We sussed out the best low-key beaches that boast big coastal charm so you don’t have to socially distance your family from the sea and sand this summer. Grab your swimsuits, sunscreen and sunglasses and head to one of these 7 beaches that are packed with family-friendly fun without being so, well, packed!
BettertonBeach
Located under two hours from the District on the Chesapeake Bay, Betterton Beach in Kent County, MD offers five acres of sand and shore along with a boardwalk, picnic area and fishing jetty. Once you get to Betterton – population of about 350 – you can head to the mouth of the Sassafras river for a quick, uncrowded getaway.
Assateague Island
Looking for a beach getaway where wild horses share the sand with you? If so, Assateague Island (in MD) are for you! You access Assateague and its 37 miles of beach through either Ocean City, MD or Chincoteague, VA. Be sure to pack these kid cameras so they can capture the abundent wildlife. This island features tranquil beaches, wild horses and at less than four hours away, is a great choice for an off-the-beaten-path beach vacation.
Elk Neck State Park
Elk Neck State Park has a pristine sandy beach and warm waters to float and play in. Don’t forget the life jackets; this beach has a kayak and canoe launch. There are also campgrounds and hiking trails throughout the park and a lighthouse to explore. While some of the trails remain closed, the beach is open. Located only two hours from DC, Elk Neck is a great option to get away while still staying close by.
Calvert Cliffs State Park
Less than an hour and a half from DC, Calvert Cliffs has 24 miles of shoreline on the Chesapeake Bay. The cliffs that dominate the landscape were formed 20 – 30 million years ago, and fossil hunting is another popular activity throughout the park. Prehistoric sea creatures, shark and whale fossils have all been found in the cliffs.
Sandbridge Beach
Virginia Beach typically doesn’t come to mind when people think of “off the beaten track” beaches. And it’s true that the boardwalk area of Virginia Beach is usually jam packed. That’s not the case for Sandbridge Beach. Located 15 minutes south of Virginia Beach, Sandbridge is quieter, calmer and less crowded than its more well-known neighbor.
Chic’s Beach
This idyllic beach situated on the Chesapeake Bay is where Virginia Beach locals go to avoid the crowds of the busier oceanside sun, surf and sand destinations. Giving off a relaxed, family-friendly vibe, Chic’s Beach has calmer waters that are perfect for kids to enjoy with the serenity and views that grown-ups are looking for. Be sure to pack the bodyboards and enjoy these gentle waves.
Cape Henlopen State Park
Delaware’s beaches can get crowded during the spring and summer months – and with good reason. They’re not far from DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York. With several different beach towns each with their own personality, there’s something for everyone, which is why… they can get so crowded. Luckily, you can still find quiet places to wander and a sliver of beach to call your own at Cape Henlopen State Park. Enjoy listening to the waves and the shorebirds from the beach or hiking to the end of the point and feel like you’re standing on the edge of the world. You would hardly know that Rehoboth, Dewey and Bethany beaches were all a very short, crowded drive away.
Summer is just right around the corner, and this year, spending time outside is in! Heading to a secluded swim hole, is where the fun is at when warm weather rolls around. Portland is only a short drive away from several that will fill your kids’ days with thrills and squeals while you relax in the shade. Leave the crowded, chlorine-filled pools behind hop in your car and head to one of these natural Splash pads. Read on to find out the best lakes and swim holes near Portland are. photo: Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center via flickr
High Rocks Park
While jumping off rocks might not be Mom’s idea of wholesome summer fun, don’t worry–this place has lifeguards! It’s the perfect spot for kids to be a little daring. On the Clackamas River in Gladstone, right off Highway 205, it’s a popular spot and is often busy during the hottest parts of the day. While the lifeguard provided by the city makes it a safer swimming hole, make sure the kids are still strong swimmers–currents and a rocky terrain has risks.
For a change of scenery, take your swimsuits to the Gorge! This swimming spot on the Columbia in Hood River is not only great for dipping, but kids will love the playground when they dry off. It’s beautifully landscaped and maintained full of unique play structures. And it’s right across the street from some of the best dining Hood River has to offer.
A perfect view of Mt Hood graces your every splash at this lake deep in the woods. Grab a campsite for the night or come on a weekday to beat the crowds– the jewel-tone water is irresistible. Rent a paddle boat or canoe (with life jackets!) and get out on the water. When you dry off, an easy hike around the lake is a fun way to see it from another point of view.
