The Wildwoods Boardwalk is officially the best in the country again! After landing the No. 1 spot on USA Today’s 10 Best Boardwalks list for the second year in a row, the Wildwoods have plenty that’s new, including renovated rides, new places to eat and a lineup of festivals and events.
The Wildwoods is a hotspot for families because of its free attractions, everything from its 5 miles of beaches to the events lineup (about 160 a year) to weekly fireworks to movies and concerts on the beach.
The three areas of Morey’s Piers have more than 100 rides and attractions: roller coasters, two waterparks, carnival-style midway games, arcades, retail shops and lots of food spots. The Giant Wheel, an iconic part of the Wildwoods’ skyline, should be renovated and fully operational by Memorial Day Weekend.
Some of the biggest events this summer include events to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, including the 10th annual Flags of Liberty Ceremony on May 22; the Barefoot Country Music Festival June 18 to 21, with this year’s headliners Post Malone and Kelsea Ballerini among 40 professional and amateur acts; PigDog’s Regatta and Beach Party on August 21; and the free Wildwoods Airshow September 12 and 13.
The newest eateries set to open include Baypoint Marina & Tiki Bar, Shore Ave Coffee Company (right on the boardwalk in North Wildwood), Star Lite Diner, Lighthouse Kitchen & Café (taking over te former home of Rommadill Pickling Co.), a Doo Wop Wawa, The Salty Mermaid and Al the Steak King.
You can keep it old-fashioned and get around town on the famous Wildwoods Boardwalk Sightseer Tram Cars (who doesn’t love hearing, “Watch the tram car, please!”?) – or try out the new Coastal Cruiser, a hop-on, hop-off shuttle that will travel along Atlantic Avenue and East Cedar Avenue and to MudHen Brewing Company.
The Wildwoods Boardwalk has won numerous travel and tourism awards throughout the years:
- One of The Top Ten Boardwalks by National Geographic
- One of America’s Best Boardwalks by Smart Travel
- One of The Best Boardwalks in America by CNN Travel
- One of America’s Best Seaside Boardwalks by Trending Travel
- One of The 20 Best Beach Boardwalks in America by Reader’s Digest
- One of Our Favorite Boardwalks in New Jersey by New Jersey Family magazine (yay!)
- One Of The Best Jersey Shore Boardwalks by Travel + Leisure
- One of the 20 Most Iconic Boardwalks in the U.S. by INSIDER, MSN.com, and BEST TRAVEL TALE
If you’re planning your family vacay for later in the summer, call about a resy at The Wild Resort, a new hotel that will be located at Glenwood Avenue and the boardwalk. The entire facade of the retail stores are undergoing renovations to include a hotel lobby and cafe directly on the boardwalk, with a second-floor restaurant and pool, and rooms and luxury suites with private balconies overlooking the ocean.
Other renovations are planned on the boardwalk along its stretch in North Wildwood; as well as to the Pacific Avenue Downtown Corridor, specifically the business district between Taylor Avenue and Byrne Plaza, to make it more walkable and bikeable.
For the USA Today 10 Best competition, nine writers and travel experts recommended different boardwalks on both coasts, based on food, entertainment, places to shop, and more. Then, USA Today readers were given the chance to vote for their faves.
The Best Boardwalks in the U.S. (2026), according to USA Today’s 10 Best list:
- Wildwoods Boardwalk, Wildwood, New Jersey
- Kemah Boardwalk, Kemah, New Jersey
- Ocean City Boardwalk, Ocean City, New Jersey
- Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Carolina Beach, North Carolina
- Atlantic City Boardwalk, Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Venice Beach Boardwalk, Venice, California
- Ocean Beach Park Boardwalk, New London, Connecticut
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, California
- Virginia Beach Boardwalk, Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Boardwalk at Point Pleasant Beach, Pt. Pleasant Beach, New Jersey
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