NYC’s best beaches

Rockaway Beach
(Boardwalk at Beach 117th St, Rockaway Beach, Queens; 718-318-4000) Rockaway Beach is an excellent place to test your surfing prowess. If you’re a novice, summer is the ideal time to start riding low waves, while more experienced boarders should savor hurricane season (September and October).
How to get there: Take the A train to Broad Channel, then transfer to the S to Rockaway Park–Beach 116th St.
The after-party: Surfing works up an appetite, so local Steven Stathis, owner of Boarders surf shop (192 Beach 92nd St at Rockaway Beach Blvd, 718-318-7997) recommends fish tacos ($6.95) at the Tap & Grill (9720 Rockaway Beach Blvd at Beach 98th St; 718-474-9582, thetapandgrill.com).

Orchard Beach
(North Games Area at Section 5, Pelham Bay Park, Bronx; 718-430-1890) Orchard Beach was created by Robert Moses in the 1930s: It’s the borough’s only public beach and spans 1.1 miles and 115 acres. “A lot of young people come, but we get all ages here,” says Maria Rosario, who works in Orchard Beach’s office. “The same people come back every year.”
How to get there: 6 to Pelham Bay, then transfer to the Bx12 bus to Orchard Beach
The after-party: Dining opportunities at Orchard Beach are limited—there are practically no restaurants, just concession stands. So make a day of it and pack a picnic lunch. Rosario says their 26 sporting courts are also popular—once your time on the sand is up, get into a game of handball.

Brighton Beach
(Brighton Beach Ave, Brighton Beach, Brooklyn; brightonbeach.com) A journey to Brighton Beach isn’t complete until you ask one of the residents of Little Odessa to share their tales of living under the hammer-and-sickle flag.
How to get there: B or Q to Brighton Beach
The after-party: For a taste of the old regime, stop off at Café Glechik (3159 Coney Island Ave between Brighton Beach and Neptune Aves, 718-616-0494). The family that owns the restaurant still uses their Ukrainian grandmother’s recipes, and it’s known for its pelmeni dumplings ($5–$8). Its anything-goes policy also means you can come in straight from a dip in the sea. “We don’t care if you’re in your swimming trunks,” says co-owner Paul Tesler. “We’ll still serve you.”

Fire Island
(fireisland.com) No sandy spot matches Fire Island when it comes to raucous fun. Carlos Fernandez, concierge at the The Grove Hotel (Main Walk, Cherry Grove, NY; 631-597-6600, grovehotel.com), usually parks his beach towel right off the Bayview walk, near Jumping Jack’s Seafood Shack. “I usually set up to the left or right of the boardwalk, because their bar is really close,” he says. “But any spot is great—the whole beach is really well kept.”
How to get there: Take the LIRR to Bayshore, then hop a ferry ($12.50 round-trip, visit fireisland.com for a schedule) to the island.
The after-party: If you’re hoping to experience Fire Island’s infamous gay scene, look no further than the Ice Palace at the Grove Hotel (Main Walk, Cherry Grove; 631-597-6600, icepalacenightclub.com). “People get frisky when they come here,” says operations manager Wendy Lewis. “The most fun is playing bingo with the drag queens—I call it ‘wacky bingo.’” The resort also hosts The Porsche Show (Thu, Fri 10pm; Sun 6pm; free), which Lewis says is its must-see act: Drag queen Porsche channels the voices of dozens of female singers, including Etta James, Janis Joplin, Bette Midler and Amy Winehouse.

Long Beach
(LIRR round-trip from Penn Station plus beach admission $19; beach admission only $10; longbeachny.org) Long Beach is always packed with families. “The earlier you get there, the better,” advises local Maureen Walsh. “Arrive around 10am at the latest to get a good spot.”
How to get there: LIRR to Long Beach
The after-party: Venture away from the touristy center to the west end of Long Beach, where Walsh recommends sipping a Long Beach iced tea ($10) at the Inn (943 W Beech St at Tennessee Ave, Long Beach, NY; 516-432-9220, thelongbeachinn.com).