This collection of deep pools is more than just a picturesque spot– it’s one of the best swimming holes around! The falls itself are beautiful, and they’re surrounded by big flat rocks that make a perfect spot to soak up the sun in between dips. With an easy hike, a two-story bridge, picnic spots, and that deep blue water, you can see why it’s so popular. Arrive early to claim your rock!
Home to some of Oregon’s most majestic waterfalls, you can find plenty of opportunities to get wet at this park. Dip in the lazy river, wade in the deep pools, or just put your arm in the splash-zone of the tumbling falls. For a whole day of fun, explore the hiking trails, then bbq up a delicious dinner on the picnic grounds.
These sandy stretches along the appropriately-named Sandy River make excellent summer destinations. The wide river banks offer slow moving and shallow water, and further back you’ll find picnic grounds, barbecue pits, and a playground. The easy access from Portland means that this spot is popular (read: gets really busy), but the water’s always fine!
1102 E Historic Columbia River Hwy Troutdale, OR Online: outdoorproject.com/
Battle Ground Lake State Park
This beautiful forested lake holds the promise of an escape from the city–even while being super easy to get to. With miles of hiking trails to explore you can make the kids earn that swim! They’ll splash and dip in the sapphire water while surrounded by the pines and firs.
Note that kids under age 4 are not allowed to swim.
For a classic beach day without the drive to the coast, Walton Beach on Sauvie Island is the ticket. Spend a day on the river watching for eagles, counting cargo ships, and splashing the sand away. It’s a popular spot that doesn’t usually feel too crowded—there’s still plenty of room to fly a kite! Keep in mind that it’s still 9 miles once you get to the island, and roads can be busy on sunny weekends. A $10 daily parking pass is available at the Cracker Barrel Store right off the bridge to the island.
(If you’ve heard rumors of a nude beach, they’re true: Collins Beach is also at the north end of the island, but it’s much further north—there’s no risk of accidentally ending up there if you don’t want to.)
Decades ago you might never have thought to swim in the Willamette, but it’s been cleaned up a LOT and is now just fine for water fun. One of the closest access points is the Sellwood Riverfront. The beach is more of a pebble-sand thing, and you might have to share it with some pooches, but for a quick afternoon dip’n’splash, it can’t be beat.
On the banks of the Sandy River, Oxbow has plenty of sandy areas to enjoy. Because of the wide swaths of beach and the calm, shallow river, it’s a great choice for kids who want to play and splash. Combine a trip with some of the trails through the nearby forest, or cast off your kayak for a float. No dogs allowed, day use fee is $5.
This wide Lake Oswego beach on the Willamette River keeps very popular with families on the hottest days of the year. While it’s not huge, there’s plenty of space to fit in, and the nearby park with amenities like a playground, restrooms, picnic areas, and sports fields means there’s something for everyone.
Downriver from Oxbow, Dabney makes a fun day trip with kids. Sand dunes, clean water, and a small river offshoot that makes for fun explorations with the little ones. Because it’s such a calm spot on the river, it’s very popular to launch inner tubes from, and can get crowded on a hot summer day. But you can always escape to the rest of the park, with an old orchard, ponds, disc golf, and forest hikes waiting. $5 day use fee.
A man-made lake with lots of beaches to choose from, Henry Hagg is surprisingly big, and the water is pleasantly warm! Tucked outside of town on the west side, it’s a beautiful area. The beaches are well-used and offer grills and boat ramps, as the lake is a popular boating destination. If your first beach choice is too crowded, you can drive around the lake until you locate your perfect spot. $7 entrance fee
Located off Marine Drive in the north of Portland, this popular beach offers unparalleled access to the Columbia River as jets fly by overhead. The beach may fill up with families on hot days, but as it stretches 1.3 miles, there’s plenty of space to share. It makes an excellent option for an easy, nearby day at the beach. $5 day use fee.
A beautiful vibrant lake popular with the whole family! Explore the wetlands, reserve a picnic shelter, rent a paddleboat, or play on the sports fields. While the littlest can’t swim in the lake, they can enjoy the nature discovery garden or play in the gushing, dumping, spraying, splash pad. $5 day use fee.
21224 NE Blue Lake Road Portland, OR Online: oregonmetro.gov
We always hear interesting responses when we talk about why news is a fascinating way for kids to discover the world. Reactions range between “Isn’t the world scary enough already?” to “Do kids even care?” to our favorite, which is, “That’s so true. What can we do about it?”
