When you think of New York City, you think of the crazy hustle and bustle. Sure, it is a nice getaway, but if you’re looking for something slightly more mellow, head down to Brooklyn, NY. The Brooklyn Water front offers a variety of locations with tons of things you can do there that will catch your eye… and satisfy your taste buds.
Friday
- The start of your journey | 11 a.m
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. First stop at the XO Creperie that’s located on Emmons avenue. This is the place to go to indulge yourself with the finest crepes. If it’s sweet that your craving, go for the Nutella crepes with strawberries ($16). If it’s something savory, go ahead and order the Eggs Benedict with Lox in Creamy Cheese Sauce ($11). Whatever the choice of food, you get to enjoy the nice summer breeze on the balcony overlooking the canal with swans that swim gracefully.
Photography credits to ACMB Photography
2. Coney Island | 12:30 p.m
Coney Island offers an ideal summer getaway from the nuttiness left back at home. Visit Coney Island that stretches nearly 3 miles of sandy beaches, clear blue skies, sound of clashing waves, and sea salt aroma in the air. There you can feel the warm sand in between your toes, sit near the ocean, and have an oasis of serenity. Take a nice long stroll on the beach or the boardwalk with your friends and family… The best part of it is it’s free!
Coney Island Boardwalk, Day to Night. Photo © Stephen Wilkes.
3. Nathan’s Famous| 3:00 p.m
Coming to Coney Island and not trying Nathan’s is like going to Arizona and forgetting to stop at the Grand Canyon. It is just a fast food joint you might say, yes, but it is the original Nathan’s that Brooklyn carries. Go on and try the world’s famous beef chili cheese dog ($4.79) and wash it down with a refreshing old fashioned lemonade ($2.59). Happen to be near by Nathan’s on July 4th? Perfect! There you will enjoy watching their annual hot dog eating contest. That will be a memory you certainly will not forget.
4. Fun Times|5:30 p.m
Coney Island not only carries the original Nathan’s. It also holds a landmark that everyone knows about when they think of Coney Island. Start your fun adventure with Coney Island’s famous roller coaster, The Cyclone. This coaster in fact sounds like it is loose and falling apart, but people gravitate to that and find their thrill even more heightened. Crazy right? After riding the Cyclone, head inside Luna park (free entry) and extract the kid that is hiding inside you. Enjoy the rides until your stomach can bear no more. If you had enough of all the spinning and twirling, walk down to the beach where they show free movies from a giant 40 foot inflatable screen. Lay down the beach towel and get that popcorn ready!
Saturday
5. Gone Fishin’| 7:00 a.m
Come aboard the Marilyn Jean IV charter for a memorable fishing excursion. Located just off pier 6 on Emmons avenue. The charter departs from the pier and takes you along a peaceful, but yet exciting trip past Brooklyn’s famous Coney Island, Verrazano Narrows Bridge, Manhattan NY Skyline, and the Statue of Liberty while enjoying the essence of fishing. The fish that are caught, may be taken home; The crew can fillet the fish upon request. The trip is a total of 5 hours ($25) and guarantees a lifetime experience, so reservations are strongly recommended. Food is served and equipment is included on the trip.
6. Food On Foot Tours| 2:20 p.m
What is so great about NYC is that the city offers you a wide range of things to do. If you have a strong passion for food, Food On Foot Tours is what you can’t miss out on. This food tour covers Brooklyn’s waterfront neighborhoods. Groups meet at the Pennsylvania station to start their food journey. The tour will take you to 4 different locations, so make sure you have a metro card handy. All destinations are a surprise and you’ll never know what you’ll have on your plate until you arrive to your location. Food on Foot Tours are usually 3 to 5 hours long, so wear something comfortable.
Sunday
7. Lettuce Turnip the Beet | 9:00 a.m
Floyd Bennett Field offers a variety of activities, but there is one that has been proven to help you live longer. Intrigued yet? Welcome to Floyd Bennett Gardens Association. For just 50 dollars a year and 8 hours of community service, you are free to plot until you drop! Growing your own produce will save you a heck of a lot of money, so what do you have to lose?
Credit: Irina Kupershteyn
8. Foodie’s Paradise |3:00 pm
Got hungry after all that gardening? Head down to Smorgasburg, every food enthusiast’s heaven. You will find a wide range of food and beverages there, so make sure you come with an empty stomach and a full wallet of cash. You will experience different cuisines the vendors have to offer you. Try the Ramen Burger ($10), you wont regret it! Smorgasburg might seem a bit overwhelming, but in the long run, the experience you will get from it is grand. Not to mention, you will be eating your food with a great view of the NYC skyline.
9. Sleep Tight| Lodging
Nothing is better than coming home from a long day and just flopping right down to your king sized bed. Although Comfort inn isn’t the most luxuries of the hotels, I didn’t want this adventure to be only about where you are staying. Comfort inn is located in the Sheepshead Bay area on Emmons Avenue, and is a walking distance from XO Creperies. Comfort inn is right on the beach, so you will have a nice view of the ocean. It offers a complimentary hot breakfast and a guaranteed comfortable stay. The nightly rate is $169.99 and offers amenities.
References:
1. Home – XO Creperie. (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://www.xocreperie.com/
2. Tourist Information. (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://www.coneyisland.com/tourist-information
3. Nathan’s Famous. (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://www.nathansfamous.com/
4. Homepage – Luna Park in Coney Island. (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://lunaparknyc.com/
5. Brooklyn New York Fishing Boat Sheepshead Bay Party Charter – Marilyn Jean IV. (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://www.mj2fishing.com/
6. See and taste New York like a New Yorker! (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://foodonfoottours.com/
7. The Floyd Bennett Gardens Association, Inc. | FBGA. (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://fbga.net/
8. Smorgasburg | A Brooklyn Flea Food Market. (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://www.smorgasburg.com/
9. Comfort Inn Hotel in Brooklyn, NY – Book Your Stay Today! (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://www.comfortinn.com/hotel-brooklyn-new_york-NY275
