Can you believe this was my fifth trip to New York city, yet this was my first ever visit to Coney Island!?
Living the Dream
Over the years, there have been plans to close the retro New York pleasure park for good and just last year it was badly hit by Hurricane Sandy too, for years I have felt like my visit to Coney Island is like a ticking time bomb and if I didn’t hurry, I would never get to see it!
So finally, earlier this month, we took the F train to Brooklyn and enjoyed the iconic New York getaway! If you have never heard of Coney Island, it is for the New Yorkers, what Margate or Brighton is to London. Before the time of long holidays and flights abroad, the city dwellers fled the city by train for a day of fun at the seaside. Coney Island is an old school fairground, pier and beach. Think Blackpool without the modernisation and Hen parties, or a scruffier version of Brighton but without the lanes, shops and hipsters, instead just plenty of fairground rides and an aquarium. For me, it’s everything I wanted and more. It’s vintage Americana, a beautiful long pier and broadwalk, lots of hotdog and ice cream joints and so countless old school fairground rides. Literally everywhere you look is beautiful and just couldn’t stop taking photos of everything!
What to do
During our visit to Coney Island, we walked the pier and broadwalk, ate pancakes in a diner, took a million photos and generally just soaked in the Coney Island joy! It was a funny kind of atmosphere when we were there, as it was the last week before it shuts down for the season (it shuts for winter at Halloween), so the whole place was gearing up for closing for the next few months, the rides were shut, but the shops and restaurants were open and there was just a few locals milling around. The weather was beautiful, the beach was peaceful and we felt like we had the place to ourselves. It was the perfect day to see Coney Island!
If you have never been to Coney Island, you need to go! It is shut now until early next season, but it takes just 40-60 minutes by Metro from Manhattan and costs just a few ‘bucks’ to get there. Once you get off the Metro it is right there with no big walk or bus journey. Pick a nice day weather wise and even if you don’t go on any rides like we didn’t, you will love it!
Ps. Want to see what I wore to Coney Island?
So jealous! I really wanted to go but we ran out of time! 🙁
I’ve lived in Brooklyn all of my life and I love that visitors appreciate my hometown. You got a beautiful day- I went this summer and couldn’t believe how much it has changed. I hope you got some frozen custard and a jelly apple!
Oh! No! I didn’t know shout frozen custard of jelly apple! I did have pancakes though! It was so beautiful! I loved every second of it
amazing pictures!! I want to go Coney Island too
x
SUPERFREAK BLOG
Love your blog! And this post!
Could you check out ours?
http://thefolieadeuxblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks!
Keep up the good work!
Lovely pictures! Thanks for stopping by on my blog. Yours is very nice as well!
Cheers,
P&F
I love the whole mystic that surrounds Coney Island. I’ve read so much about it in books, seen it in movies. The next time I’m in NYC I’ll definitely have to go!
xo
styleontheside.com