Daycation Destination: Coney Island

Coney Island isn't just a beach. It's the beach. Perhaps, the best known beach in the world. Its name conjures a vision of old New York when summers were slower and newly arrived immigrants escaped the heat of the city and brought their families for some sun and fun. 

Located on the Atlantic Beach at the southern tip of Brooklyn, Coney Island is actually a peninsula (there's a word I haven't used since the fourth grade) that is partially connected to the mainland by fill. 

Since the first resort hotel, the Coney Island Hotel, was built there in 1829, Coney Island has evolved with the times, re-defining itself with every generation. Never to be dated, always relevant, always edgy. 

The first carousel was erected on Coney Island in 1876; from 1885-1896 the Coney Island Elephant greeted immigrants as they sailed to Ellis Island; and in 1916 Nathan's Famous Original Hot Dog Stand opened up. Since its opening in 1916, Nathan's hosts its annual July 4th hot dog eating contest. 

Coney Island is a daytrip packed with things to do. No one in your entourage will claim boredom here. 

Editor's hint: For $129 you can get a family membership to the New York Wildlife Conservation Society that gives your family (two adults, two children) a year of free admission to the New York Aquarium, the Bronx Zoo, the Central Park Zoo and the Prospect Park Zoo along with free parking and discounts at the shops. One day at any of these places would cost more than $129--to have access for a year? Priceless. And when you go to Coney Island, you can use your membership to the New York Aquarium to park free in their lot.

Kids and adults can meet sea lions, sharks, whales and all other kinds of marine life at the New York Aquarium. There are live performances, opportunities for the kids to feed some of the marine life, a 4-D movie and enough exhibits to keep to amaze every underwater explorer.

After the Aquarium, the beach is just a boardwalk away. The view from this beach into the Atlantic gives you a much different perspective than the view of the horizon at the Jersey shore. Difficult to put into words, but hypnotizing nonetheless. 

The beach tends to draw a large crowd on really hot days, but you never feel crowded. There's room for everyone to enjoy the sun and surf. Saturday they are hosting their annual sand castle contest, so if you want to see some incredible sand art--this is the place to see it. 

After playing and lazing on the beach, it's time to explore the boardwalk. Be ready to be entertained. Aside from the musicians and singers performing there are resident characters along the way. We met a man who was walking his talking parrot on a leash, a unicycling juggler, and a man who thought he was Popeye. 

You can't possibly go to Coney Island without going to Nathan's. Chances are the line will be long, but it is worth the wait. The chili cheese dogs are the perfect anecdote for all that ails you and, when paired with an ice cold beer, a true New York gastronomical experience. Just don't go on any fast rides after you eat here. Otherwise there will be a gastronomical experience of another sort, and really, who needs to see that?

So hop in the car and spend a day at Coney Island. A day of packed with fun and sun and it's less than an hour away.