What are the best beaches?

ams

What are the best beaches around Brooklyn/the other boroughs that are relatively easy to get to by subway/bus?

Also is the water generally clean/safe to go in?

idlewild

Coney Island is probably the easiest. Just take the Q or F to the NY Aquarium. I'd be suspicious about the cleanliness. Personally, I like the Rockaways better. Especially by the Breezy Point. Catch the B-41 Kings Plaza Express (at GAP across the street from the Library) and transfer to the Q-35.

melanarchy

Long Beach is super easy to get to via LIRR you can buy a round trip ticket that includes the beach pass. It's a nicer beach then coney island is and personally i'm much less afraid of going into the water there then at coney. (read I actually go into the water there and not at coney)

arlette

There is a beach by Kingsborough Community College. I think it is called Manhattan Beach. You can take the B49 which runs on Bedford Ave starting at Dean St there if I am not mistaken.

ams

Thanks. I was thinking about Rockaway, can you get there from the subway or does it not take you to the right place?
Also how long of a ride on the LIRR is it to Long Beach?

modsquad

Still the best thing about Coney beach is that you can buy your Coronas right at the water's edge. You won't care how clean the water is after awhile.

danielle123

You can also jump on The Cyclone or grab a Nathan's hot dog if laying on the sand gets a little boring (plus, I think they have a flea market there this Summer).

bohuma

Around May 20, the MTA will announce its 2009 beach packages. Last year they had packages to Jones Beach, Cherry Grove, Fire Island Pines, and more. You can buy the tickets from any LIRR terminal at Atlantic Terminal, if you have a Transit Chek Visa card you can pay using pre-tax dollars. The packages are a full round trip from Penn, Atlantic Terminal, Jamaica or any other LIRR station, includes train, bus, ferry, taxi, beach entry as required.

bohuma

P.S. My preference is for Cherry Grove, it's a hike to get there, but the beach is beautiful, clothing optional, and there are nice restaurants and bars there. The water in New York never gets warm enough for me to go in for more than a couple of minutes. The beaches off Long Island and Fire Island are very clean.