New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [288]
Home to more than 8,000 creatures of the ocean, New York City’s only aquarium is also the nation’s oldest. Tropical fish, sea horses, and jellyfish luxuriate in large tanks; otters, walruses, penguins, and seals lounge on a replicated Pacific coast; and a 90,000-gallon tank is home to several different types of sharks. | 502 Surf Ave., at W. 8th St., Coney Island | 11224 | 718/265–3474 | www.nyaquarium.com | $17 | Early Apr.–Memorial Day and Labor Day–Oct., weekdays 10–5, weekends 10–5:30; Memorial Day–Labor Day, weekdays 10–6, weekends 10–7; Nov.–early Apr., daily 10–4:30; last ticket sold 45 mins before closing | Subway: F, Q to W. 8th St.; N, D to Coney Island–Stillwell Ave.
Sideshows by the Seashore and the Coney Island Museum.
Step right up for a lively circus sideshow, complete with a fire-eater, sword swallower, snake charmer, and contortionist. Upstairs, the small museum has Coney Island memorabilia and a great deal of tourist information. | 1208 Surf Ave., at W. 12th St., Coney Island | 11224 | 718/372–5159 | www.coneyisland.com | Sideshow $7.50, museum 99¢ | Sideshows: Memorial Day–Labor Day, daily shows; Sept.–May, some weekends. Museum: weekends noon–5. Hrs vary, so call ahead. | Subway: D, F, N, Q to Coney Island–Stillwell Ave.
WHERE TO EAT IN CONEY ISLAND AND BRIGHTON BEACH
Nathan’s Famous.
¢ | AMERICAN | No visit to Coney Island would be complete without a hot dog from this stand that first opened in 1916. On the Fourth of July thousands come to see their world-famous hot dog–eating contest; the record stands at 68 in 10 minutes. | 1310 Surf Ave., at Stillwell Ave., Coney Island | 11224 | 718/946–2202 | AE, D, DC, MC, V | Subway: D, F, N, Q to Coney Island–Stillwell Ave.
Primorski.
EASTERN EUROPEAN | Enjoy inexpensive lunch specials or lavish dinner banquets complete with Vegas-style floor shows under the disco ball at this Georgian-style restaurant and nightclub. Adventurous eaters can order off the à la carte menu—try khinkali (boiled or fried Georgian dumplings), lavash bread, and solyanka (spicy lamb stew flecked with tomato and coriander). Banquets, which range from $38 to $65 per person, should be arranged in advance. | 282 Brighton Beach Ave., near Brighton 2nd St. | 11235 | 718/891–3111 | www.primorski.net | AE, DC, MC, V | Subway: B, Q to Brighton Beach.
SHOPPING IN CONEY ISLAND AND BRIGHTON BEACH
The shops, bakeries, markets, and restaurants along Brighton Beach Avenue, the neighborhood’s main artery, all cater to the neighborhood’s Russian community. This is the place to find knishes with every filling imaginable, borscht, blinis (small crepes or pancakes), and cups of dark-roast coffee, plus caviar at prices that can put Manhattan purveyors to shame. | Brighton Beach Ave. from Brighton 1st St. to Brighton 6th St. | 11235.
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Main Table of Contents
Getting Oriented
Queens
The Bronx
Staten Island
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Making the Most of Your Time | Getting Here | Fodor’s Choice | Top Experiences | Best for Kids | Nearby Museums | Area Shops
Updated by Alexander Basek
Many tourists miss out on seeing these three boroughs, and that’s a shame. They contain some of the city’s best restaurants, museums, and attractions, and the subway’s handful of express trains means that they’re closer than you might think.
A patchwork of diverse neighborhoods best describes Queens, each a small world with a distinct culture, all fascinating to explore. Thanks especially to the borough’s strong immigrant population (almost 50%), you’ll also find some of the city’s most interesting cuisine here. Art lovers will definitely want to make the short trip for museums such as PS1 Contemporary Art Center and the Noguchi Museum.
The Bronx is the city’s most maligned and misunderstood borough. Its reputation as a gritty, down-and-out place is a little outdated, and more than a little incorrect.
There’s lots of beauty in the Bronx, including more parkland than any other borough, one of the world’s