A Day at Coney Island
Grab your sunscreen and a beach towel for a day of fun in the sun!
Coney Island is a quintessential part of New York it’s been showcased in movies, books, and countless TV shows. Located in the southwestern part of Brooklyn, Coney Island offers an amusement park with over 50 rides and attractions, adjacent to the beach and Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. It’s easy to spend an entire day here, and when it’s summer in New York, we recommend doing just that.
How to Get There
The great thing about Coney Island is that you can get there with just a swipe of a Metrocard a 45-60 minute ride on the D, Q, N, or F train will bring you from midtown Manhattan to Stillwell Avenue, the stop for Coney Island.
Alternatively, you can also take the bus the B36, B64, B68, B74, and B82 buses all go to Coney Island as well. If you have your own car, you can drive and park on the metered streets or at the official Coney Island parking lots.
The Beach
The sandy beach at Coney Island spans about 3 miles, so you’ll have plenty of space to spread out and set up camp. The beaches can get pretty crowded, though, so we recommend arriving as soon as they open, which is usually around 10am. Pack some water, a lot of sunscreen, a towel, and an umbrella there’s little respite from the sun, so make sure you’re protected. If you do need a break, take a dive into the water, but be warned: it may be chilly!
What to Do
Luna Park is the famous amusement park that sits right on the beach boardwalk. You can play games and go for a spin on one of the many rides, including the Coney Island Cyclone and the Endeavor: a Ferris wheel that offers sky high views of Coney Island. Pay ride-by-ride or go all in with an all-day pass.
Other popular attractions include the Coney Island Museum, where you can see antiques and other vintage memorabilia like old bumper cars from years past. Admission is only $5! The Coney Island Art Walls are also worth checking out these colorful, larger-than-life murals make an appearance every year in the heart of the Coney Island Amusement District.
If you’re a music junkie, try catching a show at the Ford Amphitheater on the Coney Island Boardwalk. You can see big names like Toby Keith and Fantasia, as well as local bands and other events. And every Friday night through August 25, you can treat yourself to a fireworks show.
For sports fans, root for the home team at a Brooklyn Cyclones game and take in the beautiful sunset as it sets behind MCU Park. Grab a beer for you, and some ice cream for the kids, and settle in for nine innings of a classic American pastime. For other great spots to catch the sunset in the city, check out these recommendations.
Where to Eat
Nathan’s Famous is a Coney Island staple for hot dogs and they host a July 4th hot dog-eating contest every year. Open since 1916, they serve up their world famous hot dogs, as well as crispy crinkle-cut fries and thick, battered corn dogs.
If you’re craving good ol’ American grub, Ruby’s Bar & Grill is the place to go. Grab a burger and beer, or some fresh clams on the half shell, as well as corn on the cob and thick-cut onion rings. Nothing tastes better on a hot summer day than beer in a plastic cup and breaded jumbo shrimp.
For more beachy eats, check out Paul’s Daughter at its prime people-watching spot on the boardwalk, just outside Luna Park. Munch on fresh littleneck clams, sausage sandwiches, and fried calamari, and wash it all down with an Italian ice.
Other favorites include Williams Candy, a candy shop that’ll fill you with nostalgia; Tatiana Bar & Grill, famous for traditional Russian fare; and Tom’s Coney Island, a vintage mom-and-pop shop that’s great for milkshakes.
There’s no shortage of things to do at Coney Island, so we totally understand if you want to extend your stay in New York. Luckily, Affinia is offering a sweet summer deal: four nights for the price of three, so you can extend your stay and enjoy everything NYC has to offer.
