Visit Coney Island
For a taste of classic old New York, take a trip to Coney Island. Between the cheap beach food, classic carnival rides and freak shows, there are limitless entertainments to put a strain on the wallet. Whether your a New Yorker looking for a cheap escape from the city or an out-of-towner seeking a unique vacation, Coney Island is the perfect daytrip getaway.
Instructions
1. Pick an income bracket. Coney Island is a spot where money can easily get drained by endless junk food and roller coaster rides or it can be a penny-pincher's delight. Before hopping on the subway, decide which category is yours. If you are going for the cheaper route to freak show fun, pack a lunch and drinks rather than buying them there. Also, Coney Island can be just as fun to walk around and observe as it is when zooming around in a ride.
2. Hit the road. The easiest and cheapest way to get to Coney Island is the subway from New York City. The N, Q, D and F trains can all take you there. The trip will only cost you $4 both ways, but can take up to forty minutes from downtown New York. Bring a book or some sort of distraction for the trip, or just use the classic subway people-watching method to while away the time. Early morning until about noon tends to be a quieter time for the beach, but things start to speed up after 2:00 p.m., when crowds begin to pack in to the parks.
3. Get the lay of the land. Upon first arriving at Coney Island, it's best to just take in the atmosphere. Stroll along the board walk and down the pier. Watch out for the fishing lines of the myriad of fishers that will be hogging that part of the beach, but definitely check the view from the end of the pier.
4. Clog your arteries. Every inch of the strip along the beach is crammed with delicious yet incredibly unhealthy beach food. Feast on everything from the famous Coney Island hot dog to fried shrimp and even knish. Healthy options can be found, however, in the form of fruit. Several stands sell whole chopped mangoes on a stick and huge coconut shells still full of their juice.
5. Freak out. Coney island is probably best known for its freak shows, which over the years have featured everything from the classic bearded lady to fish people. Shows run Wednesday through Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm-9pm, and Mondays from 1pm-9pm.
6. Defy gravity. In many ways, Coney Island is like the traditional county fair on steroids. The amusement parks Deno's Wonder Wheel and Astroland have both fast paced rides and arcade game classics like skee ball. The roller coaster Cyclone is a New York legend and landmark and the ferris wheel is 150 feet high. Also try your luck at shooting targets or tossing coins into fish bowls.
7. Take lots of photos or get a post card. You will definitely want to capture Coney Island's unique culture and shoreline. Its colorful chaos cannot easily be forgotten, but is always fun to have in photo form.
Tags: Coney Island, Coney Island, beach food, everything from, freak shows, from 1pm-9pm
