Which beach for just a day of swimming and tanning from Crown Heights ?

kingeric

Visiting the Big Apple could be exhausting !

During our stay in Brooklyn for a large part of August, I wonder where we can enjoy a sunny resting day not too far from CH.

Thanks for your advice

elgoats

bit of a hike. but our fave BY FAR is rockaway beach.....miles of empty clean sand....

in a pinch you can hit up coney island....but thats far less clean and quite crowded generally.

whynot_31

Take the ferry from Manhattan to Red Hook NJ. It isn't cheap, but it sure beats Coney Island.

ntfool

I'll second Rockaway Beach. My mother used to live there, so we made the trip from CH weekly. By car, its very easy, just take Flatbush all the way to the end, go over the Marine Pkwy Bridge (just past Kings Plaza Mall), and you're in Rockaway.

By public transit, the most direct route is the A train to the end, where you can transfer to a shttle train that takes you right to the beach at 116th St. Or, specifically from Crown Heights, take the 2 or 5 trains to the Junction (Flatbush & Nostrand - where that big, riduclous Target is) and transfer to the Q35 bus.

booklaw

What about the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens? or Prospect Park?

whynot_31

Only the turtles are allowed to swim in the garden.

Only the dogs and turtles are allowed to swim in the park.

bohuma

Check out the MTA/LIRR Beach getaway deals here:

http://www.mta.info/lirr/getaways/Beach/index.htm

There are reviews for all beaches online. Jones Beach is a bit of a hike from where the bus drops off. Parts of Cherry Grove, Fire Island Pines and Robert Moses/Lighthouse Beach/Kismet are clothing optional.

eastbloc

whynot_31 said:

Take the ferry from Manhattan to Red Hook NJ. It isn't cheap, but it sure beats Coney Island.

You mean Red Bank?

Rockaway Beach is lovely. I did some volunteering there the last couple of years. And a cab will take you there for a metered fare.

whynot_31

I meant Sandy Hook

terekete

jones beach. door to sand in exactly an hour when you catch the right train.

xlizellx

I love Coney Island! Just take the S to the Q

nothinlikeabklyngirl

You could take LIRR to Long Beach, on Long Island. The beach is nice and not far from the train station.

idlewild

I third Rockaway. I would take the (buses) B-41 Limited down to Kings Plaza and transfer to the Q-35 into the Rockaways. The trip will probably be between thirty minutes to an hour depending on the traffic between the GAP and the Junction. Or, like NothinLike... mentioned, you can grab the LIRR and journey up Long Island.

http://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/beaches

homeowner

Depending on where you are in Crown Heights a more direct route might be the Utica Avenue bus to Kings Plaza then transfer to the Q35. Just depends whether your closer to Flatbush or Utica. I'd definitely take that route over the train. The Q35 will put you off at Fort Tilden where you can get to the beach quickly. Your other option if you have a bike is to bike out, but I'd encourage you to stay to less heavily trafficed streets.

kingeric

Thanks all for the answers.

Actually, I'm 3 blocks West to Utica Avenue and the Rockaways by the Q35 seems the best choice for a short time there.

Long Island is tempting for a whole day but preferably by car .

Merci encore !

whynot_31

Enjoy!

If pollutants are a concern, this article in today's DN may be timely. http://m.nydailynews.com/1.1102927

Pro tip: Don't visit after a really big rain storm.

cool the kid

Another +1 for the Rockaways. Me and wifey were just there. Water was pretty good, not too crowded on a hot Saturday, just a generally very nice time.

idlewild

Long Island by car (especially on the return trip) is Hell on Wheels. Take the LIRR and cab from the train stop, if a cab is really needed. Much, much quicker and pleasant.

idlewild

Actually, can't you take the LIRR to the Rockaways from Atlantic Avenue?

cool the kid

Idlewild said:

Actually, can't you take the LIRR to the Rockaways from Atlantic Avenue?

LIRR stop in Far Rockaway is far from the beach and right in the hood. Not sure it even links to the subway either. I think the subway's a much better bet, but even that is a solid 2 hours each way. If you get up early though, its worth it. If there's an express bus, that's probably the best best bet. I think the best/fastest route would be one of the express trains down to Sheepshead Bay, and then messing with the buses to get over. No matter how you slice it though, it's a hassle.

homeowner

The Rockaways is a long penninsula. The end near Flatbush is where the national park Fort Tryon is, and as a result has that national park feel (generally clean, gives you the impression that you are removed from the city, surrounded by old repurposed military facilities and home to baseball and soccer fields full of kids and adults on the weekends). The other end (down near Kennedy Airport) always strikes me as being more like Coney Island in that its a city beach. Its just a different vibe, although the folks using the beach aren't that much different. Also, the Flatbush end is close to Breezy Point (a private cooperative community)which isn't the most inviting place for some people. Whichever end you go to, you get decent sand and access to the water. I still say its the easiest to get to from Crown Heights, and if you have a car, it really only a 30 minute ride plus the cost of crossing the bridge and parking, both of which are worth the convenience.

cremate

I go to Brighton over Coney Island. Less Carnies and somewhat cleaner.