Shorely they can’t be serious.
Travel & Leisure recently released its list of the “25 Best Beaches in the USA.” Although two unlikely New York City entries made the cut, the coastal gem of Long Island — constantly in the conversation of the nation’s nicest beaches — was snubbed altogether.
Brooklyn’s Coney Island and Rockaway Beach in Queens were awarded the same prestige as Hawaii’s Poipu Beach on the island of Kauai and California’s Santa Monica Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea, to name a few.
The crowded NYC spots were praised for their miles of boardwalk and plenty of sandy entertainment options.
Coney Island is described as “a perfect seaside wonderland of nostalgia and kitschy fun” — and the New York Aquarium is near the beach.
Known for its amusement parks, games, plus the one-of-a-kind Cyclone roller coaster, Travel & Leisure said it is also the little things like access to volleyball and basketball courts that make Coney Island and even Rockaway stand out.
Although not mentioned in the rating, it’s hard to have a bad day on Coney Island after a visit to the original Nathan’s Famous on nearby Stillwell Avenue, despite out-the-door lines.
Also, catching a Brooklyn Cyclones baseball game at the boardwalk’s Maimonides Park to cheer on the New York Mets’ future prospects is almost always a blast — especially when fans experience a stunning sundown over the Atlantic Ocean and Luna Park from their seats.
The ballpark even made its way into the video game “Spider-Man 2” as a true NYC icon.
Geographically close by in Queens, The Ramones’ favorite Rock-Rock-Rockaway Beach has also enjoyed a major facelift in recent seasons. Its 1932 art deco Jacob Riis bathhouse underwent a $50 million renovation in late 2022.
The scene also changed greatly in the past few summers as it became a hub for vintage shops, food trucks, and trendy bars.
In 2020, the South Queens surf haven also became posh thanks to the opening of its swanky Rockaway Hotel and pool.
It’s nothing against either evolving city institutions, but one must wonder why Coopers Beach in South Hampton on LI was not mentioned. It is often in other listings of the nation’s top 10, placing third best in the US last year in Dr. Beach’s annual ranking.
The public Fire Island National Seashore, beloved by Long Islanders and city visitors alike for its deer-filled, beachside trail to the Fire Island Lighthouse from Robert Moses Field 5, also did not make the cut.
However, there was room for Park Point Beach in Duluth, Minnesota.
In Connecticut, Ocean Beach Park in New London also made the cut, whereas Rhode Island’s Watch Hill — home to Taylor Swift’s oceanfront mega-mansion and many more nautical lovers — is just a stone’s throw up I-95.
Also in New England, Good Harbor Beach near the setting of “The Perfect Storm” in Gloucester, Massachusetts, was selected over any Cape Cod destination — or Martha’s Vineyard.
In New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen’s home nabe of Asbury Park, which still carries a rock legacy with clubs like The Stone Pony plus other beachy fun, also made the list, as did Ocean City, Maryland.
