With the hustle and bustle of the city always on the horizon, there’s one place where you can go to relax and unwind. Just an hour-long train ride from Times Square, Coney Island gives locals and tourists alike a chance to escape the chaos and find calm by the ocean.
“It’s actually pretty cool,” said Tanya, a tourist from Germany. “Because there’s that big city New York, and it’s loud and it’s noisy and it’s stuffed and everything and then you come out to the beach; there’s silence and there you can hear the ocean.”
Tanya sat on a beach towel with her husband, Pasqual. They were in the city for four days — Brooklyn Paper caught them on the third — and had already visited major tourist spots like the Empire State Building and the 9/11 Memorial before heading to Coney Island to continue sightseeing.
“I think the Germans know Coney Island as an amusement park,” she said. “It’s some island, like holiday island, so close to a big city.”
She noted that Coney Island felt far less crowded than other parts of the city and encouraged other tourists to visit the beach if they want “to get some relaxing hours.”
“Enjoy it and get some relaxing hours outside of the crowded city,” she said.
Coney Island is known for its rich history and iconic landmarks like the Wonder Wheel. It’s home to the New York Aquarium and hosts numerous events throughout the summer.
Kevin and Sarah had just come from California and were staying in Brooklyn. They came to Coney Island for its history and theme park, and were especially excited to see the Wonder Wheel.
“It’s a fun change,” Sarah said. “We’ve seen a show, been to museums. We were doing a lot of city city, so it was kind of nice to just come out here and just relax a bit and have a down day.”
The couple, who currently live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, said their biggest draw was getting into the Atlantic Ocean and unwinding. Kevin, who has swum in most of the major oceans, wanted to add the Atlantic to the list.
“We’ve been in New York all week, and wherever I go, I need to put my feet in the water,” Kevin said. “I’ve been to the Pacific and the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, but never the Atlantic.”
Now that both Kevin and Sarah had swum in the Atlantic, the biggest difference for them was the temperature.
“This is not as cold as the Pacific. The Pacific is really really cold until about the fall, I think,” Sarah said. “This is, you know, at first there was a little bit of a chill and then gone, whereas back on the Pacific it is cold.”
They also walked along the boardwalk and spotted some fishermen by the pier.
“We were on the pier and someone caught a ray. That was fun to see,” Kevin said.
While tourists frequent the beach, Coney Island is also a gathering spot for locals seeking a break from the city. Gabino and Leilani, friends from the Bronx, came to take a dip in the ocean and enjoy the rides later in the day.
“I came to Coney Island to hang out with friends and also because I’ve needed a serious break from school,” Gabino said.
It took them nearly two hours to get there, but Leilani said that out of all the city’s beaches, she thinks Coney Island is one of the best. Both friends have visited the beach since childhood and enjoy the attractions it offers.
“Favorite memories is the firework shows here on Fridays,” Gabino said.
Coney Island’s summer fireworks series takes place every Friday, just before 10 p.m. Gabino tries to come to the beach a few times each summer and mainly enjoys swimming.
“See, I’ve been to Coney Island so many times, but I’ve never actually been on the rides,” he said.
As for what makes Coney Island special, Gabino said it’s the overall vibe.
“Honestly, the atmosphere here is like pretty playful, joyful,” he said. “You always see kids having fun here. And always everybody just having a fun time, like vibing together.”
As the height of summer approaches, more people will flock to Coney Island to enjoy the sun, sand, attractions and events. It’s a place for all ages to step away from the noise of the city and take a moment to unwind.
“Coney is honestly a great place to come, especially during their firework shows,” Gabino said. “I feel like it is one of the many attractions that New York has to offer.”
