there's more here than San Francisco or LA -- which is what most people seem to think.
No offense meant, just giving information. Carry on!
Last edited by Wisteria; 06-19-2010 at 03:46 PM..
Reason: typo
It seems you want to change this thread from "best boardwalk" to "why Santa Cruz is better than a boardwalk".
Santa Cruz is more well-known than you seem to think it is, and it is a very beautiful beach area. It is a fun and enjoyable place to visit.
However, it is not a real boardwalk. This thread is about boardwalks. There are many wonderful beach towns and wharves and piers in CA and other parts of the nation, but actual boardwalks seem to be mostly limited to the Mid-atlantic. I think you're being overdefensive about Santa Cruz, considering that they really don't qualify in a comparison of actual boardwalks.
True, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk replaced it's wooden boardwalk with a concrete one at some point in it's 100-year history. But if we're limiting the definition of boardwalk to actual wooden boardwalks and not just seaside promenades or amusement parks then you'd have to disqualify Virginia Beach(which is concrete) or even possibly Coney Island at some point in the future.
I'm not sure why the the existing wooden boardwalks on the West Coast were replaced with concrete ones(just like in Santa Cruz, San Diego, Venice Beach, and Seaside, Oregon)---maybe due to the proximity to the stormy Pacific, wood was too fragile. And it is cool to go to the old, traditional ones on the Mid-Atlantic beaches. But in terms of an old historical seaside amusement park just like Coney Island or Wildwood, the Santa Cruz Boardwalk is one of the best outside of the East Coast--and probably the best on the West Coast. The Giant Dipper in Santa Cruz in one of the best old-school wooden roller coasters in the country--it's like the Cyclone on Coney Island--in addition to the old Coconut Grove Casino and beautiful views of the surrounding coastline plus a ton of real surf culture. And if you Google search, "Top 10 Boardwalks", Santa Cruz is on every one of those lists.
True, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk replaced it's wooden boardwalk with a concrete one at some point in it's 100-year history. But if we're limiting the definition of boardwalk to actual wooden boardwalks and not just seaside promenades or amusement parks then you'd have to disqualify Virginia Beach(which is concrete) or even possibly Coney Island at some point in the future.
I'm not sure why the the existing wooden boardwalks on the West Coast were replaced with concrete ones(just like in Santa Cruz, San Diego, Venice Beach, and Seaside, Oregon)---maybe due to the proximity to the stormy Pacific, wood was too fragile. And it is cool to go to the old, traditional ones on the Mid-Atlantic beaches. But in terms of an old historical seaside amusement park just like Coney Island or Wildwood, the Santa Cruz Boardwalk is one of the best outside of the East Coast--and probably the best on the West Coast. The Giant Dipper in Santa Cruz in one of the best old-school wooden roller coasters in the country--it's like the Cyclone on Coney Island--in addition to the old Coconut Grove Casino and beautiful views of the surrounding coastline plus a ton of real surf culture. And if you Google search, "Top 10 Boardwalks", Santa Cruz is on every one of those lists.
I guess I'm just a purist, then, but to me it's not a boardwalk unless it's made of boards and not concrete, like a street or sidewalk.
If the OP meant "seaside amusements" or something like that, he or she should have (and I'll give the benefit of the doubt that he/she would have) titled the thread accordingly.
I have no problem disqualifying Virginia Beach, or Santa Cruz, or Long Branch NJ, or any place that has replaced a boardwalk with a concrete sidewalk or street. It's just not the same.
Maybe I don't understand your definition of a boardwalk -- it IS called the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, so I assumed it's a boardwalk. (Plus, it was listed as "One of the Best Boardwalks," so I, again, would assume it was one. What do I know?? -- *throws hands up in air*)
I define a boardwalk as a walk made of boards. It seems that a lot of people define "boardwalk" as "seaside walkway made of any material whatsoever where there are shops and amusements". But that's not really a boardwalk; it's a seaside walkway made of any material whatsoever where there are shops and amusements.
Santa Cruz is no longer a boardwalk. It is a seaside walkway made of whatever material (concrete, asphalt) where there are shops and amusements. It's very nice and a lot of fun. But, it's not a boardwalk.
The original boardwalk was created in Atlantic City, NJ with the purpose of being a walkway where the sand from peoples' feet could easily be swept away or blown away, through the cracks between the boards, lessesning the amount of sand tracked into nearby shops and amusements. Concrete and asphalt don't do that; they are not boardwalks.
I don't understand why you're so upset, I'm just saying that I don't consider a paved walkway or street to be a "boardwalk"; apparently, you and many others do, but I don't.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wisteria
I AM from the eastcoast -- I HAVE been to a lot of those places (nearly had my ear torn off after riding the roller coaster at Coney Island a month after having my ears pierced and wearing dangly earrings that REALLY hurt when that coaster took off) -- I only mentioned Santa Cruz because I'm right near the "Boardwalk," and since the title was Boardwalks, and most people commented that they, first, didn't realize California had them, and secondly even asked about Santa Cruz, I replied.
My initial reaction was to think "Santa Cruz doesn't have a boardwalk." When you (and/or others) said it did, I figured it was that "boardwalk" which I visited there. So, even though I knew about their amusments area by the beach, I never thought of it as a "boardwalk", because I remember it as being paved. Much of it is in one building/structure, in fact. There's nothing wrong with that - it's very nice and a lot of fun. But, it's not a boardwalk, to me. It's paved.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wisteria
I said right out that I had never heard of Santa Cruz before going there -- which is true. It's a nice boardwalk, it's got a great wharf, it's just not on the eastcoast. Someone asked for pics -- I put them up. Gees, you'd think I was being insulting -- I wasn't. I was merely giving out information, that, frankly, I wish I had known about before I came to Santa Cruz. I was truly surprised to see what's here. (I did not know much about California except the typical stereotypes.)
Nobody said you were being insulting; you just don't seem to understand what a REAL boardwalk is. Santa Cruz is a boardwalk-style amusement area with no actual boardwalk.
Las Vegas for many years had a Casino called "The Boardwalk". It was styled like a boardwalk, had amusments and shops reminiscent of Coney Island and Atlantic City boardwalks. But it wasn't a real boardwalk. It was just the style of one, inside a hotel. They never would have made a "best boardwalks" list because it wasn't real nice; but they should have to be considered if Santa Cruz or Venice are considered. My point is that none of those are real boardwalks - they're all boardwalk-style amusment/shopping areas but they are paved and not boardwalks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wisteria
So, this is mainly about the eastcoast, I get it -- I'm from the eastcoast, and I was pleased to see something like this here in California. Just let it go. I wish the thread title was clearer or I wouldn't have even mentioned Santa Cruz. It is a nice place, if anyone from the east ever comes out west, then at least they are aware that there's more here than San Francisco or LA -- which is what most people seem to think.
No offense meant, just giving information. Carry on!
It's not about the eastcoast per se; it is about boardwalks. It may be de facto about the east coast (Mid-Atlantic to be precise) since this seems to be the last bastion of real boardwalks. If there is a real boardwalk elsewhere, it would be part of the discussion. The only other one I know of is Disney's in Orlando, and that one is modeled after Atlantic City and the AC area. Otherwise, I don't know any other boardwalks.
Please don't take offense, I'm not trying to say you are insulting or anything; I'm just saying I don't think that any amusement area can be a true boardwalk unless it has an actual boardwalk. I really don't care where it is - if the West Coast has some real boardwalks I'm more than happy to include them in the discussion, I am a big fan of California. But there just aren't any there.
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