It’s summertime in the city and there’s no place we’d rather be. With rebuilt boardwalks and beaches, the shores of Brooklyn are better than ever, and offer something for everyone in need of a little solar therapy. Kite surfing, anyone?

Brooklyn Beaches Plumb Beach NYC
Who needs Miami when you’ve got Plumb Beach? Photo by Ivy Han via Instagram

For maximum tranquility: Plumb Beach
Just past Exit 9 on the Belt Parkway is the completely undisturbed Plumb Beach. Accessible via a rest stop, there are no amenities save for a bathroom. The lack of vendors and infrastructure (no boardwalk, no playgrounds), coupled with its challenging access, make for a quiet, almost anonymous visit.

Windsurfers and kite surfers have claimed this small beach for their own (and thank goodness, because they are rad!), yet this au naturale beach remains as tranquil as any you can find. Many unusual seashells line the shore, and you may observe a horseshoe crab or two doing a funny dance as this beach is a favorite breeding ground for these older-than-the-dinosaurs creatures. Sand dunes covered in sea grass enhance the raw nature of this lovely beach.

Open year-round, the easiest access is to drive along the Belt Parkway to Exit 9. Access is also available from Sheepshead Bay along the paved bike path, which is part of the Shore Parkway Greenway Trail.

Brooklyn Beaches Manhattan Beach NYC
Manhattan Beach. Photo by Angela Sbano

If you’ve got tots in tow: Manhattan Beach
Located near Kingsborough College, Manhattan Beach is the ultimate spot for folks with tots in tow and those seeking a calming respite from city life. Not only are the waves gentle, but so are the crowds (small, family-friendly). Adding to the appeal are its shaded picnic area and updated playground. You’ll find a concession stand offering the basics, and beach mats provide a stroller-friendly path through the sand. As with most beaches, Manhattan Beach is the least crowded during weekdays.

Manhattan Beach opens for swimming on Memorial Day weekend, and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., when lifeguards are on-duty. On-site parking is available, $7 Monday through Friday, and $20 on weekends.

Brooklyn Beaches Brighton Beach NYC
Brighton Beach, with a view of Coney Island’s parachute jump in the distance. Photo by Angela Sbano

For Eastern European food and Olympic hopefuls: Brighton Beach
Come on down to a huge beach that’s full of friendly faces, gentle waves, and quirky characters wielding metal detectors. Tanned and toned Olympic hopefuls are out in full force as well, so don’t forget your shades for optimal ogling.

When hunger strikes, a host of Russian restaurants line the boardwalk, featuring al fresco seating and generous portions — just try not enjoying yourself. And, bonus: Shiny new, post-Superstorm Sandy elevated toilet trailers are close at hand!

The boardwalk is open year-round. From Memorial Day to Labor Day lifeguards are on duty daily, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Swimming is prohibited when lifeguards are not on duty.

A year-round municipal parking lot on Brighton 3rd makes driving a breeze (arrive early for easy spot), or take the B or Q train to Brighton Beach.

Brooklyn Beaches Coney Island Beach NYC
Coney Island. Photo By Angela Sbano

For history and all the action: Coney Island
This historic seaside play land stretches from the Brighton Beach boardwalk down to the Sea Gate Beach Club, with interesting attractions arriving each year. The latest addition is a 5,000-seat, open-air amphitheater, which boasts arching white beams and soaring white canvas panels — think catamaran in the sky. Ziggy Marley will kick off this brand-new venue’s inaugural concert season on June 25.

Next along the boardwalk are the newly illuminated parachute jump, pulsating with 8,000 programmable LED lights, and the newly restored B&B Carousell (with eccentric spelling dating to its 1906 origins). 2013 ushered in the rebuilt Steeplechase Pier, an 1,100-foot-long pier that juts out from the boardwalk, offering wavy benches fashioned from salvaged boards from the old pier.

Last summer, Wahlburgers restaurant — a chain owned by Mark, Paul and Donnie Wahlburg — opened, providing burgers, salads and rooftop seating. Then, adjacent to the original Nathan’s restaurant, Coney Art Walls unveiled an outdoor museum consisting of 30 or so large murals from today’s most respected artists.

For 2016, about 20 of these walls will have new commissioned works by this year’s best artists, curated by Jeffrey Deitch. These newest pieces will be open for viewing on June 18, to coincide with the annual Mermaid Parade, which will dance, swim, and sing its way along Surf Avenue and the Coney Island Boardwalk from approximately 1-4 p.m.

With the New York Aquarium, Friday night fireworks, Cyclones baseball, boardwalk eats, kiddie rides, and major thrill rides such as 2014’s addition of the Thunderbolt roller coaster, it is very easy to forget there’s a beach out there, but indeed, Coney Island’s gentle waves beckon swimmers of every ilk and provide laughter and memories to last a lifetime.

The boardwalk is open year-round. From Memorial Day to Labor Day lifeguards are on duty daily, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Swimming is prohibited when lifeguards are not on duty.

To get there by train, take the D, N, Q, or F train to the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station. It’s also accessible by several buses. And if you’re driving, take the Belt Parkway to exit 6. Head south on Cropsey Avenue to West 17th Street. Metered parking is available along most streets, and many commercial parking lots are also available.

Related Stories
Of Borscht and English Resorts: How Brighton Beach Got Its Name
Lutz Dille’s Photos of Coney Island in 1962
How to Get to Coney Island in the 1890s? Hold On for Your Life

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