Pope Leo: “Let me, therefore, reiterate today the church’s solidarity with journalists who are imprisoned for seeking and reporting the truth. The precious gift of free speech and of the press must be safeguarded.” https://t.co/FcfLD2x93Bpic.twitter.com/CodoneU9Ff
Pope Leo: “Let me, therefore, reiterate today the church’s solidarity with journalists who are imprisoned for seeking and reporting the truth. The precious gift of free speech and of the press must be safeguarded.” https://t.co/FcfLD2x93Bpic.twitter.com/CodoneU9Ff
Pope Leo: “Let me, therefore, reiterate today the church’s solidarity with journalists who are imprisoned for seeking and reporting the truth. The precious gift of free speech and of the press must be safeguarded.”
24 Great Amusement Parks & Theme Parks for Kids In and Around NYC
Nothing says summer quite like the thrill of roller coasters, the scent of cotton candy in the air, and the memories that are made each summer from spending time with the family at an amusement park. Fortunately for us New Yorkers, we’re surrounded by a variety of fantastic parks, both in the city and just a short drive away. Whether you’re in the mood for classic boardwalk fun, exciting rides, or a day at the water park, there are plenty of great spots nearby for a fun day out.
No matter what kind of experience you are looking to get when visiting a park, Adventureland has it all. From kiddie rides to thrill rides, there are many attractions for families to choose from. If you’re looking to beat the summer heat while you visit, try out some of the water rides or spend the afternoon in the arcade.
Adventurer’s Park offers a variety of classic amusement park attractions for the whole family to enjoy. With fun rides, games, and seasonal entertainment, it’s a great spot for a day of excitement without leaving the city.
If you are looking for an amusement park that isn’t too far, head over the Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park. There are many kids’ rides that will keep the little ones occupied for hours, and of course, it wouldn’t be a day at Deno’s without riding the world-famous Deno’s Wonder Wheel.
One roller coaster, family rides and games, and a carousel are right in the heart of Queens. Don’t miss the great family-friendly performances throughout the summer as well, every weekend, pretty much every Sunday, at Flushing Meadows. The carousel was brought to Coney Island in 1964 for the World’s Fair and is the only ride left from the World’s Fair in Queens.
If your kids are interested in all things Legos, a trip to Legoland New York may be in order. This themed amusement park has everything you could ask for and more, with several themed attractions and shows. If you’re looking to make a weekend out of it, you can also stay in their fun Lego Hotel.
You can’t spend a summer in NYC without spending a day at Luna Park! Not only do they have a ton of rides for families to try, but there is also a great food selection along the famous boardwalk to add a little extra sweetness to your day out. Plus, you can grab a Nathan’s hot dog after the fun is done
This fun amusement park has been welcoming families since 1928 and continues to be a popular destination during the season. The great thing about Playland is that families can come and try out all of the attractions and rides and then plan a beach day at the Playland pool and beach.
Set on the shores of Oneida Lake, this historic amusement park offers a variety of rides and games for visitors of all ages. With its vintage charm and family-friendly atmosphere, it’s a fun destination for a classic summer outing.
Diggerland is a construction-themed amusement park featuring over 40 rides and attractions designed for kids of all ages. With both dry and water-based experiences, it’s a unique destination that blends fun with hands-on adventure for the whole family.
This Long Beach Island amusement park boasts 18 amusement rides, games of all types, an arcade, food, a classic carousel, private parties and more. Located in the heart of Beach Haven, attractions include Skee-Ball, a spinning roller coaster, Tilt-A-Whirl, Ferris Wheel, and more.
Take the 9-minute trip from NYC and enter a natural oasis featuring more than 30 life-sized, realistic-looking animatronic dinosaurs (including the largest ever made). The exhibition encompasses the latest theories and discoveries in the fields of paleontology, geology, and environmental studies. Participate in more than 40 live shows, games, and workshops. At the Paleontology Lab, kids get a book and can dig for fossils like a paleontologist, and dig for fossils at the big site.
This beachside amusement park and boardwalk features several rides, arcades, and attractions for small children to teens. An adjacent aquarium provides extra educational fun. The park also hosts special events.
This park features dozens of rides for kids and teens, a water park with a lazy river and more than 19 slides with varying speeds, and plenty of rides designed for smaller children, including a kids’ lagoon area. Attractions include body slides, a looping roller coaster, a wave swinger, bumper karts, a haunted manor, and the chance to swim with a live mermaid.
