Coney Island has come a long way since the bad old days of The Warriors.

Even just nine or ten years ago it was a much seedier place than it is today. Coney is unique in the NY Cityscape. Historically it has been a place for both family fun in the sun, as well as a place where alternative, non-traditional people can express themselves freely.

Some old classics remain as far as the food scene goes, like Grimaldi’s and Totonno’s for some of the best pizza that NYC has to offer, Nathan’s for good old fashioned hot dogs (Happy 100th Birthday), or Paul’s Daughter (the name has changed over the years) for fresh seafood and funnel cakes.

But now some new joints have arrived, like Wahlburgers and the Coney Island Brewery, as the area has become more polished and clean.

Coney’s Cones is a good cold dessert spot, right on the boardwalk.

Hell, even the Cyclones baseball field is pretty outstanding.

And the aquarium is pretty fun as well, even if you’re not 8yrs old.

Coney Island makes for a really awesome day-trip in the summer. My wife and I even liked it back in 2007 when we came in the off season.