Kid-friendly walking tour of Coney Island, Brooklyn

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Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese statue outside MCU Park

Coney Island
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Coney Island
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Coney Island
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Luna Park
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Luna Park
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Luna Park
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Luna Park
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Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs
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Coney Island Old Time Bagels
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Coney Island Old Time Bagels
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Ruby's Bar & Grill
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Ruby's Bar & Grill
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Steeplechase Pier
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Steeplechase Pier
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Coney Island Museum
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Coney Island Museum
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Scott Baker- Coney Island Sideshow
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Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese statue outside MCU Park
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Nathan's Famous
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Coney Island

Photograph: Virginia Rollison

9:30–10am
Start with bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches from Coney Island Old Time Bagels (1428 Mermaid Ave between Stillwell Ave and W 15th St, 718-676-5680).

10am–1pm
Embark on an undersea adventure at the New York Aquarium (Surf Ave at W 8 St; 718-265-3474, nyaquarium.com. $15, children ages 3–12 $11, children under 3 free). The new Conservation Hall exhibit takes visitors to the coast of Belize, where they’ll encounter exotic corals, stingrays and fish (including Nemo and Dori look-alikes).

1–2pm
You can’t visit south Brooklyn without a stop at the original Nathan’s Famous (1310 Surf Ave between Stillwell Ave and W 15 St; 718-946-2202, nathansfamous.com). Hot dogs and crinkle-cut fries are a must for lunch.

2–3:30pm
After taking a spin on Deno’s landmark Wonder Wheel (Boardwalk at W 12 St, wonderwheel.com. $6 per person), head to Luna Park (Surf Ave at W 10 St; 718-373-5862, lunaparknyc.com. $30 for four hours of unlimited rides on weekends), with more than a dozen rides for young guests. We love the Mermaid Parade, a pint-size water flume.

3:30–4:15pm
Grab a cold beer and an outdoor table at Ruby’s Bar and Grill (Boardwalk between Stillwell Ave and W 12 St; 718-372-9079, rubysconeyisland.com). You can people-watch while the kids enjoy soft-serve ice cream.

4:15–5pm
Coney Island USA (1208 Surf Ave at W 12 St; 718-372-5159, coneyisland.com) houses two tributes to the area’s heyday. Kids will be wowed by the sword-swallowers of the Circus Sideshow (Sat, Sun 1–8pm; $7.50, children under 12 $5). Upstairs, point out old ride cars at the Coney Island Museum (Sat, Sun noon–6pm; $1).

5–6pm
Soak up sea breezes during a stroll along Steeplechase Pier (Boardwalk at W 17 St).

6–6:30pm
Stop by MCU Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones (Surf Ave at W 17 St). A statue out front depicts Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese, the first Dodger to befriend the legendary player, who was taunted upon his arrival to the majors in 1947.

6:30pm
The line at Totonno’s Pizzeria Napolitano (1524 Neptune Ave between W 15th and W 16th Sts, 718-372-8606) can be long on summer nights, but the thin-crust pies are worth the wait.

Comments

I've heard so much about Coney Island, however most people have told me that the place is closed, and then I hear that it was being renovated and opened up again. My only other major concerns is that it's located in a very rough part of NYC, where crime and violence may be too high, and that's what makes me nervous.