The Cyclone at Coney Island

The Cyclone opened in 1927 and is still running with most of its original wooden track. It is a national historic landmark because it terrifies you properly: two minutes of rickety lift-hills, 60 MPH drops, and turns so sharp you think the car will come off the rails. (It won't.) Woody Allen once called it "the greatest ride in the world." A single ride is $10.

But the Cyclone is just one reason to come to Coney Island. The boardwalk runs for 2.7 miles. The beach is wide, sandy, and free (yes, free beach in NYC). Nathan's Famous is right there — the original Nathan's, since 1916, home of the hot dog eating contest. The Wonder Wheel (1920) is a slower alternative. The New York Aquarium is two blocks away. Make an afternoon of it.

**Local tip:** Take the Q or D train to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue — it's the last stop, about an hour from midtown. Go on a weekday afternoon if you can; weekends in July are a crush. The Mermaid Parade on the Saturday of the summer solstice is a must-see Brooklyn spectacle. Cash helps but cards accepted most places.

**Best for:** Families with kids 8+, summer day trips, a taste of old New York, anyone who wants a beach day without leaving the city.