The beach and blue sky always beckon, but you can’t have a true Jersey Shore summer without the boardwalk.

There is something about the familiar, comforting plunk of shoe or sandal on wooden boards.

For this guide, I walked and photographed every boardwalk from Sea Bright to Cape May. Our guide includes a little something about each. Did you know the first boardwalk was not in Atlantic City, as is commonly believed?

The introduction to this special issue on boardwalks can be found here. Additional stories will be added as the week goes on.

What's your favorite boardwalk, and why? Post your comments below.

Sea Bright

Short and sweet — about 170 feet long — this wooden boardwalk is right behind Woody's Ocean Grille. It was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy and rebuilt by volunteers from the New Jersey Fireman's Mutual Benevolent Association and the Foundation to Save the Jersey Shore.

Long Branch

This is a combination of concrete promenade (north end) and wooden boardwalk (at Pier Village). Nice touch: the mini-park in front of Ocean Place Resort & Spa devoted to the presidents who summered in town, including James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley and Ulysses S. Grant. You want choices? There's the stylish Avenue club/restaurant, at Pier Village, and the outdoor Tiki Bar at Ocean Place.

Allenhurst

Probably the Shore's least-known boardwalk, it's just 2-and-a-half blocks long. The boards have a nice pleasant thud as you walk. No concessions, just the Allenhurst Beach Club cabanas.

Asbury Park

Short on attractions but long on memories, Asbury Park's classic wooden boardwalk is anchored by the cavernous, atmospheric Convention Hall — home to a bar, several shops and a "world-famous photo booth." Several stands, including Pucker (lemonade) and MOGO (Korean fusion tacos) are housed in converted shipping containers. The Silverball Museum Arcade and Asbury Splash Park (look for the giant green watering can) are must-visits.

Ocean Grove

The boardwalk boasts something unprecedented for the Jersey Shore: no parking meters in sight. The boardwalk's north end was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy; repairs are to take place this summer. One of the boardwalk bench plaques is devoted to Tom McCloskey, "innkeeper … profound mega-gabber … Always Mischievous Now Serene …"

Bradley Beach

A honeycomb-patterned stone boardwalk has bright blue benches that look like they came from IKEA's seashore catalog. But Shipwreck Island Mini Golf, with a fishing boat labeled "Sandy,'' is pretty to look at and play. And don't miss the blue-and-white fountain with its fish-riding cherubs or mermen, or whatever they're supposed to be.

Avon-by-the-Sea

This thin-slatted wooden boardwalk makes an almost metallic sound as you walk it. Avon Pavilion, a Shore institution, was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, although the restaurant — excellent breakfasts — operated under a large tent last summer. There's a pavilion with five benches at the south end that makes for a scenic rest stop.

Belmar

Everyone's favorite seaside party town built a brand-new boardwalk after Sandy. It looks like wood, but it's not; it's a wood alternative called Trex, which is made of 95 percent recycled content. Belmar's boardwalk comes in two colors — Spiced Rum and Lava Rock — and it won't warp, rot, crack or splinter, according to Trex. That's great, but it doesn't look, or feel, like a real boardwalk, with its dark colors and hollow sound.

Spring Lake

Another wood-alternative boardwalk, this one made of TimberTech, which maintains its color for years without annual painting or sanding, according to the manufacturer. Again, terrific, but it's another soulless boardwalk, even if the "boards" sound somewhat more authentic than the ones in Belmar. Spring Lake claims its 2-mile walkway is the longest uninterrupted, noncommercial boardwalk in the state.

Sea Girt

The half-mile boardwalk, rebuilt after Sandy, looks identical to Spring Lake's boards, but it's built with Trex. Materials used in the rebuilding included 15,000 feet of aluminum pipe for the railings, 120 park benches and 10,062 feet of sand fencing. Like Spring Lake's, the Sea Girt boardwalk appears as though it'll last forever, but it doesn't feel "woodsy."

Manasquan

I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for this mile-long asphalt boardwalk; I used to run up and down it when I lived in the borough. It's a pleasant strand of modest summer homes, if you ignore the garish condos. The Surf and Turf food truck, at the north end, is recommended; and Carlson's Corner, a café just off the boardwalk at the south end, is a Manasquan institution.

Point Pleasant Beach

Probably the Shore's most kid-friendly boardwalk, with rides, mini-golf, an aquarium, candy shops and more. Pretty much everything has Jenkinson's in its name — Jenkinson's Pavilion, Jenkinson's Aquarium, Jenkinson's Gift Shop and so on. Another Trex boardwalk, this one in Winchester Grey. The houses are close to the boardwalk; you can see right into many living rooms.

Lavallette

Flat, wide boardwalk, with high dunes limiting views of the ocean along much of its length. Cozy two-story beach houses close to the boardwalk, although not as close as Point Pleasant Beach. No concessions; it's a boardwalk built for long, quiet walks.