Thrill rides and water rides rule at the 30-acre Land of Make Believe, with its free-fall ride, Pirate’s Cannonball, and rocking tugboat ride, along with Blackbeard’s Pirate Fort. The park is designed specifically for parents to participate with their children.
Morey’s Piers spans more than 18 acres along six beach blocks. It includes three piers and two beachfront water parks: the Adventure Pier, which features coasters, thrill rides, and a raceway; the Surfside Pier, with kiddie and family rides; the Mariner’s Landing Pier, where you can ride traditional rides such as the Ferris wheel and teacups, play in the arcade, and enjoy Boardwalk treats; the Raging Waters waterpark, with kiddie play areas, water slides, and activity pools; and the Oasis Waterpark + Beach Club, which features more water rides for kids and adults.
This one-of-a-kind experience is located inside American Dream and is sure to make your summer more memorable. The Nickelodeon Universe theme park is one of the biggest indoor parks in the Western Hemisphere and has record-breaking rides that guests can try.
With new attractions every season, Six Flags Great Adventure is the perfect place for families to spend the summer! From amazing rides and great food to their Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure, there is something for everyone to do during their visit.
Watch the best of the Wild West come to life in a real Western town. Enjoy live-action shows all day long on the outdoor Main Street. Get a bird’s eye view of the town on the Stage Coach, hop aboard the train, deep into outlaw territory and for younger buckaroos ride a pony. Explore the town’s shops and museums, which replicate the historic 1880s town of Dodge City, Kansas.
This park features rollercoasters and water rides, including Steel Force, the longest steel roller coaster on the East Coast, and HYDRA, the first and only floorless coaster in Pennsylvania. Play in the waterpark, which features three levels of water games and the 70-foot-tall Lighting Falls water slide.
Designed for families with young children, this park features 37 kiddie and family rides, including two kid-friendly coasters, bumper cars, a merry-go-round, and more. Duke’s Lagoon features water slides, splash zones, and lounge areas.
Everyone knows Hershey from their delicious chocolate treats, but have you ever taken a trip to their iconic amusement park? Hersheypark has a wide variety of rides and games for families to try, as well as great restaurants where you can get some delicious food and sweet treats. Make sure to check out their waterpark during your visit.
Take a dip in the 900,000-gallon Crystal Pool that includes waterslides, diving boards, and a play area for young children. You can stay overnight at one of two campgrounds or one of their cottages. In addition to more than 60 rides, visitors can also play a round of golf at Knoebels Three Ponds Golf Club.
Spend the day with some of your kids’ favorite TV characters at Sesame Place. This amusement park has family-friendly rides and water attractions that kids as young as 2 years old can enjoy! The park also offered live Sesame Street shows, meet and greets and hosts a wide variety of events throughout the season.
Brighton Beach Pride kicked off its ninth annual march on May 10 along the Riegelmann Boardwalk.
Until this year, Brighton Beach Pride has been organized by RUSA LGBTQ+, a non-profit advocacy group for queer Eurasian identities. This year, RUSA LGBTQ+ was officially renamed to Qaravan in order to better represent all identities in the community and to protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“We started marching nine years ago when it was Trump’s first administration, so we already have some experience with that,” Maxim Ibadov, Qaravan’s national coordinator, said as flag-bearing attendees, local district leaders, and press gathered on the boardwalk. “But things are so much more escalated this year — there is a real fear of ICE showing up here.”
Marchers head east along the Riegelmann Boardwalk from Coney Island to Brighton Beach.Donna Aceto
When Ibadov first posted the event on the social media app Nextdoor, one commenter replied with the ICE tip line.
“[The comment] was a way to intimidate us,” Ibadov said, “but we won’t be intimidated. We’re prepared. We’re not capitulating, we’re not canceling pride.”
Over the megaphone, Ibadov declared that this year’s theme was the defense of immigrants’ rights, a cause that should hit home with the majority of Americans and especially New Yorkers. “Unless you are Native American and indigenous to this land, we are ALL immigrants!” Ibadov said.
Maxim Ibadov addresses the crowd.Donna Aceto
“Now, everybody say ‘love!’”
