These Are New England's 8 Best Boardwalks For Scenic Ocean Views And Beach Beauty

While sand and surf are essential beach day elements on the coast of New England, nothing is quite as iconic and quintessential to the Northeast's coastal charm as the region's wide variety of seaside boardwalks. Some are lonely, wild and rustic, rolling over windswept dunes, while others are carnival-like and festive, lined with activities and attractions. 

It's a mistake to assume that all boardwalks are made of wood. Some are made of traditional wooden planks, while others are paved. Some are flat, while others are raised. According to Boardwalks.org, "The classic beach boardwalk is wide, social, and exposed. It often supports walking, jogging, sitting, sightseeing, and sometimes bicycles or small wheeled recreation where local rules allow." 

What the boardwalks we've chosen have in common is that they offer the opportunity to promenade seaside, taking in the beauty of the region's coastal vistas, whether savoring delicate pink sunrises or enjoying cerulean skies over the Atlantic Ocean's endless horizon. Cape Cod is heavily represented here, as it's prime boardwalk territory, with its expanse of wetlands and dunes. However, every coastal New England state has its own unique style of promenade on offer.

It's hard to imagine a New England beach scene more picturesque and photogenic than Maine's most charming boardwalk, at Old Orchard Beach, less than 30 minutes from Portland. With the colorful pier in the foreground, surrounded by beach umbrellas and golden sands, it offers up a quintessential postcard view that begs to be captioned: "Having a wonderful time, wish you were here!" Grab a lobster roll and stroll to your heart's content, drinking in the ocean views from the only New England entry on Reader's Digest's list of the 20 Best Beach Boardwalks in America.

Seafaring history and oceanic beauty run up against each other in dramatic fashion on the 3.5-mile Cliff Walk along the Newport seashore. Only about half of this National Recreation Trail is a true boardwalk (the balance is a more rugged, rocky shoreline trail), but it provides a stunning glimpse into the architectural splendor of the Gilded Age. Starting at Eastons Beach, the smooth ribbon of pavement passes between elaborate mansions once occupied by titans of the industrial age on one side, and panoramic ocean views of crashing waves on the other. 

New Hampshire is better known for mountain vistas than beach views, with a scant 18 miles of coastline. Yet the state makes the most of it in the bustling beach resort town of Hampton, with its lively boardwalk. This is a nostalgia-soaked boardwalk experience, with saltwater taffy, fried foods, and an arcade. When you've had enough sugar, salt, and bling, you can stroll oceanside, cleansing your sensory palate with lungfuls of fragrant ocean air and views of New Englanders cavorting at one of America's cleanest beaches (per the National Resource Defense Council).

Less than 60 miles south of Boston, right where Cape Cod begins, the historic Sandwich Boardwalk is a New England classic, offering up breathtaking views of rippling grasses, white sand dunes, and wetlands, with the blue expanse of the Atlantic beyond. Originally constructed in 1875, the boardwalk spans a fragile, ever-shifting landscape and has been damaged many times over the years by hurricanes and blizzards. However, the people of Sandwich, one of America's oldest towns, always rally to rebuild.

The Bass Hole Boardwalk (sometimes called Gray's Beach Boardwalk) is a classic elevated wooden pathway extending out over dramatic wetlands from the stunning Cape Cod town of Yarmouth, Massachusetts. The boardwalk is just 0.25 miles long, but feels infinite, as the vanishing horizon of its long, straight run gives you a soaring feeling. Low tide reveals a tapestry of sandbars and wildlife, while sunsets are a favorite with local photographers. This spot is too marshy to be a swimming beach, but it's a scenic wonderland perfect for strolling.

The Crane Beach Dunes Boardwalk at breathtaking Crane Beach, with its famous singing sands, is a picturesque visual feast: Electric green vegetation, stark white sugar sand, and sun-bleached wood stand out against deep blue skies. Cross the fragile salt marsh habitat to the beach without disturbing nesting piping plovers or other shorebirds. This beautiful beach is a draw in summer, but winter is also a lovely time to hike the boardwalk and sandy dune trails. With luck, you might spot a snowy owl or hear the singing of the sands caused by the wind.

Picturesque Silver Sands State Park Boardwalk in the charming, artsy city of Milford, Connecticut, has incredible Long Island Sound views overlooking Charles Island, a protected sanctuary for nesting owls, terns, and egrets. At low tide, a narrow sand bar reveals itself between the island and the mainland, so you can extend your stroll even further with an island visit if it's not active nesting season. Enjoy contemplative opportunities for year-round strolling and birdwatching along this 1.3-mile, accessible path. "Even on a wintry day, there are people walking," one Tripadvisor reviewer writes, "and the views are spectacular."

This paved boardwalk is a graceful crescent stretching just over a mile along Long Island Sound, between Cini Park, just off the beachy little town of East Lyme's charming Main Street, and the hidden, white sands of Hole-in-the-Wall Beach. "The view of Niantic Bay is spectacular and the walking surface is wide, flat, and well maintained," writes one Tripadvisor visitor. This boardwalk is all about the views across the bay, and 200 benches line the way so you can rest and take them in. When clouds roil the sky, the multi-hued sunsets here can be spectacular.