Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Queens, New York
Practically a stone's throw from lower Manhattan, Rockaway Beach in Queens attracts close to four million urban beach bums each year, second only to Coney Island. "It's not far, not hard to reach," The Ramones (rock band) once crooned about Rockaway Beach. But their song is only one of the reasons the wide bands of soft sand are legendary. With high cresting waves for shortboard surfing, breeding piping plover birds, plenty of handball courts and a terrific nightlife, Rockaway Beach keeps a diverse crowd of people happy.
Located at the southernmost end of the A-line, also the southernmost tip of New York City, Rockaway Peninsula is a spit of land that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean, benefiting from water on both sides. Hop on the subway in the midst of Manhattan bustle and a 30-minute ride later you are lazing on the warm, sunny sands, or strolling along Rockaway Beach's wide boardwalk. In short, Rockaway Beach is a rock-solid New York City beaching daytrip.
Woody Allen's 1987 movie Radio Days was filmed at Rockaway Beach and it is, in many ways, an iconic New York City beach spot. Newcomers to the Rockaway Beach scene should be sure to know where to get off the train; Rockaway Beach stretches from 9th street all the way to 149th street and each section of the beach has different vibes. The sea breeze blows gently along the wide, sandy stretch just east of Jacob Riis Park, where the wealthier Rockaway residences sit close to the sand. If you want to take a peep at the breeding piping plovers, those cute and chubby Atlantic Ocean shorebirds, head to the Averne neighborhood (between B44th and B57th Streets) during the summer months. Far Rockaway Beach is mellow when it comes to swimming (the water is too dangerous), but it is a popular surfing hangout. For a solitary, desert-island like walk along the boardwalk, Far Rockaway Beach is the perfect spot. And an added bonus for those who venture out that far is that on a clear day you can see across the water to Long Island.
The broad Rockaway Beach Boardwalk runs from Beach 73rd Street to Beach 109th Street, through the Hammels and Seaside neighborhoods. This stretch of sand is the most family friendly. You can walk or jog the boardwalk or take advantage of the parks, handball courts, basketball courts and roller hockey rings along the way. If you are traveling with young ones, stop off at the brightly colored Whaleamena sculpture, at the 95th Street Rockaway Beach Boardwalk entrance. And for the best nightlife, bars and dance-till-you-drop spots, try the area around 111-116th streets.
Rockaway Peninsula's name is translated as "the place of laughing waters" according to the Delaware and Chippewa indigenous people that once populated the area. Walk along the sands on any summer weekend and you will likely hear the cackles of beach bums jumping in and out of the waves. Also laughing are the surfers, who crowd onto Rockaway Beach, taking on the fast cresting waves with conviction. In fact the swell is so high that in 2005 New York City dedicated the water between the jetties on 87th and 91st streets for surfers only. Swimmers on Rockaway Beach should be forewarned; the riptides are tough going. Lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day but novice swimmers should take extra care.
There is parking on the street or in public lots, but if you want to avoid parking difficulties, you can take the S train or the A train which stop at 90th street.
Surf, sunbathe, stroll the boardwalk, or just kick back with your feet in the cool water, Rockaway Beach, although just the southern, sandier side of New York City, feels wonderfully far and away.