Rockaway Beach

"Rock Rock Rockaway Beach," the Ramones sang in their love song for Queens' urban beach, and this weekend the NY Times profiled the lifeguards of the Rockaways' seven and a half miles of patrolled sand and surf. It's the biggest NYC beach by far and the only with a surfing section (90th to 92nd Streets).

The lifeguards deal with New Yorkers, not the easiest bunch of beachgoers. About warning swimmers, one lifeguard said:

Sometimes they're drunk or they say, "I can swim" or they just don't respect you. The only thing we can do then is tell them they're going to get a summons. That usually works.

If you're headed out to the Rockaways for a little sea breeze, take the A train to Broad Channel and switch to the shuttle for Rockaway Park / Beach 116th Street. (Or go directly to Beach 67th Street at any time. The other stops from Broad Channel west are usually only rush-hour options.)

Or drive and park in the municipal lot at Beach 116th Street. Walk back east a little to escape a bit of humanity.

Another option is to drive farther west to Fort Tilden's and Breezy Point's less crowded beaches.