Tell me about Coney Island

[ckay87]

Looking for new roadtrip destinations. I will go to NYC pretty regularly as a daytrip, but haven't been to Coney Island. I've heard it described pretty positively in a step-back-in-time kind of way. But does that mean quaint and cute or dirty and sleezy? How is the beach/parking/crowds/getting there? Any opinions at all? My boys are teenagers and I think they would find it fun, but I migh be wrong.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Looking for new roadtrip destinations. I will go to NYC pretty regularly as a daytrip, but haven't been to Coney Island. I've heard it described pretty positively in a step-back-in-time kind of way. But does that mean quaint and cute or dirty and sleezy? How is the beach/parking/crowds/getting there? Any opinions at all? My boys are teenagers and I think they would find it fun, but I migh be wrong.

I was there on Monday. I go once a year and always wonder why the heck did I come back, lol. I've been going since I was a child so I just keep returning.

The beach is crowded, I mean packed on the weekend. It is a um, interesting crowd. There's not a lot of facilities for showering, bathrooms, there are no umbrella rentals available, etc..

The food along the boardwalk isn't great, an ice cream cone is now $3 - $6, and the Coney Island salt water taffy is made in Massachusetts. I do get a Nathan's hot dog there every year, it's the one thing I will eat (besides the ice cream cone). I do like their hot dogs, but really, they're not super special hot dogs or anything. It's just something we've always done, gotten a Nathan's hot dog when at the beach.

The rides are okay, they're rather jam packed together. We went on the Wonder Wheel on Monday and that was it. There were two other rides I would have gone on, but those had a different ticket booth and the lines there were insane. There's Luna Park and I think it's called Deno's Park and you need different tickets for each one. (They are side by side but have different owners).

I have been on the Cyclone twice in my life, it is super scary and I will not ride again. If you are a roller coaster person you might like it.

There is a decent aquarium there, but don't go expecting Sea World.

All in all, I go to Coney Island for memories sake, but if you have no memories it is a crowded, somewhat rough crowd, kind of yucky place. It is not cutsey at all.

 

[Imzadi]

I've been there 5 times over 25 years. It has never really changed. It is old, dirty, sleezy, grimy. It's cheap, at the same time overpriced. Things are so run down. It might have been something 100 years ago, when all the same equipment & buildings were new. But not now.

The only people who go there are the ones who can't afford to get out of the city or don't have a car to go to the Jersey Shore or elsewhere. If you have a car to take a road trip, go anywhere else.

I worry about hypodermics & loose used condoms on the beach, (both which I've seen, ) and homeless, drunken bums living under the boardwalk, trying pickpocket people. Yuck!

 

[ckay87]

Yea, ok, I think I've made up my mind! Thanks guys, I'll stick with OCNJ which is retro in its own way, but still very nice.

 

[Imzadi]

OC is one of my favorite places in the world.
Why didn't you tell me you had a choice. . . Well, there actually isn't a choice! Just go!!!

I go every summer and I spend all winter looking forward to having Mack & Manco's pizza and The Fudge Shoppe fudge.

Coney Island is sleezy compared to OC. It's like an old ghetto.

 

[eliza61]

Try Wildwood NJ also. It's got Morey Pier which is a really nice (but expensive) amusement park.

I grew up in NYC and coney Island was a very popular destination but this was before great adventures and the shore.

It is very run down. I have heard rumors of a revitilization committee trying to bring it back.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I do not think I have ever thought of it as quaint and cute.

So I wouuld defiantly go with your other description.

The aqarium is above par I feel, though I do not think it has added an atraction in a long long time. Well except for a 4 D movie which is okay.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

BTW The cyclone is like $8 to ride. Which I kinda found ridiculous.

 

[loveysbydesign]

I've never been there but i have to say that it's a shame that someone doesn't buy it and make it fresh and enjoyable!

 

[ckay87]

OC is one of my favorite places in the world.
Why didn't you tell me you had a choice. . . Well, there actually isn't a choice! Just go!!!

I go every summer and I spend all winter looking forward to having Mack & Manco's pizza and The Fudge Shoppe fudge.

Coney Island is sleezy compared to OC. It's like an old ghetto.

ha ha, yea, I have lots of choices. And OCNJ is my favorite beach as well. Just thought it would be fun to branch out and I swear, I keep hearing about Coney Island on the Travel Channel (or maybe it was the History Channel ) and I started thinking, "maybe...."

 

[minniebeth]

My DH is Brooklyn born and we live nowhere near there, but in our house, Coney Island is a label for anything that is crowded. My DD came home from the pool today and proclaimed it Coney Island.

Sorry, Op, couldn't resist

 

[Imzadi]

It is very run down. I have heard rumors of a revitilization committee trying to bring it back.

I've heard that over the last 10 years or more. The current mayor was saying that again. But it never comes to pass.

I think partly it's too big of a project. They really can't refurbish the old buildings. So that would mean demolishing and starting from scratch. Then there are the homeless under the Boardwalk. Where do they go? They would be pushed back inland to the communities again. And where do the hypodermics and used condoms come from? They are being washed up from somewhere.

ha ha, yea, I have lots of choices. And OCNJ is my favorite beach as well. Just thought it would be fun to branch out and I swear, I keep hearing about Coney Island on the Travel Channel (or maybe it was the History Channel ) and I started thinking, "maybe...."

It should be the History Channel. It's kind of like those travel websites like Travelocity, only a sleezy one. It's what you are always afraid of: where they show you pictures and get there and the place looks nothing like the pictures -- err, a recent picture at least. They figure, you're already there, so you might as well stay and spend your money. Bed bugs are included free!


How about Point Pleasant? I read pretty good things about that beach from here, a couple years ago. It's supposed to have a nice boardwalk & beach.

 

[Robinrs]

I grew up on Coney Island, my favorite rollercoaster in the WORLD is the Cyclone.

Right now I wish I got get a nearly burnt Nathan's frank and those awesome fries!!!