What better way to cool off this summer than at the beach? Pack up a good read, your towels, a camera, the kids' sand toys (don't forget the sunscreen!) and hit a different beach every weekend - we've got lots of choices for enjoying the miles of coastline in the New York metro area, including Westchester County, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, and Fairfield County, CT.
Also see our Guide to the Best Beaches for Families on Long Island
Westchester County
Croton Point Park
Croton-on-Hudson
914-862-5290; www.westchestergov.com/parks
Attractions: This 508-acre park on a peninsula on the east shore of the Hudson River offers a beach, boating, fishing, picnic grounds, hiking, a playground, and nature center.
Hours: Beach open seven days a week, 10am-dusk. Park open 8am to dusk.
Cost: FREE beach admission; parking $4 with Westchester County Parks pass; $8 without.
Glen Island Park/Beach
New Rochelle
914-813-6720; www.westchestergov.com/parks
Attractions: Swimming, beach, fishing, picnic grounds, playground, hiking/walking, and refreshments.
Hours: Open Wed-Fri 11am-6:30pm; Sat-Sun 10am-5:30pm.
Cost: Must be Westchester residents and purchase a Westchester County Park pass for $50 (valid for 3 years). Plus, daily parking fee of $4. Beach admission: $4 adults, $3 children under 12, under 5 FREE.
Harbor Island Park Beach
Mamaroneck
914-777-7784; www.harborislandconservancy.org or www.village.mamaroneck.ny.us
Attractions: Swimming, beach, baseball, soccer, tennis, boating, and fishing.
Hours: Sprinkler grounds are open seven days a week, 9:30am-5pm after June 19.
Cost: FREE.
Oakland Beach/Rye Town (Municipal Beach)
Rye
914-967-0965; www.ryetownpark.org
Attractions: Beach, swimming, campgrounds, and golf.
Hours: Beach is open 9am-6pm, seven days a week.
Cost: Non-residents: Weekdays $12 parking fee, $9 beach admission for adults; Weekends $15 parking fee; $10 beach admission for adults. Residents: Weekdays $8 parking fee and $8 beach admission for adults; Weekends $9 parking fee and $9 beach admission for adults. Children under 16 are always FREE.
Osceola Beach
Jefferson Valley
914-245-3246; www.lakesideatosceola.com
Attractions: Beach, picnic areas, playgrounds, rides, games, fishing, boating, and pony rides.
Hours: Park open 9am-5pm weekdays; 9am to 6pm weekends.
Cost: Weekdays: $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 ages 3-10, FREE under 3. Weekends and holidays:
$10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 ages 3-10, FREE under 3.
Rye Playland Pool and Beach
Rye
914-813-7010; www.ryeplayland.org
Attractions: Beach, pool, boardwalk, rides, boating, arcade, and mini-golf.
Hours: Open June 25-Labor Day, seven days a week, 11am-6:30pm.
Cost: Beach admission: $4, $3 ages 5-11, $2 seniors, FREE under age 5. Pool: $6, $4 ages 5-11, $4 seniors, FREE under age 5. Parking: $3 Tuesday-Friday; $5 Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. Lockers and umbrellas available for a small fee.
Brooklyn
Brighton Beach, Coney Island and Coney Island Boardwalk
718-946-1350 or 212-New-YORK; www.coneyislandfunguide.com; www.nycgovparks.org; www.nyaquarium.com
Attractions: Two-mile long boardwalk, New York Aquarium, rides, eateries, outdoor spray showers.
Hours: Open daily 10am-6pm. New York Aquarium open weekdays 10am to 6pm, weekends 10am to 7pm.
Cost: Boardwalk: FREE; Cyclone Rollercoaster: $8, $5 to re-ride (must be 54 inches to ride);
New York Aquarium: $13, $10 seniors 65+, $9 ages 3 to 12, FREE under age 3.
Manhattan Beach
718-946-1373; www.nycgovparks.org/parks/manhattanbeachpark
Attractions: Beach and boardwalk, two playgrounds, two large baseball diamonds, tennis, volleyball, basketball and handball courts.
Hours: Open sunrise and sunset, seven days a week.
Cost: FREE admission to beach. Parking fee: $5 Monday-Friday; $15 Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Bronx
Orchard Beach and Promenade
Pelham Bay Park
718-430-1890; www.nycgovparks.org
Attractions: 1.1-mile sandy beach, hexagonal-block promenade, changing areas, showers, food stores, specialty shops, playgrounds, picnic areas, basketball, volleyball, and handball courts.
Hours: Open year round; Memorial Day through Labor Day, hours are 10am to 6pm.
