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photo credit: ScubaBear68

When you think about going to New York City, you don’t typically think about taking a beach vacation. However, anyone who has spent a summer in the New York City area knows that there are some really great beaches there that are definitely worth a traveler’s time if the weather is right. Sure, New York is no Florida Keys but a beach is always a nice place to spend a sunny afternoon. Whether you’re looking for the amusement park atmosphere of a place like Coney Island or you want a more relaxing stroll-on-the-sand kind of beach, there’s bound to be a New York City beach that suits your style. After all, New York is a place that has a little bit of something for everyone.

Here are some of the best beaches to check out in New York City and Long Island:

• Coney Island. If you are familiar with only one beach in New York City then it is almost certainly this famous beach. Located at the very Southern tip of Brooklyn, Coney Island is an amusement park / boardwalk destination for people who are seeking a beach filled with entertainment. There is a two-and-a-half mile stretch of sandy beach here where the boardwalk is located. The boardwalk offers direct access to some of the rides at Coney Island and to the restaurants and shopping that are available just off of the beach. It’s a place that is rich with history and fun as a beach destination. The entire area is currently under massive renovation and should be broadly extended and updated within the next few years.
• Manhattan Beach. This beach is a stretch of Atlantic Ocean beach that is situated to the east of Coney Island in Brooklyn. It is not as easy to reach by public transportation as Coney Island and some of the other beaches in the area are. As a result, this tends to be a less populated beach and one preferred primarily by locals living in the Manhattan Beach area. Families from the region gather here so it’s great for the traveler who wants to get away from tourists but still be on an active and crowded beach.
• Rockaway Beach. This is the longest urban beach in the United States and a popular place for New York City visitors to check out. It used to be even more popular because it was home to an amusement park area called Playland but that part of the beach has been closed for about twenty years. Despite that, it remains popular for surfing, swimming and hanging out.
• Rockaway Park. Located at one end of Rockaway Beach, this area is known to locals as the Irish Riviera. There are parts of this New York City beach that are popular but there are other parts that tend to be less crowded and more well-known to tourists than locals. People seeking a basic beach that has all of the common features of any other beach destination will find that this just might be one of their favorite New York City beaches.
• Jacob Riis Park. This beach is known as “The People’s Beach” for a variety of different reasons. One is that it was originally populated primarily by working-class immigrants who came here on their days off to relax with their families. Another is that it was one of the first urban beach parks in the area. It’s got some interesting historic attractions including an Art Deco bathhouse and it’s popular with a diverse range of different visitors. There’s a clothing-optional section of the beach that you should be aware of if you’re traveling to New York’s beaches with young kids.


photo credit: cameronparkins

• Jones Beach State Park. This is the longest stretch of white sand beach on Long Island and the Long Island beach that is closest to Manhattan so it’s a highly popular New York City beach. It consists of eight miles of sandy beach which includes a two-mile boardwalk area. An event theater, athletic courts, pools, fishing piers, miniature golf courses and water sports equipment rental all figure in as prominent reasons that people are attracted to this beach. It also has a nature center with both indoor and outdoor displays so it could serve as an educational destination for the smart beachgoer.
• Robert Moses State Park. This Long Island beach is approximately five miles long and is favored by both surfers and swimmers because the water is so good here. There are other activities here as well, such as a miniature golf course to enjoy, but this is one of those beaches that people go to most for the water there. People visiting this beach do also often check out the Fire Island Lighthouse which offers a great view of the area and serves as a neat tourist attraction for the beach.
• Clam Pond. This is a lesser-known beach which is located in a small part of Fire Island on Long Island. It is a cove on the Great South Bay so the water is a little bit different here than at some of the other New York City and Long Island beaches. This makes it a great place for certain water activities such as small boat boating and kayaking. People interested in tranquil activity on the water will find that this is a good beach destination in the New York City area.
• Montauk Point State Park. Located just outside of the Hamptons on Long Island, this is an interesting beach area that attracts people interested in fishing and other beach activities. It is particularly known as a destination for people who are interested in trying out the unique sport of surf fishing. It’s also a great place to go see seals and other animal life in their natural environment. A lighthouse here serves as a primary tourist attraction for the park.


photo credit: Ruth L

• Long Beach. This is one of the most popular beach destinations in the region but it’s surprisingly not too crowded during the weekdays so it’s a great place to go if you want to enjoy a New York City beach with others but not be in the midst of overwhelming crowds. It’s your basic beach for surfing and swimming. There is also a small boardwalk here which offers some souvenir shopping and entertainment.
• Main Beach. This is a beach in the Hamptons that is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the New York City area. It is a very clean beach that is kept up well and it is a place enjoy by New York City locals as well as by visitors to the New York City area. If you’re interested primarily in suntanning and the general beach experience then you’re probably going to find that this is the best beach in the New York City area for what you’re seeking.
• South Beach. This Staten Island beach is considered one of the best beaches in lower New York City. It’s got events such as concerts on a regular basis and provides a great relaxing atmosphere for people interested in seeing this part of the New York City region.

New York City will offer you plenty of different types of activities to enjoy and you should take advantage of them all. If you’re spending time in the area during the summer, you shouldn’t neglect to include the beaches in your list of things that you want to do while you’re on vacation. Find the beach with activities that sound right for you and make your way there on the great public transportation that characterizes life in New York.

Tags: beaches | Long Island | new york | New York City | North America | United States