With more than three miles of sandy beaches, yummy concessions, countless rides, and even New York’s only aquarium, the Summer isn’t complete without a stop at the famous kitschy carnival destination – Coney Island. Even more – the most famous beach in NYC is also easily accessed by the subway! We love this easy beach side retreat – read on to see why Coney Island cant be beat for family summer fun.
Luna Park
Luna Park is the first new amusement park to be built in Coney Island in over 40 years! Complete with brand new rides, games, roller-coasters, an arcade, go-karts, dining options and many food stands, Luna Park is also home to the historic B&B Carousel and famous Cyclone! The experiences range from extreme thrills, new virtual reality fun, and mild thrills for little ones – ensuring that your entire family will have fun.
Opened in 2010 at the former site of Astroland, Luna Park is one not to miss – and always at the top of our families list. This year Luna Park is making it easier to play all day by offering All-Day Wristbands. All you have to do to ride is swipe – making it a game changer for families who cant get enough of all the rides!
Luna Park also offer numerous events – Don’t miss the largest Block Part of the year, when the famous Cyclone roller coaster turns 90! The celebration includes performances from Fabulous, the Harlem Globetrotters, free giveaways, and more! Mark your calendars now for this birthday celebration. Made the grade? Celebrating your good grades (and that school is out for the Summer!) with a day of play at Luna Park. Get rewarded by earning up to 20 Ride credits when you bring your report card in by June 30th. More information on the School’s Out Event, and this fun amusement park HERE. (Note: The Luna All Day wristbands include unlimited rides, except Sling Shot and Coney Island Raceway. The All-Day Wristband includes ONE (1) entitlement per wristband for Sling Shot and Coney Island Raceway.)
Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
The Wonder of Coney starts early at Deno’s, a family-owned amusement park that features 16 kiddie rides, a dozen family rides that parents and children can experience together, and 5 adult rides. for bigger thrills. The children’s rides at the park are great for toddlers and young ones, making a must stop for the toddler set, or those who are a bit cautious with rides yet. We also love the charming carousel within the park, and the Sea Serpent is the perfect first time roller coaster experience. The wonderful main attraction is the famous Wonder Wheel, a hundred and fifty foot eccentric ferris wheel built in 1920 that watches over all of Coney. More on this must visit family destination HERE.
Play Ball – Brooklyn Cyclones
Summer means one thing: Baseball Season! And there’s no better place to catch a game than MCU Park in the heart of Coney Island. The popular ball field is home to Brooklyn’s own – The Cyclones! The Class A professional ball team plays many games here throughout the season. Located right in the heart of all the Coney action – and just a few steps from the subway and the ocean, the ballfield is easy to get to, and all the games have quite an amazing ocean view too. The Cyclones offer many family friendly promotions – from toy giveaways, Sunday Funday with popular friends (look for the upcoming Paw Patrol and Marvel Superhero day!), player autographs and selfies, after game fireworks and an opportunity for kids to run the bases, Baseball has never been more fun. We cant wait for the season to start on June 20th! See the full list of events and ticket information HERE.
The Life Aquatic – New York Aquarium
The only aquarium in NYC is something everyone must see! The New York Aquarium is the oldest continually operating aquarium in the United States, having opened originally in Battery Park, Manhattan in 1896. Since 1957, it has been located on the boardwalk (and steps from the Ocean!) in Coney Island, Brooklyn. The aquarium is operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) as part of its integrated system of four zoos. Due to significant damage from hurricane Sandy, some exhibit favorites are still open, while new exciting experienced are under construction. There’s still plenty to see, Including amazing fish tanks that will blow your mind, sharks, turtles, and penguins, and almost any other sea friend you can find. There is also a live aqua theater where you can see show of (quite interactive!) sea Lion friends, watch animal feedings by the trainers, as well as a 4-D theater with a variety of built-in sensory effects – the New York Aquarium is always an adventure. More HERE.
The Famous Art Walls
Located in the heart of the Coney Island Amusement District, Coney Art Walls is an outdoor museum of street art curated by Joseph Sitt and Jeffrey Deitch. The public art wall project presents several of the leading painters and sculptures in New York, in addition to leading artists connected to street culture. The walls sit within an area called Greenwood Beach – an outdoor food vendor area that is adjacent to the original Nathan’s restaurant and within easy walking distance to everything listed above, and are a colorful visit when you are in Coney! More on the colorful walls HERE.
Concession Heaven – Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs
“The Flavor of New York” started right here in Coney Island – and today now Nathans Famous products are sold in all 50 Stats at over 45,000 locations! Nathan’s is an American tradition – and a must visit when in Coney Island. There are two locations in Coney – one directly on the Boardwalk (as pictured above) and the other much larger/original location is one block away on Surf Avenue – and home to the famous July 4th Hot Dog eating contest.
Beachside – Coney Island Beach
We couldn’t talk about Coney without talking about the beach! All the above fun of Coney Island is just steps from sun, surf, and sand! With nearly 3 miles of sandy beaches, Coney Island’s sunny skies and rolling waves make for the perfect getaway. More than just surf and sand, there are courts for beach volleyball, handball, basketball as well as playgrounds, offering an ideal summer respite from the hectic and steamy city. Dont miss fun summery events – including Friday Night Fireworks, the annual Sand Sculpting competition and more! There’s always something new to explore at the summer destination.
Thank you Coney Island for hosting our experience. As always, all opinions are our own.
