Jacob Riis Park Beach - Queens, New York

Address:Queens, New York

Down-to-earth and unpretentious, Jacob Riis Park Beach in New York City's Queens, lies just west of Rockaway Beach. A luxuriously wide strip of sand, Jacob Riis Park Beach is rarely as crowded as some of the other urban seashores. Still, a healthy mix of New Yorkers flow onto Jacob Riis Park Beach on summer weekends. Its fans are an eclectic array of sea-seeking pilgrims; toddlers waddle in and out of the waves, families fire up the barbecue pits, teenagers bop their heads to the beat of their boom boxes, and older folks put up their umbrellas alongside the youngsters. For an urban weekend beach getaway with exceptionally convenient parking (somewhat of an urban miracle in New York City), Jacob Riis Park Beach is a very good option.

Originally designed by the influential Robert Moses to be an unofficially reserved beach for New York City's car-owning elite, Jacob Riis Park Beach has taken a different social route. Known on the street as "The People's Beach," the seashore's casual ambience is exactly its charm. Brimming with New York's local history, Jacob Riis Beach Park sits on the former Rockaway Naval Air Station just east of Fort Tilden, and its historic 20th century art-deco bathhouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. Basketball hoops, tennis courts, and the nearby softball diamond, all have that unkempt look that makes a relaxed game all the more inviting. Kite-flying and Frisbee-throwing are favorite Jacob Riis Beach pastimes and during the summer months swimming areas are supervised by lifeguards daily.. Families tend to gravitate toward the west end of Jacob Riis Beach while the eastern end is the notoriously young, gay, and unofficially clothing-optional stretch of sand.

Because Robert Moses wanted Jacob Riis Park Beach to be a convenient driving excursion from the city, he built a 5,000-space parking lot, the world's largest at the time. As a result, Jacob Riis Park Beach is one of the few places in New York City where parking is never a headache. Getting to Jacob Riis Park Beach via public transit is slightly more involved. Take the Number 2 train to Flatbush, then transfer to the Q35 bus.

Jacob Riis Park Beach is a local favorite, with basic beach fun and plenty of sand to go around.