Coney Island
Note: some Coney Island and Brighton Beach businesses are still working to reopen or resume normal activity after Hurricane Sandy. Please call ahead before visiting to make sure that your chosen attractions are open for business. In general, Luna Park operates from April through October, as does Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.

The ups and downs of the iconic Cyclone are a fitting metaphor for the Coney Island experience lately—every year seems to bring big changes to the quirky beachfront amusement district, but a visit there is always entertaining. These days, classic Boardwalk institutions like Ruby's Bar and Grill, Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park and Nathan's Famous (scheduled to reopen by Memorial Day) operate next to shiny thrill-ride tract Luna Park, whose Scream Zone twists, turns, drops and spins patrons into a state of pure bliss (or at least bliss with a splash of queasiness). Other area attractions include MCU Park, the gorgeous home of Mets minor-league affiliate the Brooklyn Cyclones (who play from June through early September), and the New York Aquarium (reopening on May 25, 2013), which features a menagerie of aquatic life including sharks, walruses, penguins, octopi and more. Also worth visiting on Brooklyn’s south shore is famed Russian enclave Brighton Beach, just a short stroll away on the Boardwalk. For even more things to do in the waterfront neighborhood, check out our "Must-See Coney Island" guide.