Queens

Immortalized in the Ramones’ classic song of the same name, Rockaway Beach is one of the best beaches within city limits—close enough to hitch a ride (or take the ‘A’ train) and far enough that the water is clean and city grind is left behind. Rockaway is one of the few places around New York where you can actually surf, and the Ramones managed to capture its unusual combination of New York grit and a West Coast fun–in–the–sun ambience. A long boardwalk gives easy access to the sand, and ten miles of beach means that there’s plenty of room to stretch out without stepping on your neighbor’s toes.