Cost: FREE. Parking $6 weekdays, $8 weekends and holidays.
Queens
Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk
Far Rockaway to Neponsit
718-318-4000; www.nycgovparks.org/parks/rockawaybeach
Attractions: Basketball and handball courts, roller hockey rinks, sitting areas and playgrounds along the boardwalk and adjoining areas.
Hours: Open sunrise to sunset.
Cost: FREE.
Water Taxi Beach
Hunter's Point Ferry Terminal, Long Island City
877-974-6998, ext. 0. Check web site for water taxi schedules and service notices at www.watertaxibeach.com
Attractions: Picnic table area, bars and food vendors, open sand area. No pets, swimming, coolers, outside food or drink.
Hours: Open seven days a week until Columbus Day weekend; Monday-Thursday 6pm-10pm, Fridays 6pm-3am, Saturdays Noon to 3am, Sundays 1 to 10pm.
Cost: Varies. Call for pricing.
Staten Island
Midland Beach and Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk
718-987-0709; www.statenislandusa.com
Attractions: Sprinklers and playground, handball and shuffleboard courts, seasonal concession stands, changing stations. Site of the annual Back to the Beach Celebration with food, games, sand castle building, boardwalk vendors, live music, and fireworks.
Hours: Open daily 10am to 6pm.
Cost: FREE.
South Beach
718-816-6804; www.statenislandusa.com
Attractions: Children's playground, handball and shuffleboard courts, bocce courts, roller hockey rink, ball fields, fishing pier, and newly renovated picnic and changing areas.
Hours: Open daily 10am to 6pm.
Cost: FREE.
Wolfe's Pond Beach
On Raritan Bay and Prince's Bay
718-984-8266; www.si-web.com/Recreation/WolfesPond.html
Attractions: Swimming, rowboats, daytime freshwater fishing, picnic grounds, outdoor fireplaces, and a model yacht pond. Restrooms available.
Hours: Open daily 10am to 6pm.
Cost: FREE.
Connecticut
Calf Pasture Beach
Norwalk
203-854-7806; www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess
Attractions: Miniature golf, fishing, softball fields, volleyball courts, and sailboat/windsurf/kayak rentals.
Hours: Open Memorial Day through September, sunrise to sunset.
Cost: FREE; parking Monday-Friday $15, Saturday and Sundays $20; after 5pm $5. Norwalk residents may apply for a beach sticker.
Jennings Beach
Fairfield
203-256-3191; www.fairfieldct.org
Attractions: Playground, bathhouse, food concession.
Hours: Beach open from dawn-11pm. Lifeguards on duty 10am-6pm.
Cost: FREE admission; parking $15 weekdays, $25 weekends and holidays. Seasonal passes are available.
Lake Mohegan
Fairfield
203-256-3191; www.fairfieldct.org
Attractions: Lake beach with public grills and a picnic area.
Hours: Beach area opens at 10am through 11pm. Swimming not allowed after dark. Lifeguards on duty 10am-6pm; sometimes through 8pm.
Cost: Weekdays: residents $8, children 4; non-residents $15, children $8. Weekends and holidays: residents $10, children $6. Non-residents $18, children $12. Seasonal passes are available.
Penfield Beach
Fairfield
203-256-3191; www.fairfieldct.org
Attractions: Playground, picnic area with public grills, food concession, and restrooms.
Hours: Beach open from dawn-11pm. Lifeguards on duty 10am-6pm.
Cost: FREE admission; parking $15 weekdays, $25 weekends and holidays. Seasonal passes are available.
Seaside Park Beach
Bridgeport
203-576-7233; www.bridgeportct.gov
Attractions: Picnic area, food concession, bathhouse, restrooms.
Hours: Open 6am to dusk, seven days a week.
Cost: $5 resident parking sticker yearround or $75 for non-residents. Daily fee: $20 for residents, $40 non-residents.
Sherwood Island State Park
Westport
860-424-3000; www.ct.gov
Attractions: Fishing, food concession, bathhouse, and swimming areas.
Hours: Open Memorial Day through Labor Day, 8am until sunset.
Cost: Parking: Weekdays: $9 CT residents, $15 non-residents. Weekends: $13 residents, $22 non-residents. After 4pm: $6 residents, $7 non-residents.
Weed Beach
Darien
203-656-7325; www.darienct.gov
Attractions: Public grills, picnic areas, tennis courts (reservations required), and restrooms.
Hours: Open seven days a week, 9am to sunset.
Cost: parking $40 non-residents. Darien residents can purchase a beach permit for the season for $35.
