Greetings ladies, gentlemen, trolls and fellow New Yorkers.

My wife & I are planning to spend Sunday at Coney Island. A quick question for an MTA expert:

I see that several trains go to Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue. Which one is quickest from the UES? #6 to Bleecker, transfer to F?

Any other suggestions to make our day memorable?

Thanks

Where on UES are you coming from? You may save time by taking 4 to Atlantic Avenue and transfer to Q to Stillwell. Just depends how far UES you are.

Go early if you are planning to sit on the beach, it can get very crowded.

Eat a hot dog at Nathan's. It's the best.

Check out: www.coneyislandusa.com/

Philip, I think you're on to something. From the UES 86th Street station, it looks like the 4 to Atlantic would be quicker than the 6 to the F.

Apparently at Atlantic we could transfer to either the Q or the W, both of which go to Coney/Stillwell. Do you thing the Q is the better option?

Thanks for the info. No use wasting time on the train.

Don't forget about the famous rollercoaster and the aquarium!

I didn't think the W was as reliable on weekends, but I'm not that familiar with that train. Maybe there is someone who knows that train a bit better.

You can also check timetables www.mta.nyc.ny.us/index.html

Heard Gargiulo's is a great Italian restaurant in Coney. It's been there over 90 years on West 15th Street. Enjoy.

How much does it cost to ride the Cyclone? Is it worth walking up to the Brighton Beach area?

I just spoke to a Manhattan friend who warned me that Coney Island is a depressing dump that attracts a variety of unsavory characters. I failed to ask her when she visited, but is it true? Will we regret going out there tomorrow?

Thanks

I go there quite often - you should definitely go! Just because it's not crowded and a couple places are boarded up does not make it a dump! And 'unsavory characters?' please. There is definitely the biggest mix of characters you'll ever see there...all there for a good time! You'll see plenty of Russians, Rastafarians, punks, preppies, goths, Long Islanders, Germans...maybe even a few surfer-dudes. It's very interesting.

The area is currently in the midst of a revitalization. The addition of the ballpark (which I love) has really helped the area, by adding more families and perhaps (?) a better sense of safety. But i've always felt safe there. I noticed a month ago that they had just finished what appears to be a new bathouse on the boardwalk.

I have not yet been on the Cyclone (I'm a scaredy-cat), but the WonderWheel is great (and scarier than you might think!) I also enjoy the batting cages, and have yet to go on the disco bumper cars -"bump-bump-bump yaw ass off"! Of course when I'm out there I always get a Nathan's hot dog. There's also a little ice cream shop that has very good ice cream - it's on the street, not the boardwalk. Another attraction is a real live freak show (!!) but I haven't experienced it - not sure if I'd want to.

Your Manhattan friend who says Coney Island is a "depressing dump" has obviously never been there, at least not lately.

On a beautiful sunny day, it's great. Haven't been there yet this year, but rode the Wonder Wheel and Cyclone last year. Whoa, the Cyclone is great if you love roller coasters. That first drop is a doozy!

(BTW, I'm a little 5'2" female scaredy cat and didn't feel the least bit uncomfortable at Coney Island. Lots of people around. Didn't see anyone terribly unsavory. It's probably depressing on a rainy, overcast day but on the sunny day I was there it was great.)

The Wonder Wheel is more exciting than it looks. It's like a huge Ferris Wheel but the cars move on a track into the middle of the wheel and out again. Slightly frightening the first time it happens, but fun. BTW, some of the cars are stationery. Be sure you get in a moving car. I think they're denoted by color, but I forget exactly. Ask when you get there. It also gives a great view from the top.

Go! Have fun!

We're going -- thanks for the positive viewpoints. I've lived in Manhattan for a long time and never been, so tomorrow is the day. CYCLONE!!

Dude, let us know how you liked it. I'm visiting NYC this summer for 6 days and am looking for fun things to do in NYC on a summer day.

Coney Island was alot of fun -- definitely worth the visit.

Subway ride from Upper East Side took about 65 minutes with one transfer in Brooklyn. #4 to Q worked perfectly.

Enjoyed a Nathan's famous hot dog, but it didn't sit very well after rides on the Cyclone ($5) and Viking Ship ($3 -- went twice!!). I about hurled after the second Viking Ship extravaganza. Many moments of complete weightlessness. Also the Wonder Wheel was fun ($4). Walking along the boardwalk and seeing the ocean was a Sunday afternoon pleasure. We saw but didn't attempt the freak show -- thought it might finish the job and up-end the Nathan's.

One note about the Cyclone rollercoaster: It's rough! You really get beat-up on the rickety old thing. It's much rougher than other wooden coasters, such as Kings Island's Beast. Very enjoyable, but beware. You will get a few bruises and even a scrape or two. Maybe next time I won't raise my hands above my head.

Overall a great experience!

Thanks, Ted! I plan to go out there in the next week or two.

J

Coney Island may be undergoing a revitalization but that only means it's not as bad as it used to be. There's still a substantial "bad element" down there. So go, have fun, ride the Cyclone, have a dog at Nathans or take in a baseball game. But also watch your wallet and don't assume the natives will always be friendly.

I was at Coney Island last summer until about midnight, and while there are a lot of poor people from the surrounding area who hang out there, there were tons of families there as well, and keep in mind this is at midnight. As long as you don't wander down the coney island side of the boardwalk late at night you should be fine.

I grew up in coney Island. Family and friends still live there.
Like many areas of NY or other big cities, there are areas and times that law abiding citizens have no business being around. In areas such as CI, there are times one should not be walking thru dark, deserted areas. Other than that, the place is live, busy, and with plenty of cops. The aquarium is cool, the rides like the Cyclone and Wonder Wheel are still a thrill, and the fast food is good-go to Gregory and Pauls on 10th street on the Boardwalk and get their french fries-they're better than Nathans.
Forget Astroland.

Glad you had fun Ted! It's great to get you Manhattanites to come out and explore what Brooklyn has to offer!

I would love to visit Coney Island next month. We're staying at the Essex House (Westin) across from Central Park. Is Coney Island difficult to get to? Also, what baseball team are you all referring to?? Thanks, Mark

Read the above and you'll learn how to get to CI by subway. It takes about an hour.

The Brooklyn Cyclones play minor league baseball in CI.