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Soak up the late-summer sunshine along these 19 boardwalks
Thrill rides and funnel cakes define many of these seaside fun walks
A few are more notable for people-watching or natural beauty
If your idea of summer perfection involves roller coasters, funnel cakes and Whac-A-Mole, we’ve got 19 perfect spots for the season’s last hurrah.
1. Navy Pier, Chicago
Who says a boardwalk has to be by the ocean? Along Lake Michigan in the Windy City, the Navy Pier has got a 150-foot-high Ferris wheel that lets you take in the skyline and the lake, a carousel, wave swinger, mini-golf, and remote-control boats in season. And don’t forget to grab an America’s Dog Chicago hot dog with mustard, relish, onion, sport peppers, tomato, pickle, and celery salt. navypier.com
Budget Travel: See more photos of the boardwalks
2. Atlantic City Boardwalk, Atlantic City, New Jersey
This waterfront city may be known for its casinos, but its historic boardwalk is no gamble if you’re looking for a great time. Originally built in the 19th century to prevent sand from blowing off the beach into the area’s schmancy hotels, the Atlantic City Boardwalk has become a destination all its own. Its Steel Pier is a thriving amusement park, while its Garden Pier is a hot spot for the performing arts. atlanticcitynj.com
3. Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York
Sure, the name may conjure images of barbershop quartets and early-20th-century couples strolling by the sea. But the revitalized Luna Park amusement park ain’t your great-grandfather’s Coney Island.
The names of the rides at this iconic Brooklyn destination say it all: The Sling Shot throws you up in the air and lets you freefall back down to earth; the Cyclone roller coaster is still one of the most terrifying around, and the Wonder Wheel may be