Maybe it’s the clatter of arcade games, the sticky sweetness of saltwater taffy or the familiar sight of a Ferris wheel against the ocean, but strolling down a beach boardwalk or piers can transport anyone back to childhood.
Across the coastal South, these waterfront landmarks have weathered storms, rebuilt and reinvented themselves, yet the formula for drawing crowds has barely changed: oceanfront snacks, fishing lines, rides, quirky shops and no real reason to rush home. From the Carolinas to the Gulf Coast, here are the top places where that spirit is still going strong.
Carolina Beach Boardwalk
Carolina Beach, North Carolina
Voted the fourth-best boardwalk in the nation in USA Today’s 2026 Readers’ Choice awards, the Carolina Beach Boardwalk keeps the spirit of traditional seaside fun alive with oceanfront hotels, shops, restaurants, an arcade and an amusement park featuring a carousel, Ferris wheel and carnival games. After dark, Hurricane Alley’s’ rooftop deck draws crowds for live music on summer weekends, while The Fat Pelican, a dive bar just off the boardwalk, is known for its walk-in cooler of over 400 beers. And while many boardwalks quiet down once summer ends, Carolina Beach keeps visitors coming back year-round, with seasonal festivals, outdoor concerts and fireworks, plus fall and holiday events like a pumpkin patch on the beach and December’s Island of Lights festival.
Hollywood Beach Broadwalk
Hollywood, Florida
When the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk first debuted in 1923, founder Joseph Young dreamed of an Atlantic City for South Florida. It may not be lined with casinos (though one is a short drive away), but it still delivers a century later. The two-and-a-half-mile brick promenade welcomes cyclists, joggers and rollerbladers, with restaurants, bars and shops offering plenty of reasons to linger along the way. Longtime favorites like Venice Restaurant, serving Italian dishes here since 1987, sit alongside vacation staples like Ben & Jerry’s and Señor Frog’s. For a change of pace, Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort offers pools, a waterslide and the popular FlowRider, a wave simulator where visitors can try surfing and bodyboarding on a wave simulator.
Gulf State Park Pier
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Hurricanes have dealt the Gulf State Park Pier its share of setbacks, but the Alabama landmark keeps coming back. Hurricane Sally destroyed 200 feet of the pier in 2020, prompting a $13.6 million rebuild that reopened in 2024. This spring, its observation deck opened, giving visitors another reason to head out over the Gulf. At roughly 1,540 feet long, the pier is one of the coast’s longest, with plenty to do beyond fishing. Visitors can cast a line alongside local anglers, keep an eye out for dolphins, grab a drink at ByWater Beachside Beach Bar & Grill and pick up bait at a tackle shop right on the pier. Visitors should check the pier’s Facebook page for updates on temporary storm-related closures and reopenings.
West Beach Boardwalk and Paradise Pier Fun Park
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi’s take on the classic boardwalk experience is split between two spots: the West Biloxi Boardwalk and Paradise Pier. Along the West Biloxi Boardwalk, visitors can stroll the shoreline and pick up some history along the way from a series of kiosks sharing everything from a 1941 letter about the Mississippi Gulf Coast from future President Harry S. Truman to tips for spotting shorebirds. It also connects to a stretch of beachfront dining spots known as Restaurant Row, with establishments like Shaggy’s, which just added a crab house, souvenir shop and ice cream parlor next door, and The Reef, which serves up fresh local seafood and offers an outdoor playground for kids. For a dose of carnival-style fun, the Paradise Pier Fun Park features a range of rides including a double-decker merry-go-round, a 180-foot observation wheel and a roller coaster.
Daytona Beach Boardwalk
Daytona, Florida
The Daytona Beach Boardwalk packs plenty of old-school beach town charm, starting with staples that have been part of the concrete promenade for generations. Zeno’s Boardwalk Sweet Shop has been making saltwater taffy, fudge and other confections since 1948 (look for the taffy-pulling machine in the front window), and 10 years later, Pizza King arrived with slices and quick bites for hungry beachgoers. History shines brightest at the 89-year-old Daytona Beach Bandshell, where free summer concerts and Saturday-night fireworks run from May through September to keep the nostalgia going. But the boardwalk’s next chapter is already taking shape: a 245-foot extension is in the works, and the city is inviting developers to propose amusement parks and year-round entertainment.
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Hurricane Hazel destroyed the original Myrtle Beach Boardwalk in 1954, and it took 56 years to bring it back. Since reopening in 2010, the 1.2-mile boardwalk has delivered Southern summer nostalgia, with arcades such as Fun Plaza and Ripley’s Super Fun Zone, ice cream shops, bars and restaurants just steps from the sand. The Gay Dolphin Gift Cove, open since 1946, had to rebuild after the storm, too. But today it’s stacked floor after floor with souvenirs, jewelry and things you never knew you needed, like a wall of license plate name tags where you might actually find your own. But the real showstopper is SkyWheel Myrtle Beach, the nearly 200-foot Ferris wheel, which lights up the coastline at night with its neon glow.
St. Simons Island Pier
St. Simons Island, Georgia
St. Simons Island Pier captures a quieter side of the old-fashioned seaside experience. Anglers pull in crabs, stingray and the occasional shark, and you can see the lighthouse right from the railings. Off the base of the pier, visitors can wander Pier Village, a walkable district of boutiques, restaurants and ice cream spots, or head to Neptune Park for its playground and mini golf course. For those with energy to spare, the St. Simons Lighthouse Museum is a short walk across the park, where 129 steps up a spiral staircase lead to panoramic coastal views.