coasterf42
Posts: 626
Registered: 10/3/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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 3/28/2008 11:03:59 AM
I promised myself that if the Coney Island parks somehow managed to stay in business this year, I would go visit them in 2008. My prayers and wishes were answered, and I appear to have at least one more opportunity to visit the historic coaster district of NYC.
I am scheduled to go to the Coney Island parks and maybe a few other credit stops if I have the time and energy on April 5, while visiting Six Flags Great Adventure on April 6.
The big problem I am faced with is transportation. I am hoping that I will be able to use public transportation. I have never even driven in Baltimore or Washington before, so I am not even going to begin to fathom how to navigate myself around the greater New York metroplex.
I am coming from the south, and according to Mapquest, I should use the New Jersey Turnpike, and then merge onto I-278 E. So, can anyone tell me some real easy means on how to get to Astroland/Denos from as far "out" of the city as possible.
Thank you in advance.
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Horizons12
Posts: 4860
Registered: 8/16/2002
Rank: Extragalactic Invader
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3/28/2008 12:09:03 PM
The Turnpike to I-278 E (aka Staten Island Expressway) to Belt Parkway is the best route to take to Coney Island, I'd say. I think it's one of the only efficient routes to getting there by car actually. But it's not a bad drive at all; nothing close to being in the thick of the city or anything.
The route is all highways basically until you take the Coney Island exit. After that you just take one road straight to the boardwalk. The only parts I personally don't like are crossing the Goethal's Bridge, with it's narrow lanes, and paying the Verrazano's awful toll prices. 
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Message updated 3/28/2008 12:11:03 PM by Horizons12
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hrrytraver
Posts: 1270
Registered: 7/16/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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3/31/2008 6:25:46 AM
Quote:
Horizons12 said:
and paying the Verrazano's awful toll prices. |
it just went up again. i usually never pay the verrazano by entering brooklyn through SI (free), then leaving the city through manhattan, which is free going out, but toll going in, the opposite of the verrazano. it only saves a couple bucks that way, but i'm pretty pinchy like that.
i don't want to really confuse you 42, but taking a bus and subways is kinda fun, and pretty cheap all together. especially the chinatown bus...an easy grab in b-more or DC. even greyhound is reasonable nowadays. it's an easy day trip and if you're by yourself it's a miniature adventure...equal in many ways to being in the amusement parks themselves.
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Message updated 3/31/2008 6:27:48 AM by hrrytraver
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coasterf42
Posts: 626
Registered: 10/3/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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3/31/2008 8:49:40 AM
Quote:
I am hoping that I will be able to use public transportation. |
This may be a stupid question, but are you saying that I could take a bus as far out as Baltimore or DC.
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Timberman
Posts: 845
Registered: 9/21/2004
Rank: Gold Critic
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3/31/2008 9:02:35 PM
Most definitely. You can pick up the Fung Wah bus in DC, and for a round-trip fare of about $35 (maybe a bit more with gas prices currently being what they are), it will take you to and from the Big Apple. I personally think this is the way to go, as you will easily spend the same or more on gas and tolls if you drive yourself. Now, I'm not going to add to the urban legends of meth-stoked Chinatown bus drivers making four runs in the same day, but I will say that they know their way around and are admirably prompt. Sometimes the buses themselves don't make it, but consider that possiblity part of the adventure.
Message updated 3/31/2008 9:06:34 PM by Timberman
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coasterf42
Posts: 626
Registered: 10/3/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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4/1/2008 6:07:18 PM
^Gotcha
Well, I at least have three days off work, so if one doesn't make it I can give it another go.
Does anyone have any tips about going by train from Balt/Wash to NY?
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hrrytraver
Posts: 1270
Registered: 7/16/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/5/2008 9:57:29 PM
^it's rotten expensive. don't do it.
i'd say take any of the chinatown lines for the ultra cheap voyage. you can google "chinatown bus" and a few lines should come up. greyhound is less cheap, but still not bad. they put their prices down a few years ago to try to compete with the chinatown buses - which were less than half the price of g-hound when they started becoming popular a few years ago. they only serve dc, bmore, philly, nyc and boston and don't have terminals but park on the street in their respective city's "chinatowns".
once in nyc, the f-train subway will get you from manhattan to coney island. the brooklyn bound F terminates at coney island. it take about an hour to get to coney from manhattan.
if you do this by yourself, i tell you, you will have a blast.
Message updated 4/5/2008 10:01:30 PM by hrrytraver
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