10 Overhyped Beach Promenades I’ll Skip Next Time

Some waterfront strolls promise sunset magic and end up delivering lines, loudspeakers, and souvenir shops that all look the same. These ten beach promenades are iconic, but recent visits felt more crowded than charming and pricier than they should be for a simple walk. None of them are bad, but there are nearby paths and parks that give you open sky, softer sand, and fewer distractions. Here is where I would skip and where I would go instead.

South Beach’s Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida

Ocean Drive along Lummus Park is a nonstop scene with music, neon, and crowds that swell on weekends. Sidewalk seating can be fun, but menus often lean expensive for what you get and the wait can stretch your patience. Parking is tough and ride prices surge at night. If you want the sand without the chaos, head north to the beach path around 72nd Street or walk the paved route through Surfside and Bal Harbour for wide views, calmer water, and easier breezes.

Santa Monica Pier and Ocean Front Walk, California

The Ferris wheel backdrop is classic, but the pier and the promenade around it are packed most of the day. Street performers, rental lines, and snack prices make a simple stroll feel like an event you have to manage. If you want the same ocean air without the crush, walk north toward Will Rogers State Beach or south to the bluffs of Palisades Park. Sunset here is gorgeous when you step a few blocks from the epicenter and let the crowds fade behind you.

Venice Beach Boardwalk, Los Angeles, California

Venice is colorful and always interesting, yet the main drag can feel more hectic than relaxing. Souvenir stalls repeat every few yards and speaker volume carries across the walk. For a calmer loop, explore the Venice Canals in the late afternoon and then continue to the beach north of the pier. Another easy win is Playa del Rey where the path opens up and you can actually hear the waves.

Waikiki’s Kalakaua Avenue Promenade, Honolulu, Hawai‘i

Waikiki’s shoreline is beautiful, but the sidewalk can feel like a moving mall at peak hours. Expect busy crosswalks, full restaurant lists, and slow going near popular surf spots. For a quieter version of the same view, start at Kapiolani Park and walk the seawall toward the aquarium, or head to Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island for a wide lawn, calm swimming, and an easy golden hour picnic. You still get Diamond Head in the frame, just with more space to breathe.

Atlantic City Boardwalk, New Jersey

This famous boardwalk is long and historic, but it can feel heavy on casinos, chain snacks, and noise. Crowds build in the afternoon and the atmosphere leans more indoor than ocean. If you want a clean horizon line, walk south into Ventnor or Margate where the boards give way to quieter streets and easy beach access. You will find local coffee, open sand, and a calmer evening wind.

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, South Carolina

Myrtle’s beachfront walkway is lively, but the combination of arcades, souvenir stands, and lines for attractions can make a short stroll take forever. Prices for simple treats add up fast and benches fill quickly at sunset. Drive a short stretch to Huntington Beach State Park for quiet dunes and a long shoreline that invites actual walking. Early mornings there deliver birds, soft light, and the feeling you wanted all along.

Virginia Beach Boardwalk, Virginia

This well maintained path is wide and bike friendly, yet summer weekends feel like a rolling festival. Hotels line the view and the ocean can become background noise behind music and rentals. For a reset, point your day toward First Landing State Park where trails meet the bay and families spread out, or continue to Sandbridge for open sand and fewer high rises. You will still catch a soft Atlantic breeze, only without the constant soundtrack.

Coney Island Boardwalk, Brooklyn, New York

Coney Island is pure New York summer, but the boardwalk rarely slows enough to feel like a beach walk. Lines for fries and rides snake onto the planks and weekend crowds can turn a short visit into a long shuffle. For a more relaxed pace, continue east to Brighton Beach where the boards are quieter and the restaurants are local. On hot days, the Rockaway section around Beach 67th Street also offers a smoother, roomier path with plenty of sky.

Clearwater Beach Walk and Pier 60, Florida

The sunset celebration at Pier 60 is fun, yet the promenade gets shoulder to shoulder well before the sun dips. Parking costs and traffic near the roundabout can eat into your beach time. For the same water color without the grind, cross the bridge to Sand Key Park or ferry to Caladesi Island State Park. You gain wind, space, and a shoreline that invites a real wander.

Mission Beach and Pacific Beach Boardwalk, San Diego, California

This beachfront path is classic Southern California, but by midday it becomes a rolling parade of rentals, boom boxes, and snack lines. It works if you want people watching, not so much if you want the sound of the ocean. Try Coronado’s waterfront for long, quiet stretches and wide sand, or walk north of Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach early in the morning when the path opens up and the light is perfect. A simple coffee and an empty bench there beats any crowded line.

This article was written by Hunter and edited with AI Assistance