Coney Island
“We’ll go to Coney and eat baloney on a roll.” Ella Fitzgerald’s catchy lyrics always comes to mind when I think about Coney Island. There is something about turn of the century amusement parks in America that gets me excited. Maybe it’s the way Coney Island is portrayed in literature, films, and music that made me take a Coney Island day trip from Manhattan this summer.
If you’re a regular visitor to Manhattan and want to lengthen your New York minute, I highly recommend exploring Coney Island’s beach, boardwalk and amusement park. Coney Island is a great introduction to what lies outside of the City. Located in the southwestern part of Brooklyn, Coney Island is a 50 minute subway ride from mid-town Manhattan.
Coney Island Fun
At the first half of the 20th century, Coney Island attracted large numbers of visitors to its amusement park rides, vaudeville theatres, side shows, and Victorian hotels. It fell under years of neglect and in 2012, Coney Island suffered major damage from Hurricane Sandy. Today, Coney Island is back up and running, with new amusement parks.
What You’ll Find at Coney Island
Unlike Disneyland, management of the park is not centralized and different rides and sections of the Coney Island is owned and operated by individual businesses. For example, Luna Park is home to the Cyclone and the Wonder Wheel Park offers a slew of other attractions and rides. I’m not a huge fan of carnival rides, but I enjoyed being surrounded by all the sights and sounds, and capturing everything on Instagram.
Coney Island can give off a cheesy carnival vibe, but that’s all part of the appeal! You’ll find carnival games, greasy food, funnel cake, clowns on stilts, and a real live side show.
Walk along Coney Island’s Riegelmann Boardwalk and stop by Nathan’s Famous for a hot dog. Just don’t mess with anyone from the Bronx. An irate man in the long Nathan’s lineup started yelling at a girl ahead of him for taking too long to order! When she told him to “shut up,” he threatened, “don’t mess with me sweetheart, I’m from the Bronx.”
I now feel like my New York experience is complete after visiting this quintessential New York destination!
How to get to Coney Island from Manhattan
Take the D, F, N or Q train from Manhattan to Stillwell Avenue station. Check the train schedule as some lines don’t operate on weekends. The X28 and X38 are express buses to Coney Island via Manhattan.
Safe Travels!
xx Deb
Linked to:
carmyy says
I’m actually a little bummed I didn’t get the chance to check this out when I was in NYC last month! Hopefully I’ll be back in 2017! Have you been there at night? So many creepy rumours that I am way too scared to entertain the idea! #Citytripping
Deb Che says
Hopefully you can make it out there the next time you visit NYC. I haven’t been at night, but I imagine the carnival lights to be quite festive. Since I went in broad daylight, the ghosty rumours didn’t phase me! Let me know if you end up visiting Coney Island!
WanderMum says
The beach looks beautiful. I can imagine visiting can feel a little like turning back the clock but lots of fun. I definitely wouldn’t dare to mess with anyone from the Bronx! #cirytripping
Deb Che says
Thanks for hosting #citytripping Elizabeth 🙂 You’d be smart not to mess with anyone from the Bronx! I wish there was more of a presence of the turn of the century sideshow performances in Coney Island though.
beatravelling says
Coney Island was such a breath of fresh air when I was in New York last time, during a very hot summer 🙂
Deb Che says
I felt the same, maybe the beach had something to do with it! Coney Island’s great for slowing the pace in NY 🙂
MummyTravels says
I love the photos – these always seem so retro to me, reminds me of one I saw in California too. Would be really fun to wander around when I make it back to NYC. Thanks for linking up with #citytripping
Deb Che says
Thanks for hosting #citytripping Cathy! Coney Island is perfect especially if you’ve already seen all the touristy things in NYC 🙂
tootingmama says
I would love to get to NYC with the kids and this would so be on my list of places to visit – thanks for sharing this! #citytripping
Deb Che says
That sounds like a plan! The summer months would be perfect for your visit 🙂 Thanks for reading!