Top 25 US beaches revealed — 2 surprising NYC spots made the list

Travel & Leisure recently released its list of the "25 Best Beaches in the USA," recognizing Brooklyn's Coney Island and Rockaway Beach in Queens among the best.

Shorely they can’t be serious.

Travel & Leisure released its list of the “25 Best Beaches in the USA.” Although two unlikely New York City entries made the cut, the coastal gem of Long Island — constantly in the conversation of the nation’s nicest beaches — was snubbed.

Brooklyn’s Coney Island and Rockaway Beach in Queens were awarded the same prestige as Hawaii’s Poipu Beach on Kauai and California’s Santa Monica Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea, to name a few.

The crowded NYC spots were praised for their miles of boardwalk and plenty of sandy entertainment options.

Coney Island is described as “a perfect seaside wonderland of nostalgia and kitschy fun” — and the New York Aquarium is near the beach.

Known for its amusement parks, games, plus the one-of-a-kind Cyclone roller coaster, Travel & Leisure said it is also the little things like access to volleyball and basketball courts that make Coney Island and Rockaway stand out.

City dwellers should rejoice in knowing how close they are to some of the nation’s best beaches. Anthony J. Causi

Coney Island is a top beach on Travel & Leisure’s list of the “25 Best Beaches in the USA.” Paul Martinka

Although not mentioned in the rating, it’s hard to have a bad day on Coney Island after a visit to the original Nathan’s Famous on nearby Stillwell Avenue, despite out-the-door lines.

Also, catching a Brooklyn Cyclones baseball game at the boardwalk’s Maimonides Park to cheer on the New York Mets’ future prospects is almost always a blast — especially when fans experience a stunning sunset with views over the Atlantic Ocean and Luna Park from their seats.

The ballpark even made its way into the video game “Spider-Man 2” as a true NYC icon.

Coney Island also attracts many baseball fans with the Brooklyn Cyclones. Paul Martinka

Geographically close by in Queens, the Ramones’ favorite Rock-Rock-Rockaway Beach has also enjoyed a major facelift in recent seasons. Its 1932 art deco Jacob Riis bathhouse underwent a $50 million renovation in late 2022.

The scene also changed greatly in the past few summers as it became a hub for vintage shops, food trucks and trendy bars.

In 2020, the south Queens surf haven also became posh thanks to the opening of its swanky Rockaway Hotel and pool.

Rockaway Beach has become a trendy NYC summer spot recently. Getty Images

It’s nothing against either evolving city institution, but one must wonder why Coopers Beach in South Hampton on LI was not mentioned. It is often in other listings of the nation’s top 10, placing third in the US last year in Dr. Beach’s annual ranking.

The public Fire Island National Seashore, beloved by Long Islanders and city visitors alike for its deer-filled, beachside trail to the Fire Island Lighthouse from Robert Moses Field 5, also did not make the cut.

However, there was room for Park Point Beach in Duluth, Minnesota.

The Rockaways have become a trendy destination for New Yorkers. Anthony J. Causi

In Connecticut, Ocean Beach Park in New London also made the cut, whereas Rhode Island’s Watch Hill — home to Taylor Swift’s oceanfront mega-mansion and many more nautical sights — is just a stone’s throw up I-95.

Also in New England, Good Harbor Beach near the setting of “The Perfect Storm” in Gloucester, Massachusetts, was selected over any Cape Cod destination — or Martha’s Vineyard.

In New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen’s home nabe of Asbury Park, which still carries a rock legacy with clubs like the Stone Pony plus other beachy fun, also made the list, as did Ocean City, Maryland.