The time had come to venture out to Coney Island! The trip was a bit far from Jersey City, but how could we live right here for years and never pay a visit?

How To Get To Coney Island

First things first: how to get to Coney Island?

Public Transportation: The D, F, N, and Q lines all send you directly to the Coney Island subway station on Stillwell Avenue just a short walk away from attractions like Luna Park, Deno’s Wonder Wheel, the Coney Island Boardwalk, and the beach.

Biking: I contemplated bringing our bikes and ride the historic Ocean Parkway Bike Path down to Coney Island, but the official rules for biking in Coney Island are that no bikes are allowed on the boardwalk after 10am and I knew we wouldn’t make it down to Coney Island before that time. Alas, the bikes were left at home and we discovered upon arrival (much after 10am) that lots of people were biking joyfully along the boardwalk and encountering no trouble at all. We’ll definitely bring our bikes next time!

Driving: Paid parking lots are scattered in the blocks near Coney Island Boardwalk.

Is Coney Island Free?

Access to the beach and boardwalk is free.

Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park charges no admission fee and rides are paid for individually.

Luna Park, the larger amusement park on Coney Island, used to boast free admission but status post COVID is now charging everyone. You can choose from two different kinds of wristbands at Luna Park: a $55-$65 “Extraordinary” option which grants access to all rides or a “$10-$15 “Spectator” option which doesn’t allow for any rides. We decided against Luna Park and went for the pay-per-ride option at Deno’s.

What To Eat In Coney Island

Our day trip to Coney Island was also the day we discovered the wonder of one of Brooklyn’s Chinatowns, so we didn’t actually eat anything during our time in Coney Island proper. Restaurants “of note” and “of historical significance” that I have on my list to try next time we’re in Coney Island are listed below:

• Nathan’s Famous – these hot dogs are a summer staple and probably in 63% (disclaimer: that was a made-up statistic) of Instagram photos on Coney Island’s Boardwalk. The frankfurters are also available in supermarkets across the country, but I definitely want to try them fresh and piping hot while strolling on the boardwalk.
• Paul’s Daughter – It’s that restaurant on the boardwalk with a large rooftop statue of a man (an oddly pale one, given how much sun he gets up there) serving up a hamburger. This establishment serves up hot dogs (rivaling Nathan’s just across the way), hamburgers, seafood, and boardwalk classic desserts like funnel cake and Italian ice.
• Totonno’s Pizza – Things to note: cash only, expect a wait, and you can only order pizza by the pie rather than by the slice.

How To Spend A Half Day In Coney Island

Our priority was primarily to see Coney Island, wander around for a bit, and ride Deno’s Wonder Wheel. You can get a good feel of the area in a half-day trip, but I’d plan on spending a bit more time here if you plan on getting in some beach/swimming time.

When planning the stops for our trip to Coney Island, I was initially confused about the organization of the various rides along the boardwalk. Here’s the breakdown: the 2 amusement park entities in Coney Island are Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park and Luna Park. They each have their own set of rides, and Deno’s does indeed have more than just the Wonder Wheel (the Wonder Wheel is all we were interested in, so it’s fortunate that Deno’s allows for pay-per-ride rather than only offering an all-inclusive ticket option like Luna Park).

Here’s what we did on our half-day spent in Coney Island!

Deno’s Wonder Wheel

3059 W 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11224

718-372-2592

The Wonder Wheel is a classic, built in 1920. This historic giant offers both swinging and stationary cars. And by swinging, I mean that car is suspended from a set of greased wheels on arching rails built into the design of the Wheel, so that as the Wonder Wheel rotates, various cars slide up and down the rails with gravity. It’s actually quite jarring and fun and I recommend it over the stationary cars! Each ride on the Wonder Wheel is $10 per person and gets you two revolutions. Each car can fit up to 6 people.

Coney Island Boardwalk

The Coney Island Boardwalk reminded me of the Atlantic City Boardwalk, except the casinos were replaced by Deno’s Wonder Wheel and Luna Park. There’s not too much to do along the Boardwalk itself, but the views of the water and beach are not bad. The New York Aquarium, the oldest continually operating aquarium in the United States, is also right off the eastern end of the Boardwalk.

We wandered around Steeplechase Pier to listen to the waves and people watch. I loved gazing out over the water as the thin waves lapped up the shoreline.

Coney Island Brewing Company

1904 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224

718-996-0019

Coney Island Brewing Company is physically adjoined to the Maimonides Park stadium so makes for a good pre- and post-game hangout spot. The brewery offers both indoor and outdoor seating as well as cornhole outside. There were lots of little biting bugs the day we went (mid-afternoon in summertime) so bring bugspray!