Boardwalk (entertainment district)

In the 19th century, seaside living and entertainment became popular. Primarily in the Jersey Shore coastal region of New Jersey, United States, walks made of boards (hence the name 'boardwalk') began to be placed among seaside hotels and other establishments so as to prevent beach sand from being tracked into the buildings. These structures were not initially permanent, being taken down in the fall and then replaced the following spring, but eventually permanent boardwalks began to be placed. In the mid-20th century, however, the popularity of boardwalks began to decline due to a combination of competition from other dedicated theme parks such as Disneyland and hurricanes attacking the outdated boardwalk infrastructure. As a result, the boardwalk lost some of its popularity. Regardless, boardwalks such as the Atlantic City Boardwalk in New Jersey, Coney Island in New York, or the Kemah Boardwalk in Texas remain popular tourist attractions to this day. == Notable boardwalks ==

Several notable boardwalks in the United States include: Atlantic City The first boardwalk in the United States, Casinos and hotels front the boardwalk, as well as retail stores, restaurants, and amusements. Popular entertainments available on the Atlantic City Boardwalk include rolling chairs, saltwater taffy, and amusement piers such as Steel Pier. Ocean City , a wooden pathway adjacent to the beach that is lined with businesses, typical of boardwalks along the East Coast of the United States. The boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland is one of the oldest in the United States, dating to 1902. Originally called "Atlantic Avenue", it started out as temporary boards that would be stored at high tide. In 1910 a permanent boardwalk was constructed. Kemah The Kemah Boardwalk is a hotel and restaurant promenade in Kemah, Texas. The main attractions of the complex, which opened in 2001, are its many restaurants overlooking Galveston Bay, recreational sailing, and amusement pier. Additional attractions include a carousel, a Ferris wheel and a wooden roller coaster. == References ==