Ortley Beach

The boardwalk, and much of the town, was severely damaged by Sandy. The boardwalk is being rebuilt. The Surf Club, one of the Shore's iconic nightspots, remains closed. St. Elisabeth's Chapel-by-the-Sea, just off the boardwalk at Third Avenue, was swept out to sea by Sandy but rebuilt.

Seaside Heights

The Shore's liveliest, most licentious boardwalk is a walk on the seaside's wild side, with its tattoo parlors, bars, food stands and rides. The new boardwalk, replaced after Sandy in time for the 2013 summer season, is built of wood; no synthetic materials here. Must-food-stops: Park Seafood, above the Aztec Ocean Resort, and Maruca's Tomato Pies, now inside JR's Ocean Bar & Grill.

Seaside Park

The boardwalk's commercial stretch — games, food stands, shops — was wiped out in the devastating September 2013 fire. But just past the Sawmill Café, the boardwalk continues for 1½ miles to 14th Avenue, the boundary with South Seaside Park. Repairs to the Sawmill were being made as of this writing and Funtown Pier, just to the north, is expected to be rebuilt. A new boardwalk connecting Seaside Heights and Seaside Park is expected to be completed by the Memorial Day weekend, with temporary amusements being added for the summer season.

Island Beach State Park

The state's most unique boardwalk is the Fisherman's Walkway trail here. The one-tenth-mile-long boardwalk connects Barnegat Bay and the ocean beach, winding through American holly, pitch pine, bayberry and beach plum. On the bay side, the walkway ends at a deck where steps take you right down to the water. There are smaller boardwalks at Ocean Swimming Areas 1 and 2, but they have none of the Fisherman's Walkway trail's scenery, or drama.

Brigantine

In the shadow of the world's most famous boardwalk, Brigantine's walk is one of the Shore's shortest, a winding concrete path running several blocks. There is a wooden deck you can sit on. An American flag flies in one corner; there are no concessions. One bench plaque commemorates Marie Cona — "to know how much we love you, count the waves."

Atlantic City

The mother of all boardwalks, even if there are still too many tacky T-shirt shops and psychics along its 4-mile length. Several shops even sell iguanas; apparently hermit crabs are passé. The boards are two-by-fours that are replaced every dozen years or so. Recent additions include the LandShark Bar & Grill, across from Resorts. IT'SUGAR, a sweets/candy wonderland, may be the Shore's most fun store.

Ventnor

Maybe the Shore's coolest stretch of real estate parallels this boardwalk, with homes of all shapes, sizes and styles along the way. Walk over the waves by taking a stroll down the fishing pier (open to members only beyond the gate). In need of serious exercise? Start just north of the Showboat in A.C. and walk to the south end of the Ventnor boardwalk and back again. It's 10 miles.

Ocean City

"America's Greatest Family Resort" also boasts Jersey's best G-rated commercial boardwalk, with rides, mini-golf and food stands, but no tacky T-shirt shops and exactly one palm reader. The Moorlyn is the only boardwalk movie theater, and Jersey Shore food icons Kohr Bros., Johnson's Popcorn, Shriver's and Fralinger's (both taffy makers) are here.

Sea Isle City

This is a wide, asphalt-type boardwalk known as "the promenade." There is a stylish outdoor amphitheater at 40th Street for summer concerts. The handful of concessions include Goldie's Dips Ahoy; Señorita Burrita; Rig-A-Toni's, a pizza/sandwich shop; and The Perfect Brew, a coffee shop/café.

Avalon

With the dunes on one side and thick shrubs on the other, this 10-block boardwalk feels more like a nature walk than anything else. Avalon Pizzeria and Avalon Ice Cream are the only concessions. Check out the neat zigzag path — part boardwalk, part sand — leading to the ocean at 27th Street.

North Wildwood

The boundary between Wildwood and North Wildwood is 26th Avenue (look for Sam's Pizza Palace). The coolest-looking restrooms on the Jersey Shore — green-roofed, retro facade — are on the boards at 25th Avenue. The boardwalk's north section ends at the dolphin-crested Arch of Happiness. "Through this arch walk the happiest people in the world," it says.

Wildwood

The greatest boardwalk Down the Shore, which makes it the greatest boardwalk anywhere. Two miles of food, fun, rides, shops, piers, neon and — Jersey's only boardwalk sundial. Mostly wooden boards. What's with the concrete pathway in the middle? It's the route of the tram car, which announces its presence with the "Watch the Tram Car, Please" message.

Cape May

The two-mile boardwalk is macadam, but it makes for a pleasant stroll past Victorian homes and grand hotels. Concessions and shops include The Original Fudge Kitchen and the venerable Morrow's Nut House. Check out the stubby, little green parking meters. One parking sign that you won't see anywhere else: "5-minute grace period provided."

MORE FROM INSIDE JERSEY MAGAZINE

FOLLOW INSIDE JERSEY: TWITTER • FACEBOOK • GOOGLE+