Getting Wet in New York! Part 2
by aliciak - June 07, 2008
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I covered swimming pools in the city, but are you thinking of going au naturel? No, not skinny-dipping (though, there IS that), but the beaches! Yes, there are technically beaches here, though some leave a lot to be desired. Carefully traipse around the syringes, beer bottles, and sometimes hookers (I'm looking at you, Coney Island) and you will find the New York City beach. They aren't all that bad though, and in addition to taking a dip, there are some tasty seafood restaurants and other attractions that will almost convince you that the Hamptons have got nothin' on NYC.
Coney Island
Love it or hate it, you’ve got to visit it. Coney Island used to be a spiffy resort-and-amusement-park neighborhood, but after a history of fires, now it’s a tiny gritty boardwalk, a dirty beach, and an overall dwindling presence. But, there is a beach, with a huge shore, a nice reminder that we New Yorkers live very close to the Atlantic Ocean.
And, it may be closing. Well, Astroland, the last remaining amusement park, that is. The beach will always remain, but if the new “owners” have anything to say about it, the area could turn into a full-fledged set of condos and high-priced homes. Great.
Shoot The Freak
I’m not sure if Shoot The Freak exists outside of Coney Island, but a beach trip would not be complete without shooting paint pellets at a moving target, located in a trashy, grassy plot on the boardwalk. You’ve got to see it to believe it.
Nathans Famous Inc
1229 Boardwalk West, Brooklyn, NY 11224
Beaches are practically synonymous with hot dogs, aren’t they? Well, in Brooklyn they are. There is always a line and a Nathan’s hot dog is never quite as good as I expect, but it’s TRADITION!
Beaches are practically synonymous with hot dogs, aren’t they? Well, in Brooklyn they are. There is always a line and a Nathan’s hot dog is never quite as good as I expect, but it’s TRADITION!
City Island
This Bronx island is another world. Not only does it not resemble the Bronx, but it’s nothing like any other area of New York, or any urban area for that matter. It measures up at only one-and-a-half miles by a half-mile. Have you been to a small Cape Cod or Maine fishing village? That’s what City Island looks and feels like.
City Island Lobster House
691 Bridge Street 1, Bronx, NY 10464
Lobster is one of my favorite foods in existence, and I still can’t believe that, historically, it was peasant grub. Luckily, we have all come to our senses and lobster houses abound! Too bad about the pricey-ness…
Lobster is one of my favorite foods in existence, and I still can’t believe that, historically, it was peasant grub. Luckily, we have all come to our senses and lobster houses abound! Too bad about the pricey-ness…
Johnny's Reef
2 City Island Avenue Bronx, NY 10464
Everyone’s favorite fried food City Island restaurant, Johnny’s Reef is a must if you are nearby. The ambiance matches the food: no-frills and a little greasy. Get your fill of fried shrimp, fried crab sandwiches, etc. etc.
Le Refuge Inn Bed & Breakfast
586 City Island Avenue, Bronx, NY 10464
You don’t even have to leave the city to stay at a quaint bed & breakfast, so cut into your savings and splurge a little. Rooms are $145 night for two and include a continental breakfast. Oh! And there’s Egyptian cotton sheets and goose-down pillows.
You don’t even have to leave the city to stay at a quaint bed & breakfast, so cut into your savings and splurge a little. Rooms are $145 night for two and include a continental breakfast. Oh! And there’s Egyptian cotton sheets and goose-down pillows.
Orchard Beach
Also in the Bronx, Orchard Beach is technically a man-made beach, but for all intents and purposes, it does its beach thing. Part of Pelham Bay Park, which is larger than even Central Park by the way, Orchard Beach is the closest New York comes to a normal ocean+sand set-up: snack bars, changing rooms, promenade, playground, and shops. The best part? It’s free!
Brighton Beach
My favorite way to visit Brighton Beach is to take the subway first to Coney Island: absorb all the annoying sights and sounds and crowds, then saunter along the boardwalk in the direction of Brighton Beach. The ’hood is predominantly Russian, and before you know it, everything has become quieter and there are boardwalk cafes with menus in, you guessed it, Russian! (And English).
The beach itself is less crowded and littered, so no need to stake out a spot early on in the day.
The Water Taxi Beach
The Water Taxi Beach is an interesting place. It’s in Long Island City, one of those supposedly up-and-coming Queens neighborhoods and has a great view of midtown and/or the sunset. But it’s really just a bunch of sand, picnic tables, and cheap beer. I guess that’s all we need?
There are DJs and live music almost every weekend and a few festivals here and there. And this year, there are Friday chicken dinners! Who does that?!?
South Beach
I know it’s hard to believe, but South Beach is actually not in Florida, it’s here in…Staten Island? Okay, there’s a South Beach in Florida too. But did you know that we’ve got one too??? Take that Miami!
It’s got a boardwalk, pier, free summer concerts, bocce courts, and even a Dolphin Fountain.
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