Tattooed mermaids, vintage roller coasters and greasy-food stands await at this gritty-glamorous escape along the Brooklyn waterfront. A one-hour trip from Midtown, Coney Island became a democratized day-tripper destination in turn-of-the-20th-century New York, promising sugar-sand beaches and cotton-candy clouds. Admire its charms with child-like wonder.
Join the Parade
Coney Island's official season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Expect crowds – particularly on weekends at the height of summer.
The most popular time to visit is for June's Mermaid Parade – a summer solstice celebration where sea sirens trade their fins for feet. The march floods Surf Ave with homemade floats and nautical fashions. Be prepared: this event is more Mardi Gras than Mickey Mouse – come with an open mind and perhaps a wacky costume. Fourth of July is another crowd favorite, with its hotdog eating contest, fireworks and a baseball game featuring the Brooklyn Cyclones.
Can't make the parade? Strut down Riegelmann Boardwalk – a 2.5-mile waterfront promenade dating back to 1923 – to pass the area's top sights and spot a sea of colorful characters, including the Steeplechase Funny Face. This smirking cartoon started as a logo for the now-demolished Steeplechase Park; it's now a Coney Island mascot, symbolizing the merry and maniacal sides of Brooklyn's historic "riviera."
Get Topsy Turvy
Fancy getting flung into the air at 90mph? The Sling Shot awaits at Luna Park. Perhaps the 56mph race around the 2233ft-long Thunderbolt is more your speed. Or you can go old-school – New Yorkers started shrieking down the wooden Cyclone's 85ft plunge in 1927, and the drop still thrills riders a century later.
At Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, you can hop on the Wonder Wheel (white cars are stationary; red and blue cars swing). Around since 1920, Coney Island's oldest-operating ride is also the most romantic: sweeping views from 150ft above ground are bound to make your heart pitter-pat.
Taste Local Tradition
In 1916, Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker started selling weiners for a nickel on the corner of Surf and Stillwell. Nowadays, Nathan’s Famous is an international chain with a flagship eatery at Handwerker's original haunt. The beefy frank – snuggled in a toasted bun and smothered with ketchup and mustard – is a Coney cuisine classic.