News isn’t always “scary” or “bad.” News is also about fantastic events, accomplishments, and the evolution of our world. And we are so excited for 2020 to kick into gear because we believe this will be the most interesting year to connect kids with the news. Here are five good reasons:
The Olympics: How many Summer Olympics do you get to watch with your kids, while they are still kids? Only about four, which makes them a pretty special event. Nothing matches the excitement of watching hairline finishes, near-perfect performances, and national pride in the biggest sporting event in the world. With more than 200 countries competing, the Summer Olympics starts in July and is sure to thrill sports fans the world over!
The 2020 highlight: Five new sports including skateboarding, sports climbing, surfing, baseball, and karate added to the mix this year. Other sports, for the first time, will have women’s events and mixed events as well! These include rowing, shooting, canoeing, and boxing. This year, it will be interesting to discuss why there are new rules about how athletes can protest—hot tip: taking a knee or raising your fist are now allowed!
Climate Change: It seems like not a week goes by without the topic of climate change coming up in the news. If anything demonstrated the power of youth activism this past year, it was the Climate March and the influence of Greta Thunberg. Last year, we heard from youth across the nation who participated in the march, and this year we’ll be talking about this event for the third year in a row, which has inspired kids everywhere to sit up, listen, and ask questions.
What’s happening in 2020? From the United Nations to Davos, activists continue to push for real action. If 2019 was the year companies announced steps like eliminating straws in coffeehouses or tiny bottles of shampoos in hotels, will 2020 be the year that governments step it up around the globe? 2020 began by witnessing the impact of the fires had in Australia, but will this be the year countries decide to tackle climate change with broader, stricter policies?
Elections: Interestingly, we started Xyza because we were inspired by the 2016 elections and all of the conversations we heard among students, teachers, and parents. In 2020, presidential elections will take place in the United States as well as in other countries around the world. Elections are a great time to talk about candidates, leadership, voting, and how people decide on candidates.
2020 highlights: The United States Presidential elections will continue to be a hot topic as we enter the year talking about impeachment, two powerful women candidates, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobucher and the first openly gay presidential candidate, Pete Buttigieg. We expect quite a few family dinner table conversations to turn towards politics and elections this year!
Space, Space, Space: Talk about out-of-this-world experiences! The world has a stupendous year of space exploration planned and we cannot wait. For every kid interested in space, science, astronauts, rockets, and everything in between, 2019 was an interesting year of the first all-female spacewalk, moon landing attempts, and the adventures of the Mars Rover Opportunity. But 2020 is expected to be bigger and better.
2020 highlights: ExoMars, or the alignment of Mars and Earth, makes it a spectacular year for Mars exploration, for one. In fact, more than four missions to Mars is expected to happen in 2020 alone! Could this be the year NASA launches astronauts in space with companies like SpaceX and Boeing? We hope so. Additionally, thousands of satellites will be launched in 2020 by different organizations, which brings up an interesting question for the family dinner table: How crowded can space get? (In fact, it’s already getting rather crowded!
Women in Hollywood: Did you know that the most anticipated blockbusters of 2020 are based on female leads, and…wait for it…they’re also directed by women? As a parent, you’ve probably had (or will have) at least one conversation explaining “boy” and “girl” stereotypes to your kids, or about why women are still fighting for rights to equal opportunities and pay.
2020 highlights: 2020 will likely be a year of women’s achievements in Hollywood (what kid doesn’t love a good movie?). Movies like Wonder Woman 1984, Black Widow, The Eternals, Mulan and Birds of Prey will be out this year, all directed by women!
We will be tracking the news for kids, inviting our Junior Reporters to share their thoughts, and connecting kids with the world through news in 2020. What other events in 2020 do you think we should cover?
We're two perfectly imperfect moms who have five very different kids between the two of us. We believe that topics in news are a fantastic way to spark conversations in families. That's why we started the Dinner Table Conversation series here at Xyza: News for Kids. Won't you join us in the conversation?
Traveling with small kids comes with plenty of challenges, the least of which is navigating through crowded airports. Luckily, the new Liki Trike is a complete game changer for parents and kids on the go.
Why maneuver through those crowds with a stroller when you can make things easy and fun with a tricycle? A ride on a trike can be much more enticing than getting strapped in a stroller and with a one-handed control bar, you’ll have your other hand free to carry all that luggage.
The best part of all is that this lightweight trike folds down easily and is so compact you can fit it in an overhead bin or car trunk. That’s right, no more gate checking your stroller and hoping it returns in one piece.
The Liki Trike features five different functional modes and is designed to grow with your toddler from ages 10 months to three years. For the youngest riders, parents can control the trike, but it can also be converted into a fully-functional (yet still foldable) tricycle.
