America's boardwalks

About this book

"In America's Boardwalks, James Lilliefors takes us on a journey along the edges of the country to twelve of its most famous beach towns. Starting in the Northeast with Coney Island, Asbury Park, Atlantic City, Wildwood, and Cape May, we continue south to Rehoboth Beach; Ocean City, Maryland; Virginia Beach; Myrtle Beach; and Daytona Beach. In California, we explore the exotic scenes at Venice Beach and Santa Cruz. Lilliefors traces each town's history and shows how the boardwalk has been essential to the area's economic growth, status, and appeal." "This richly documented and illustrated book, however, tells more than the story of the birth and development of boardwalks. Weaving together observations and conversations with business owners, planners, and those who "walk the boards," Lilliefors reveals the vitality of the boardwalk as an idea, rather than just as a place. And he introduces us to some of the people who have kept the boardwalk an American institution for more than a hundred and thirty years."--Jacket.