“Love!” The crowd chanted back as passersby lined up along the opposite side of the pathway, or trickled out from the aquarium’s boardwalk entrance to watch the march. Some were expressionless; others cheered on in solidarity.
“Everybody say ‘LOVE!’” Maxim repeated.
“LOVE!” the crowd said, louder this time. And they were off.
Yelena Goltsman, founder and president of the board of Qaravan, waves a Rainbow Flag.Donna Aceto
Qaravan board member Dr. Lyosha Gorshkov founded RUSA LGBTQ+ in 2015 and says the non-profit had been searching for a new name ever since.
“It did not represent the full scalable spectrum of the people [in our communities],” Gorshkov said in an interview with Gay City News on May 8. “The organization has grown and needed to be rebranded. So it’s the perfect time for that.”
The name Qaravan, similar to the English word caravan, is a unique homophone across the Slavic languages. The concept of a caravan of travelers or pilgrims resonates not only with immigrant communities displaced by war, but also with Russian-speaking queer individuals looking for community in historically conservative South Brooklyn neighborhoods.
“I think it contributes to the nomadic identities of immigrants because we are not technically settled yet,” Gorshkov said.
Lyosha Gorshkov, seen here at Brighton Beach Pride in 2021, said it was the “perfect time” for RUSA LGBTQ+ to be renamed to Qaravan.Matt Tracy
Gorshkov was born in Russia, but was exiled to the US after advocating for LGBTQ+ rights as an openly queer professor. Most of the Brighton Beach population is made up of immigrants, with less than a quarter of its residents born in the US.
“In our language there is an old proverb: ‘Dog barks and caravan still moves along,’” Gorshkov explained. “So you can interpret that as despite the fact that people criticize, the caravan still moves on. The caravan still processes. We move forward.”
The key change occurred when the march arrived at a line of police barricades marking the end of Coney Island and the beginning of Brighton Beach proper. Ibadov took the opportunity to warn marchers that they may be heckled or confronted by passersby, as has happened during previous marches, but to keep processing nevertheless. Law enforcement was on site and focused on de-escalating any negative interactions between community members and marchers.
“It doesn’t matter where you come from, it matters where you’re going — and that’s why we’re QARAVAN!” Ibadov said over a steady drum beat from the Rude Mechanical Orchestra.
Rude Mechanical Orchestra performs along the boardwalk.Donna Aceto
The march ended at the Brighton Beach portion of the boardwalk at Coney Island Avenue. There, speakers took to the stage — a weathered bench overlooking a backdrop of brilliant blue sky and windswept beach — to offer messages of hope and resistance to marchers.
Most notable among speakers was legendary gay rights activist Randolfe “Randy” Wicker, who made queer history in the years before Stonewall when he took part in a “sip-in” demonstration at Julius’ Bar in a successful attempt to bring attention to homophobic laws barring establishments from serving queer customers. Wicker, who also witnessed the Stonewall Riots in 1969 and lived with fellow activist Marsha P. Johnson, walked the entire route.
Longtime LGBTQ activist Randy Wicker.Donna Aceto
Wicker was handed the megaphone from his position on the boardwalk, but he refused it. Instead, organizers rushed to support the 87-year-old as he climbed onto the bench and then accepted the megaphone.
“I remember the McCarthy era well,” Wicker said, “and I can tell you that McCarthyism is nothing compared to what we’re going through right now.”
Wicker recalled his history with fighting for gay and transgender rights, and promised to return the following year for the 10th Brighton Beach Pride.
“We are by definition a community that is DEI,” he said. “And that’s why we need to keep marching.”
See some more photos below:
Jill Rubin, Amy Rubin, and Susan Epstein enjoy the march.Donna AcetoShana Knizhnik of the ACLU.Donna AcetoChristian Molieri joins the march.Donna AcetoAndy Humm and Ann Northrop of Gay USA.Donna Aceto
Gabriel Lewenstein of the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City with community organizer Adam Eli.Donna Aceto
Princess of Wales Kate Middleton celebrated spring and humankind’s connection to nature in a poignant video shared Monday to kick off Mental Health Awareness Week in the U.K.
Edan Alexander is finally coming home. I met with his family here in New York and in Israel — their strength and heartbreak is vivid in my mind. We’re incredibly grateful for Edan’s return, and our hearts are with the families praying for the safe return of their loved ones.
