Coney Island, Brooklyn

Boardwalk-rides-freak shows-beach. A must see. A NY destination for over a century. Do not miss Astroland with the Cyclone, a 73 year old wooden roller coaster or Sideshows by the Sea, one of the last places of its kind located at Surf Ave & W. 12th St. Nathans Hot Dogs got there start here and can still be found on the boardwalk.

Coney Island Mermaid Parade
(make sure you check out my travelogue, which has tons of pix of this year's parade).
Every year gets bigger and better. This is Brooklyn's version of Mardi Gras, as this is the parade that inspires a great deal of fun and debauchery.

The only one place I like in Brooklyn all year around! There is a light house that is in The Sea Gate that is a jewish community district in the picture .

Even if you're not going to have a whole meal, at least stop by for cheese fries or some other snack. The original Nathan's is open and always bustling. It's quite an experience.

You can buy some time on the raceway at the track. Everyone who went looked very satisfied and the cars seemed to go pretty fast. Only one guy got a dud car, and he got to go again for free.