Anytime someone talks about New York City, the first thing people usually think about might be the tall skyscraper buildings, expensive shopping malls, designer brands, or popular manmade monuments.
However, what many people do not know is that New York has also managed to make quite a global reputation for itself for its fabulous beaches that are all well-kept, safe, relaxing, and full of exciting activities to do.
One such beach that is extremely popular for its uplifting energy and positive ambiance is Long Beach, located in Nassau County, New York.
Although many people know about Long beach for its clear and golden sand, the beach’s actual tourist attraction is its 2.1-mile-long boardwalk built along the ocean.
To learn more about New York City’s Long Beach boardwalk, its history, geology, and natural wildlife, keep reading the remaining article below.
The Rich History of New York’s Long Beach Boardwalk
Be it the debutante ball parties or culture of architectural creativity, one thing no one can deny is that New York city’s history is as rich and exceptional as it can get.
Apart from the world-famous Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building, New York’s Long beach boardwalk is another monumental manmade creation the American state is extremely proud of.
Designed and orchestrated by Willian Reynolds for the first time ever in 1906, the Long beach boardwalk is still no less than a treasure for the local New Yorkers who, to this day, enjoy walking, cycling, and running on the one-of-a-kind 2.1-mile-long boardwalk that lies between the blue ocean water and the golden sandy beach.
However, if you want to visit the boardwalk for the first time, it is important to understand and respect the decades of history, hardships, and fights that went into keeping this monumental structure an integral part of the city.
Although the design for the Long beach boardwalk was finalized by 1907, its construction eventually was completed seven year later, in 1914.
Perhaps, one of the reasons the Long Beach boardwalk is considered to be one of the most incredible manmade tourist destinations in New York is because its construction was made possible by the combined efforts of humans and elephants.
Eventually, the great usability and structural finesse of the boardwalk attracted thousands of people, all year around, to visit the beach, and spend a day running along the wooden boardwalk.
This continuous human traffic allowed multiple different bars, hotels, shopping areas, waterfront restaurants, and other recreational activity centers to emerge around the boardwalk, which greatly contributed in helping the long beach city life develop and survive.
However, unfortunately in the year 2012, massive ocean waves completely destroyed the wooden boardwalk, resulting in damages of nearly 250 million USD to the entire Long beach.
Not only did this disastrous event, also known as the ‘100 Year Storm’, completely destroy the manmade structures built on Long beach, but it also led to hundreds of different local businesses shutting down as no more tourists had any reason to visit the beach.
Eventually, by July 2013, two new blocks of the new Long beach boardwalk were built with improved architectural techniques and higher-quality material.
By the end of the same year, a total of 42 million USD was spent to completely reconstruct the boardwalk, and reopen it to the public.
Today, the Long beach boardwalk is still one of the most vital tourist attractions that not only helps support the local beach community, but also helps reflect the city’s dedication and commitment.
Long Beach Boardwalk’s Geology
The Nassau County Long beach is the largest island neighboring the shores of the United States of America, and the boardwalk is said to be one of the most beautiful manmade structures that every New Yorker is deeply proud of.
Measuring around 2.1 to 2.2 miles in length and nearly 50 feet in width, the New York city Long beach boardwalk was constructed to act as a beautiful and strong pathway that separates the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean from the warm sandy beach.
The Long beach boardwalk consists of a mix of high-quality concrete and Ipe wood, which is described as a super strong, tropical hardwood.
Apart from the boardwalk’s structure, the overall geology of the Long beach comprises flat terrains filled with sands, pebbles, and gravel.
Local Wildlife You Can Spot Here
If you plan to visit New York City’s Long Beach Boardwalk, brace yourself to experience some of the most beautiful animals living in their natural habitats.
Some of the animals that a visitor could possibly come across during their visit are as follows:
- Ducks
- Seagulls
- Horseshoe crabs
- Humpback whales
- Dolphins
- Alligators (occasionally)
- Harbor, Gray, Harp, and Hooded seals
- Multiple different kinds of fish
However, while the Long beach management encourages its visitors to enjoy and appreciate the local wildlife and the natural ecosystems, it highly condemns people from throwing garbage in the sea or on the beach, or from feeding the wild animals.
Things to do on Long Beach Boardwalk
Lots to do!
Some of the fun activities that you can be a part of when visiting the Long beach boardwalk in New York are as follows:
- Rent a cycle and ride on the boardwalk along the Atlantic Ocean
- Eat some of the most mouthwatering and fresh seafood at the many water-front restaurants
- Enjoy a cruise lunch or dinner on the sea
- Enjoy locally made ice cream as you view the sun go down, while sitting on a wooden bench at the boardwalk
- Take a long walk with a friend while listening to music
How Can You Here?
If you are visiting Nassau Country, New York, do not skip on visiting the one-of-the-kind Long beach boardwalk. Not only is the boardwalk a beautiful tourist attraction, but it is also one of the most integral manmade structures to the long beach’s history.
Simply visit the New York Long beach and follow the official map to find your way to the wooden boardwalk.