Coney Island Beach is packed visit these NYC Beaches instead

My idea of paradise is living within walking distance to the beach. NYC made up of a series of islands is full of beaches. My childhood home is a mere fifteen-minute train ride to the closest beach. This year I realized that as much as I needed recharging from the hustle and bustle of NYC, I didn’t make it to the beach nearly as much as I wanted. Realizing I’ve kept myself from my happy place, for thirty years just because the mode of transport that would get me to one of these NYC beaches in 15 minutes was not my feet alone. So this year I an effort to get to the beach early daily.
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My daily walks convinced me that the only thing that separates me from the life I want, and where I am is my perspective. So as the hot summer weather rolls into NYC bringing all matter of people out to the beach I have decided to take my beach adventure on the road. This Summer my goal is to visit every single one of the beaches in NYC.

Ask anybody from Brooklyn and they can probably name a couple, Coney Island topping all their list as the most quintessential NYC beach. Even though there are over 14 miles of beaches in NYC, and I’ve been hard pressed to find a New Yorker who can name more than three. So I scrubbed the interweb to compile the most complete list of all the beaches in NYC that has inspired my summer bucket list.

NYC Beach Rules

All of our beaches are free and open to the public.
NYC Beach Season | The beaches are open from Memorial Day weekend through September 8, 2019.
During the NYC beach season, lifeguards are on duty daily, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Swimming on an NYC beach is prohibited when lifeguards are not on duty and in closed sections. Pay attention as closed sections are clearly marked with signs and/or red flags.
NYC Beach closures and advisories are available here
There are No Glass bottles or containers of any kind allowed on NYC beaches.
Visitors must be off NYC beaches between the hours of 9:00pm and 6:00am

Brooklyn Beaches

Plumb Beach

Visited |yes
Food |no
Restrooms | no
Lifeguards |NO LIFEGUARDS
Stroller accessible |
How to get there | the most convenient access to Plumb Beach is through a parking area off the eastbound Shore Parkway.

The most ideal beach in all of NYC for windsurfing, this often forgotten beach has been a hidden gem of sorts since the 70’s.

Bonus | in the spring this NYC beach is a prime breeding area for horseshoe crabs who lay their eggs on the beach during the full moon

Riis Park Beach

Visited |yes
Food |yes
Restrooms | yes
Lifeguards |10:00 am – 6:00 pm during beach seasony
Stroller accessible |yes
How to get there | take the Q35 heading to Riis Beach

If Williamsburg had a beach it would be Riis Beach. It’s like what a bunch of hipsters dreamed up in their spare time. Artisinal food stalls satiate the masses at this summer hot spot. A family friendly beach at its core Riis Beach is an NYC summertime staple. It’s extremely LGBTQ friendly and

Queens NYC Beaches

Fort Tilden

Visited |yes
Food |no
Restrooms | no
Lifeguards |NO LIFEGUARDS
Stroller accessible |no

This beach is at the bottom of my list because it’s my absolute favorite and I want to keep it all to myself. Its secluded location means its home to New Yorks only topless stretch of beach. The tradeoff, however, is that you need to bring all the food you’ll need for the day and get used to copping a squat because there are no restrooms or concession stands. You can access it via the neighboring beaches or through a short hike through a nature trail in Fort Tilden dotted with decaying buildings and wildlife.

Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk

Visited |no
Food |All manner of food is easily accessible and can be found most readily between Beach 86th Street and Beach 106th Street
Restrooms |
Lifeguards |10:00 am – 6:00 pm during beach season
Stroller accessible |
How to get there |Take the A train to Broad Channel before switching to the S train to Rockaway Park-Beach 116th, or take the ferry ($2.75 one way) from Wall Street/Pier 11 to Beach 108th Street and Beach Channel Drive.

Bonus | Planespotting, your kids will get a kick out of watching the planes go to and from JFK

Staten Island NYC Beaches

Staten Island is a trek for most New Yorkers who don’t live on the island itself. So be sure to check out my post on how to make a day out of your trip to Staten Island with kids this summer.

South Beach

Visited |yes
Food |
Restrooms |
Lifeguards |10:00 am – 6:00 pm during beach season
Stroller accessible |yes
How to get there | Manhattan’s South Ferry Terminal straight to Staten Island’s St. George Terminal, where you can then transfer to the S51 bus to Father Capodanno Boulevard and Robin Road

Located in Staten Island With a breathtaking view of the Verrazano bridge, one of the two beaches once coined as “the Riviera of New York City” more than lives up to its name. This Staten Island beach front is hands down the most picturesque beach in New York City. With warm ochre sand and an expansive view of the Verrazano bridge, it is easy to think you left New York completely. The two miles of boardwalk

Cedar Grove Beach

Visited |no
Food |unsure
Restrooms |unsure
Lifeguards |10:00 am – 6:00 pm during beach season
Stroller accessible | unsure
How to get there |

NYC newest beach this small beach is less crowded than the others in Staten Island. If you’re driving to this beach you’re in luck because the parking lot is free.

Wolfe’s Pond Park (Raritan and Prince’s bays, Staten Island)

Visited |no
Food |unsure
Restrooms |unsure
Lifeguards |10:00 am – 6:00 pm during beach season
Stroller accessible | unsure
How to get there |Take the Staten Island Railway to the Huguenot Avenue station, then take the S55 bus to Hylan Blvd./Cornelia Avenue and walk through the park about 5-10 minutes.

Bronx NYC only Beach

Orchard Beach

Visited |yes
Food | yes
Restrooms |yes
Lifeguards |10:00 am – 6:00 pm during beach season
Stroller accessible | yes
How to get there |6 to Pelham Bay Park, then take the Bx5 or Bx12 bus to Orchard Beach. Be sure to confirm the schedule before heading out. This bus service is typically offered just for beach season, Parking is available for $10-$13 on weekends; $8 on weekdays.

As the only beach in the Bronx, it tends to get pretty busy in the summertime however if you arrive in the morning you’ll have it all to yourself for a time. Shaped like a horseshoe the beach hugs the coast looking out onto islands in the distance. Of all the NYC beaches this one might be the hardest to get to, and it is also one of the most beautiful. The Beach is nestled into Pelham Bay Park, NYC largest park, yet has a much smaller beachfront than the beaches in other boroughs. Adjacent to protected parkland, on a clear night you can see deer grazing across the “boardwalk.” I just can’t get over the fact that Orchard Beach has pavers instead of a traditional boardwalk “Boardwalk” but other than that this NYC beach is a dream.
One of the cleanest NYC beaches I’ve been to, the bathroom facilities are well kept and easily accessible

Lost on Mother Earth, found in Motherhood
xx
Warmly
Sunshine Abou Bakar