Reachable by subway from Manhattan in under an hour, Coney Island is a New York institution. The boardwalk stretches along the beach past Luna Park, where the Cyclone roller coaster has been rattling riders since 1927, and the Wonder Wheel has offered views across the Atlantic since 1920. Nathan's Famous, at the corner of Surf and Stillwell, has been serving hot dogs here since 1916 and hosts the annual Fourth of July eating contest.
On a hot summer day the beach fills up fast, but there is room if you arrive early. The boardwalk continues east to Brighton Beach, where the character shifts entirely — from carnival rides to the Russian and Ukrainian neighbourhood known as Little Odessa.
The New York Aquarium, run by the Wildlife Conservation Society, sits right on the boardwalk and is worth a stop, especially with children. Coney Island is at its liveliest between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but the boardwalk and beach are open year-round.