New York is a beach city in summer — you just have to know where to look. The classic destinations are Coney Island in Brooklyn, with its boardwalk, Nathan's hot dogs and Cyclone roller coaster, and the quieter Rockaway Beach in Queens, reachable on the A train. For something less crowded and considerably more pleasant, ride the Long Island Rail Road out to Jones Beach State Park: a long, wide stretch of Atlantic sand with a working bandshell, plenty of room, and none of the commercial frenzy of Coney Island. Further east on Long Island are the Hamptons and Montauk, where the water is cleaner and the surf is real.