Atlantic City, Coney Island among nation's best boardwalks

New Yorkers may love Coney Island’s hot dogs and rides, but it seems like it’s hard to beat Atlantic City’s casinos.

National Geographic crowned Atlantic City as the king of the U.S. boardwalk empire, leaving Coney in second place. The magazine called the New Jersey attraction the “grandfather of boardwalks,” highlighting its towering hotels and massive arcade halls.

Coney Island’s Friends of Boardwalk President Todd Dorbin said he was surprised New York’s historic boardwalk wasn’t tops.

“It’s a vacation every day on our boardwalk,” Dorbin said. “There’s none other like it in the world.”

Boardwalks in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Ocean City, Md., and Ocean Front Walk in Venice Beach, Calif. rounded out the top five.