Weekend Wrap-Up: From Coney Island to Rockapulco

Yesterday, my friend Marissa, Adam and I had a long (but rewarding!) biking adventure through Brooklyn. We left Park Slope at noon, cut through Prospect Park and proceeded to bike 38 miles to the beaches of Coney Island, Sheepshead Bay and Far Rockaway.

New York never ceases to surprise me. As we were biking along the beach, we turned around to find the Manhattan skyline still visible along the horizon. I would have never guessed that you could see the concrete jungle from the beach!

Coney Island was our first stop. Coney is great because it's only a 40 minute ride from my apartment in Brooklyn along a separate bike path (so you're not worried about getting run over every 5 seconds... biking in NY is scary!). The beach is huge, there's a great amusement park along the boardwalk (you've heard of the Cyclone and the Wonder Wheel) and of course, there's lots of food (including the very first Nathan's Hot Dogs which opened in Coney Island in 1916).

Next up was a beautiful ride through the Sheepshead Bay area, which is full of sail boats and yachts (and seafood restaurants). For a moment, it felt like we were in Florida.

Going over the bridge in Sheepshead Bay

Last but not least, we rode over the Marine Parkway Bridge to the Rockaways, a long stretch of peninsula just to the southeast of Brooklyn, but technically in Queens. The Rockaways have been a popular beach resort area since the 1830's and it's no surprise why. The sand is sparkling white and the area is beautiful. It was hard to believe we were still within the reach of New York City.

After a late lunch of seafood and a much needed break at a picnic table, we headed back to Park Slope feeling very proud of ourselves. Not to toot our own horn, but... Beep! Beep!