Jacob Riis Park Beach
(Rockaway Beach Blvd at Channel Dr, Rockaway, Queens; 718-318-4300) If you need to escape the city scene, venture to Jacob Riis Park Beach“We’re a pretty laid-back beach,” one lifeguard tells us. “We have a very eclectic crowd here, all shapes, sizes and ethnicities.”
How to get there: 2 train to Flatbush Ave, then the Q35 bus to Riis Beach
The after-party: Our incognito lifeguard suggests bringing your own food, since the concessions stands aren’t always open and there aren’t restaurants close by. Pack a picnic lunch and then hit the 18-hole Riis Park Pitch and Putt golf course (Beach 169th St at Rockaway Point Blvd; 718-474-1623, nyharborparks.org; $13–$16; rental equipment available) to test your swing.

Jones Beach
(Ocean Pkwy at Wantagh Pkwy, Wantagh, NY; 516-785-1600; free) Jones Beach is one of New York State’s biggest, with 6.5 miles of sand, two swimming pools, a two-mile boardwalk, miniature golf and the Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center (516-679-7254, nysparks.state.ny.us), which offers educational tours. It’s also particularly good for long strolls on the boardwalk with your iPod.
How to get there: LIRR to Freeport, then transfer to the Jones Beach shuttle bus
The after-party: If the last thing you want from a beach day is sand in your shoes and salt on your skin, pick up a pair of concert tickets to the < ahref="http://newyork.timeout.com/venues/wantagh/1223/nikon-at-jones-beach-theater">Nikon at Jones Beach Theater (516-221-1000, jonesbeach.com). The summer concert lineup includes Weezer (August 25) and the Killers (September 1).

Coney Island
(coneyisland.com) Coney Island is one Brooklyn standby that perfectly juxtaposes old and new. While some might say its peak has come and gone, others would disagree, particularly Dick Zigun, the founder of Coney Island USA, the nonprofit responsible for organizing Coney Island’s famed events, including the Mermaid Parade. “The beach is still the main attraction,” Zigun says of its three miles of southern-exposure shores. “Some people might prefer the Riviera or Montauk, and maybe our sand isn’t as pristine, but we’ve got half-naked New Yorkers here!”
How to get there: D, F, N or Q to Coney Island–Stillwell Ave
The after-party: The entertainment options at Coney Island are endless. Catch a Brooklyn Cyclones baseball game (brooklyncyclones.com), gawk at the various eccentric humans at Sideshows by the Seashore Freak Show (Surf Ave at 12th St; $5–$7.50) or ride the infamous Cyclone roller coaster (834 Surf Ave between 8th and 12th Sts, Coney Island, Brooklyn; coneyislandcyclone.com). “Coney Island’s amusement park is different than what you’d find in the rest of the country because of the mix of people,” says Zigun. “Hasidim sit next to homeboys.”

Manhattan Beach
(Oriental Blvd, Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn; nycgovparks.org) Manhattan Beach may seem like a bit of a paradox, considering that the sandy areas are bordered by a concrete promenade, but the atmosphere is calm and quiet, a more peaceful alternative to neighboring Coney Island.
How to get there: B or Q to Brighton Beach, then the B1 bus to Oriental Boulevard
The after-party: “You can barbecue right on the promenade,” says Parks & Recreation manager Laurence Major. Tote along your own grill, burgers and buns, and get there early—access to the picnic tables on the promenade is first-come, first-served.

Water Taxi Beach
(watertaxibeach.com; admission fees vary) Water Taxi Beach in Long Island City is an urban beach with skyline views, so you can ogle tall buildings while you daydream between chapters. Just like the city it overlooks, the WTB’s patrons run the gamut, from seniors to hipsters. “We also get the after-work crowd from midtown,” says spokesperson Stacy Sherman. “They take off their shoes, roll up their pants, kick back and have a cocktail.”
How to get there: Take the Water Taxi (nywatertaxi.com; $5) to LIC. By subway, take the 7 to Vernon Blvd–Jackson Ave; the G to 21st St; or the E or V to 23rd St–Ely Ave.
The after-party: Relax all afternoon and save your energy for the deejayed Beach Party ($10) on Saturday evenings: Expect an eclectic mix of tunes with an emphasis on house music.

RELATED

The ten best beach reads

More in Own This City