The Liki Trike is available in two different models starting at $249.99. You can order one online here.
Whether you’re in an apartment or a tiny home, with a growing family comes less space. Add to that the scores of visiting relatives who want to see their grandkids and your home-office/guestroom/livingroom/playspace starts looking a little crowded.
IKEA has a solution for families (and college kids) everywhere! The Swedish furniture retailer recently revealed a new line of products that are perfect for anyone looking to maximize their space. The RÅVAROR collection stacks, folds and packs up easily—making it easy to move, convert a space or reimagine your home.
Here’s an image of a piece from the RÅVAROR collection before:
And after:
Citing the need they’ve found among the more nomadic, urban dwelling population (especially common among millennial families) IKEA designed the furniture to allow people to move easily to a new space without heavy labor or giant truckloads. We think it’s beyond perfect for college-aged dorm dwellers who seem to move every summer.
The line, which won’t debut until 2020, features 20 products, spanning a variety of home goods and furniture needs. look for daybeds, lighting units, storage, sofas, tables, a mini kitchen and more.
Along with RÅVAROR, IKEA also announced a collab with Solange Knowle’s creative agency Saint Heron, a collection (the Musselblomma line) made from recycled plastic and the Rognan robotic furniture line!
A holiday weekend had just passed for us. It was an amazing, fun, recharging and relaxing weekend and we did nothing! Lately, life had been so busy for us with school, homework, sports practices, games, work schedules and so many other things that are all good. We choose to fill our days with these things because they are good or necessary or fun, but the bottom line is that we were filling our days. We needed to stop the busyness. What we really needed was downtime.
Downtime Brings Space
What happens when there is downtime is that you have space. You have space for good and deep conversations. You have space to work on projects and hobbies that bring you happiness. Downtime allows space for spontaneous activities like game nights, movies, neighborhood walks, meals eaten with friends, etc. Often, the most important advantage of downtime is rest. We all need physical rest and we also need emotional rest. Releasing the schedule and putting aside some time with nothing planned may not sound fun or productive but it provides space that is usually otherwise crowded out.
Finding Downtime Can Be a Challenge
For many, it can be a real challenge to find downtime with all the options we have. Many things and people are competing for our time. For others, downtime is something they have too much of and it is viewed as boredom. I think that regardless of your situation the important thing is to make use of the downtime and allow it to be a time of joy. Choose to see the good in downtime. Time continues on and new demands will inevitably come. Enjoy the slow times and allow yourself to recharge!
A Challenge for Finding and Using Downtime:
List 5 things you would do with your time if you had nothing planned for tomorrow.
Carve out some downtime for next week where you clear your schedule and just wait to see how you use the time. Could you spare an hour? an afternoon? A whole day?
Resist the urge to fill downtime and boredom with busyness. Instead, learn to see it as a good thing and appreciate the gift of time.
I choose to see the good each day. I am a happily married mom of two teenagers who also works part-time. I write about my thoughts and observations of good thing. My goal is to inspire readers to find joy without changing their circumstances, but by merely changing their view.
With all the rainy days we’ve had, now is the perfect time to take the kids to check out a new indoor space. These two new museums are not your every day paining-on-the-wall spot. You’ll get to fully immerse yourself in the exhibits themselves. Perfect for the younger set, LMNL and the Museum of 3D Illusions will open your eyes to look at the world like you never have before. Here’s the full scoop!
LMNL by Onedome
Explore this labyrinth of digital art where everything you do creates a new experience. The 10,000-square foot Market Street space invites audiences into a new experience at the intersection of art and technology.
Kids will love seeing how their own movements create changes in the art. 14 rooms provide underwater, mirrored and light experiences. Grab a spot in a chair in the chair installation room and see how your heartbeat creates art on the wall.
Timed tickets offer an experience with limited guests but going earlier in the day tends to offer a less crowded space. Spend as much time as you’d like experiencing each room and go back to your favorites. You aren’t required to visit the rooms in a certain order which is great for kids. Perhaps one of the favorite rooms was the “Fluid Structures” exhibit where you can have a digital water battle with your friends.
The Details
LMNL by Onedome is an all-ages exhibit. Purchase your timed tickets online in advance and enjoy the non-alcohol cafe Elixart before your visit LMNL. Here you can fuel up with lattes, kombucha and gourmet raw snacks. Free lockers are available for storing your gear right before you enter LMNL and there’s a spot to park your stroller as well.
