Friends and family, ladies and germs, welcome to the one, the only, Coney Island! Cue the circus music and the dancing elephants! Bring out the freak show; make way for the bearded lady, and someone get that poor fire-eater a glass of water!
Sound familiar? This was the Coney Island of the twentieth century. The Elephantine Colossus greeted immigrants before they could even see the Statue of Liberty. Coney Island was the place to be for a spectacular experience. Guess what? It still is.
Fast forward a century and picture yourself reclining on golden sand atop your favorite beach towel. The bright blue sky and all those neon bikinis make it look like you fell into the colorful land of Oz. Hot sand grains slip through your fingers and you remove those Steve Madden sunglasses to wipe a sweat from your brow. The sun has just reached zenith and you feel the heat. Time for a swim. As you make your way closer to the water you breathe in that crisp salty air and submerge yourself into a cool ocean. Hits the spot huh? Look down. Those are little fishies swimming between your toes. Feels like paradise. Revitalize and enjoy life at the beautiful Coney Island beach. Treat yourself to a golden tan, dive into the sparkling water, and finally spike that volleyball gathering dust in your closet.
Look someone brought a boom box. Oh you party animal you’ve been dancing to that song for ages. We get it; Single Ladies is your jam. Looks like all that excitement really made you work up an appetite. You and your friends pack your bags and scurry away from the merry beach goers sitting under yellow umbrellas.That sand is hot! Better kick on your flip-flops.
Here we are at the legendary boardwalk! The mouthwatering scent of corn dogs and onion rings makes its way into your nostrils. Your stomach grumbles but the sound is lost in the sea of people leisurely walking by. May I recommend Nathan’s world famous hot dogs? Don’t forget the cheese fries with bacon bits. There’s a reason Nathan’s is known as the flavor of New York sin. Be sure to stop by Ruby’s Grill to get some meat on those bones. Vegetarian? No problem, check out family owned Famiglia Pizza for some veggie pizzas. Don’t forget to wash it down with some good ol’ lemonade available at any food stand. Time for desert! Head on down to Coney’s Cones for some delicious homemade ice cream. The peppermint stripes and the cute little design give an irresistible retro-diner feel.
As you continue your stroll down the boardwalk, you’ll notice the marvelous New York Aquarium mural. What’s better than vivid artistic portrayals of undersea life? Here’s a hint, the actual aquarium. Keep on going and you’ll see the acclaimed New York Aquarium. Wave hello to the manatees, take a picture with the jellyfish, and applaud the amusing sea lion show.
Just as you exit the aquarium the sun is setting. The gold ball drops and the stars make themselves visible again. An explosion of lights appears before you, it’s coming from Luna Park. Take a trip on the celebrated Cyclone roller coaster and be sure to hop on the Wonder Wheel. Take in the illuminated view from the very top and snap a few shots to post on Facebook. You and your friends return to the boardwalk just in time to look into the heavens and witness the summer fireworks. Absolutely breathtaking.
You can only experience this magnificence in my home, the wonderful land of Coney Island.
Photos, video, and blog by Deborah Teslyar
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