New York City has a number of options for beaches in and around it, fit for every type of traveler, from families and couples to singles and girlfriends looking to get away from the bustle of the city. Most of these beaches offer more than just excellent sunbathing and swimming. You can enjoy thrilling roller coaster rides, go sea kayaking, explore the wilderness on nature trails, take in seaside towns, and much more.
New York City alone has nearly 23 km of beaches including Rockaway in Queens and Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, most of which are easily reached by bus or ferry from the city centre. Beaches in Upstate New York like Lake Placid Public Beach are especially appealing to families seeking fresh air and maybe a paddle or lazy float session on the lake. Read on for more of the best beaches in New York State.
1. Coney Island
At Brooklyn’s southernmost point, Coney Island was developed as a resort in the 1800s, and by the turn of the century its amusement park attractions were drawing crowds from all five boroughs. Today, though its wide strand isn’t the cleanest, its boardwalk is hard to beat for people-watching.
Steps away from the beach, Luna Park has rides, games and more. Though it’ll shake you up a bit, don’t skip the Cyclone, a wooden roller coaster dating to 1927 that’s a New York City landmark. For a rainy-day option or a break from the sun, the nearby Coney Island Museum offers an overview of the neighborhood’s colorful history.
As one of New York’s most popular beaches, Coney Island has it all. This beach at the tip of Brooklyn is easily accessible by subway trains and has two amusement parks (Deno’s Wonder Wheel and Luna Park) featuring the Cyclone roller coaster and a boardwalk, and the iconic Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. The original Nathan’s Coney Island restaurant that opened in 1916 is still at the corner of Surf and Stillwell, home of the annual Hot Dog Eating Contest that takes place on July 4th weekend.
2. Brighton Beach
If you continue walking east from Coney Island and the aquarium, you’ll come to Brighton Beach, located in a neighborhood of the same name facing the Atlantic Ocean. The beach is a little less crowded than Coney Island, and you’ll find mostly locals enjoying the area with picnics and volleyball.
Brighton Beach area has the largest community of Eastern Europeans in the Eastern United States, which means grocery stores selling Russian and Eastern European foods, and delis and restaurants serving freshly made pierogies.
Within walking distance to Brighton Beach, you’ll find the more secluded Manhattan Beach Park on the east end of the Brooklyn Peninsula. The park offers tennis, basketball, and handball courts and two baseball fields. Free movies are shown all summer long in the parking lot.
3. Rockaway Beach
The Ramones may have put it on the map back in the 1970s, but over the years, Rockaway Beach has maintained its reputation as a super summertime spot with great waves, good eats and a pleasantly sandy stretch of shore.
This stalwart in Queens hosts the city’s only sanctioned surfing beaches, one between Beach 67th and 69th Sts and the other between 87th and 92nd Sts. Newbies can take lessons from Locals Surf School, and experienced wave-riders can rent boards and gear from a handful of shops nearby.
For refreshments, hit the concession stands at 87th, 96th and 106th, or venture off the boardwalk and head for Tacoway Beach, a seasonal setup that slings fish tacos that are worth the subway ride alone. Dig into arepas at Caracas at Beach 105th St or fresh fish at La Cevicheria at Beach 97th St. Revelers enjoy live music until the wee hours at Rippers, just east of Beach 90th.
Rockaway is back following the damage of Hurricane Sandy, and many of the most interesting developments are happening off the sand. Take the $7-each-way NYC Beach Bus from Union Square or Brooklyn, rent a surfboard, then stop for tacos at the Rockaway Beach Surf Club, check out art at hipster gallery Topless, and have a late-night drink at the upscale crash pad Playland Motel
4. Jones Beach State Park
Jones Beach State Park has a breathtaking length of white sand that extends for more than 10 km along Long Island’s south shore. Also known as Southwick Beach State Park, the beach is great for swimming, especially in the calmer section sheltered by a bay, and there’s a host of things to do here like playing basketball or mini-golf, fishing, or taking walks along the boardwalk and park trails. If you tire of the ocean waves you could go for a swim at the Olympic-sized pool in the park’s West Bathhouse.
Jones Beach is one of New York metropolitan area’s most famous beaches. Spanning 6.5 miles, this well-maintained public beach in the hamlet of Wantagh features a two-mile-long boardwalk, Art Deco bathhouses, several fields for parking, and plenty of fun activities ranging from mini-golf to shuffleboard.
You can catch summer concerts at the Northwell Health outdoor arena, which gets big names like Jimmy Buffett and Dave Matthews. Jones Beach State Park also hosts the popular Bethpage Air Show with the Blue Angels every Memorial Day weekend, a July 4th Fireworks show, softball and volleyball tournaments, and free entertainment at the bandshell.
5. South Beach
You don’t have to book a trip to Miami to find yourself on a spring break worthy getaway. Bonus: It’s within walking distance of some excellent pizza joints. Staten Island, sometimes the forgotten borough, is an island, afterall, surrounded by waterfront, much of which is manicured for optimal tanning and dips in the Atlantic. Just hop on the Staten Island Ferry and soon enough your toes will touch the sand as you work up your appetite for a quality New York slice with a game of beach volleyball.
As part of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt boardwalk and beach area, South Beach and Midland Beach extend 2.5 miles from Staten Island’s Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field’s Gateway Recreational Area. Just a short ferry ride from Lower Manhattan, these beaches provide endless fun in the sun for people of all ages. There’s even a beach for seniors containing chess tables, benches, and bocce courts. Beachgoers can take in lovely views of the Verrazano Bridge, jog along the boardwalk graced by The Fountain of The Dolphins, play tennis, go biking, and more.
At Midland Beach, the less crowded option, you can go fishing off the Ocean Breeze Fishing Pier, one of the largest in the city. The Sea Turtle Fountain and sprinklers and the playground are a big hit among youngsters. Just a short ferry ride from Lower Manhattan, these beaches provide endless fun in the sun for people of all ages. There’s even a beach for seniors containing chess tables, benches, and bocce courts.
Beachgoers can take in lovely views of the Verrazano Bridge, jog along the boardwalk graced by The Fountain of The Dolphins, play tennis, go biking, and more. lAt Midland Beach, the less crowded option, you can go fishing off the Ocean Breeze Fishing Pier, one of the largest in the city. The Sea Turtle Fountain and sprinklers and the playground are a big hit among youngsters.
More Places | 5 Best Family Spots And Activities in Alaska
