A Closer Option Than The Shore: Far Rockaway Beach

As a child growing up in New York City in the 1970s and '80s, my parents frequently took me on educational excursions all over the city and on short weekend trips up and down the East Coast. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of beach trips taken with relatives and family friends. We would drive down to the beach in Far Rockaway, Queens, spend the day playing in the sand and waves, and then pick up lobsters and fried clams at our favorite clam bar off of the Belt Parkway to have dinner al fresco in my parents' backyard.

I have been to four beaches along Far Rockaway: Jones Beach, Coney Island, Jacob Riis Park and Breezy Point. All four beaches have their pros and cons, but the main advantage is that they are located 45 minutes by car from Hoboken via the Bayonne Bridge, which makes for an easy day trip with toddlers. The first three of those beaches are public with free access. The only thing you'll have to pay for is parking, which ranges from $5 to $13 for the day.

You can take the subway, but I do not recommend it since the trip can take hours; Hobokenites can rent a car for $9 an hour through the the Hertz Corner Car program.

Jones Beach is the best known of the four beaches, with a band shell where summer concerts are often held. It is huge and tends to be extremely crowded, which is why I have not been there in years. Riis Park is a shock for non-NYC natives, with a Yelp reviewer calling it "clean, mellow and just beautiful." For $5 parking, it is a bargain. The cons are that the parking lots and beach are very large, so be prepared for a lot of walking once you park your car. It's a good idea to pack lunch and bring a portable potty for your toddler.

Coney Island has a really cute boardwalk featuring the historic wooden Cyclone, the oldest roller coaster in America, Nathan's hot dog stands and a toddler amusement park at Astroland. It also hosts the stadium for the Brooklyn Cyclones if you want to catch some good minor league baseball, and the Ringling Brothers Circus arrives each August. If you visit the New York Aquarium, the beach is steps away (probably why the parking is a prohibitive $13). You can also park on the street, although there is a lot of traffic and parking can be difficult to find.

Breezy Point is a private community that is hands down my favorite beach locale. The beach is clean and well-maintained, and there are tons of families with toddlers for my kids to play with in the sand. We usually pick up lunch at the grocery store or the Sugar Bowl. Access is restricted to residents' guests and renters, but the visit is well worth the hassle. My kids never want to leave, and now that they are getting older (easier naptimes!), we will will definitely be making the trip out there a few more times this summer.

To read more about what makes Kathy Zucker tick, check out her blog at http://hobokenmomcondo.com/momblog and follow her at http://twitter.com/zhobokenmom