Tickets: $33/adults, $22/youth ages 11-17, $11/kids 4-10, under 4 are free.
1025 Market St.
San Francisco, CA Online: onedome.global
Museum of 3D Illusions
Fisherman’s Wharf is home to this new museum where you are guaranteed to get plenty of Instagram snaps to share with your friends. Kids will love being able to step into the artwork and make themselves a part of it.
The museum is made up of rooms that are covered in 3D art. Take a look at the example photos framed on the wall next to each exhibit for ideas on how best to interact with each art piece, or just do your own thing!
Zombies busting through walls, giant bugs coming to life, stairways that lead to nowhere and more—there’s all sorts of amazing art pieces. There are even a handful of nods to San Francisco from the giant redwoods to the cable cars.
Those with cameras should look on the floor for the indicators that show the best spot to stand to get your photo. It makes a big difference in getting the right perspective to make the art come to life.
The Details
The Museum of 3D Illusions is located right near Hotel Zephyr on Jefferson Street. Use one of the free lockers as you enter to store your belongings (only phones/cameras can be taken in). It can get pretty crowded on weekends so try for a weekday to make the most of your time. You can progress through the rooms as fast or as slow as you like, there’s no time limit.
Tickets: $25/adults, $10/ages 6-12, 5 and under are free
55-61 Jefferson St.
San Francisco, CA Online: sfillusions.com
Your kids have rocked out (on mind numbing repeat) to Yo Gabba Gabba!, Recess Monkey and the Frozen soundtrack. On August 10-12 at San Francisco’s Outside Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park introduce your kids to the excitement of live music. If you were lucky enough to snag tickets and want to make a family day or weekend out of it, here’s what you need to know to navigate Golden Gate Park and get the most out of your experience.
Set Up Your Base Camp
You’re way past your single, no kids festival going days of darting from stage to stage. Arrive early and claim a spot with a blanket that you can use as your base camp throughout the day. Before the big crowds roll in for the evening and night shows the less crowded spots to set up are the picnic tables just past the windmill at the Lands End Stage (aka the Polo Grounds), on the far south side stage right of Lands End, or up on the hill adjacent to the Sutro Stage (aka Lindley Meadow).
Let’s Talk Music Each day is brimming with awesome bands from bluegrass to country to pop to electronic, all of which will be a great introduction to the live music experience for your kids. The daytime shows are much less crowded so your kids can dance, sing and rock out freely. For a the full schedule and set times click here.
Bonus: Want to check out the bands ahead of time? Or, are you not going but still want to get in on the music? Check out this playlist on Spotify that showcases some of this year’s best songs.
Music to Every Foodie’s Ears
Since this is a San Francisco festival, you can expect culinary eats, wine and brews from the Bay’s best purveyors and restaurants. With over 80 restaurant and food trucks, you could actually spend the entire festival wandering around sampling the goods. Nosh on eats from the Johnny Doughnuts (new this year) or Chairman food trucks (at the former get anything—you really can’t go wrong—and at the latter go for the pork shoulder on the baked bao). Or, grab some pizza from Little Star Pizza, cheeseburgers from 4505 Meats, or chili verde tacos from Tacolicious.
Don’t forget dessert. For that you’ll want to beeline it to Choco Lands (yes there really is a land dedicated to chocolate) to pick up cupcakes, liquid chocolate bars or Red Tricycle’s Editor’s favorite sweet treat, an amazing s’more that’ll have you singing your own tune of happy.
Beyond the expansive food offerings, you’ll also fine Wine Lands and Beer Lands for the over 21.
Insider tip: the food and drink offerings can be overwhelming. We’ve pared down the vendors and outlined our favorite picks. Check them out here.
Good to Know: You can bring in two factory sealed water bottles up to one liter each. Or, bring an empty Nalgene or reusable container and head to a refillable water station located at either Eco Lands or Polo Fields. There aren’t any water fountains available.
Bathrooms, Clothes & All That Jazz
Two words: porta potties. Expect to use them. Expect to wait in line. In past years, the least crowded during daytime hours were the toilets on either side of the Polo Fields–one where the VIP entrance is and the others elevated on the track behind the Heineken Dome. While there are hand washing stations we suggest bringing your own sanitizer.
And, since this is San Francisco in the summer AND in Golden Gate Park expect Karl the Fog to make a big time appearance. While you may have fleeting fantasies of dressing your kids in cute festival duds (especially if you’re coming from 90+ degree East Bay weather) don’t. Bring layers (think jackets, sweaters and even hats if you plan to stay the evening) and be happy that you did.
Another must-bring besides layers is hearing protection. Over the ear muffs seem to be the most popular but use whatever you child will wear. Your kid might be comfortable with swimming ear plugs or the foam plugs that come in lots of different colors.
Veteran Tips:
• Put a wrist band on your kiddo with your phone number in case they get lost or separated from you. Due to the crowds, expect bad cell service so consider writing ‘please text me’ on the band as well. Writing in marker on your kiddo’s arm works as well.
• Before going read this list of things you can and cannot bring into the festival. Most notably you cannot bring strollers or large framed backpacks so leave those at home (regular sized or unframed are fine).
• Since this is a music festival in the city you’ll likely encounter a fair amount of drinkers and smokers. Just be prepared to answer any questions your kids might have.
• If you’re with a big group we suggest bringing an inflatable animal like these from Amazon that you can hold up and wave around when your party needs to either spot you from a distance or follow you through a crowd. It may sound silly now, but it’s a life saver when you’ve gone to grab a slice of spicy pie with a toddler in-tow and you need to find your fam. Some festival goers resort to balloons but these just get lost and blown around in the windy Park atmosphere.
Get there: The first thing you have to plan for is the crowds. There is public transportation to and from the event but it tends to get overwhelmed. Parking is so limited so we suggest dropping off your passengers before you look for a spot so your little ones don’t have to walk too far. If you are driving, expect delays, which is why we suggest either taking public transport or riding your bike. Bike parking however is free and if you start from the South side of the park, downhill. There will be valet bike parking on site.
The unscripted show has signed on for eight episodes and will shadow Kondo as she guides people on a journey towards uncluttering, organizing and finding joy.
Valentine’s Day surprise! I will be bringing the life-changing magic of tidying to a show on Netflix, where I’ll be guiding individuals to spark joy in their homes and lives. I am thrilled to share the KonMari Method with more people-I’ll keep you updated on more details to come! pic.twitter.com/gJtk2LYkxk
Ever since her book was released in 2014, Kondo has used her simple method of organization, called KonMari, to help millions of people take back their life from clutter and chaos. In the last several years, she and her team have also worked on certifying consultants from around the world to carry out her magic.
The basic premise of Kondo’s method is to carefully evaluate if your possessions spark joy in your life. While the exercise can seem silly at first, Marie’s step by step instructions make it simple to take back your life from the crowded confines of a cluttered space. Kondo’s book claims that once you properly declutter your home, you’ll never need to do it again.
While the Japanese organizer taunted us with a post about a casting call late last year on Instagram, we still don’t know who will be featured on the eight-episode run.We’ll definitely be tuning in with the likes of Kondo’s celebrity fans (Oprah, Katie Couric, Kate Hudson) and hopefully be treated to a few of their major closet purge sessions, too? We can dream.
Will you be tuning in to Maria Kondo’s new show on Netflix? Do you use the KonMari method of tidying up? Let us know in the comments!
A year in, the much anticipated Golconda Skatepark is proving to be a go-to destination for Brooklyn skaters. Before the renovation, the park had hardly any gradient and a few raised edges, giving it the moniker, “the fat kid spot”. Now, the redesigned space is as good for beginners as pros. It has plenty of transitions – curves and ramps – and a good amount of street obstacles for more experienced skaters.
Space, Shade and Variety
The park sprawls under the BQE overpass between Gold and Navy Streets. It’s generally not super crowded and the bridge above gives it some shade or rain cover depending on the season. These two factors alone make it a popular field trip destination for local skateboard camps but more importantly, there’s something for everyone with terrain that works for all skating abilities.
Good Vibes
Some skateparks can feel intimidating for little ones who are getting the feel for the sport but this one backs onto the playground and feels like an extension of it – in a good way. There’s seating along the fence bordering the playground and the skatepark is fenced in, helpful for parents and caregivers watching more than one child.
Well Maintained
The park is swept regularly and while some stubborn pigeons still hang out in the rafters in spite of the anti-bird spikes, the terrain is pretty clean. The skatepark overhaul also included refurbished handball and basketball courts. With plenty of banks, bowls, ledges, stairways and open space, Golconda serves as a training ground for skaters who no longer have to head to Manhattan or Greenpoint to carve some tricks.
Getting There
Take the F train to York Street and the park is a short walk away. The spot is served by local buses and there’s street parking nearby.
Golconda Skatepark
Gold St. between Nassau St. and Concord St.
Online: nycgovparks.org
Have you checked out Golconda Skatepark? Let us know in the comments below.
