At this slice of heaven called Jones Beach, sloth is no sin.

Photo: Courtesy of New York State Parks Dept.

Stop thinking about having to clean the sand out of your toddler’s fat rolls on the ride home, and just go. C’mon—you know it’ll be worth it.

Coney Island
Taking your tykes to Coney Island is your duty as a New York parent. Aside from its kitschy-cool aesthetic, this storied stretch of sand and its famous boardwalk allow Gothamites from all walks of life to frolic together. So OD on cotton candy, gawk at the snake lady, and revel in the seediness of Astroland Amusement Park before it’s shut down to make way for high-priced condos.
Surf Ave from Corbin Pl to W 37th St, Brooklyn. Subway: D, F, N, Q to Coney Island–Stillwell Ave. Free.

Jones Beach State Park
You went there to see OutKast back before you bred. Nowadays, you can go to let your kids bury you up to your neck in sand. The cycle of life is beautiful, isn’t it? With playgrounds, picnic areas and an Olympic-size pool, Jones Beach is superpopular with families—particularly the stretch of sand labeled Field 6. Yes, it’s crowded, but that’s part of the appeal; if you’re lucky, your little beach bum will strike up a friendship with a kid on a neighboring towel, thereby getting you out of building yet another sand castle.
Ocean Pkwy at Wantagh Pkwy, Wantagh, NY (516-785-1600). Travel: LIRR to Freeport or Wantagh; then take a $3 shuttle bus to the beach.

Long Beach
Bordered by a faded resort town, the five-mile shoreline offers visitors easier access to markets, restaurants and other amenities than you’ll find at Jones or Rockaway, saving you a good hour of packing time. The sand is soft and clean, and the 2.2-mile boardwalk makes for nice family strolls. Lifeguards are on duty from 9am to 6pm during the summer.
Nevada Ave, Long Beach, NY (516-431-3890). Travel: LIRR to Long Beach (round trip from Penn Station $14–$20, children ages 5–11 $1–$10 with adult, children under 5 free). $10 day rate; children under 13 free.

Robert Moses Beach
This Long Island state park is a little farther out, but it might be worth the extra travel time if Jones is too crowded for you—and if you have a car (the easiest way to get here). Families, teenagers and college kids alike pitch their umbrellas in Field 5. Be forewarned that a few of the more remote stretches are clothing-optional. Both the white sand and the water are said by some to be the cleanest around.
Robert Moses Causeway, Babylon, NY (631-669-0449). Travel: Southern State Pkwy to Robert Moses Causeway at exit 40. $8 parking fee.

Orchard Beach
The cresent-shaped beach is only 1.1 miles long and is entirely man-made, with minimal waves. But Orchard is everything you’d expect the “Bronx Riviera” to be: eclectic, music-filled (Caribbean and Latin beats are common) and lively. The surrounding grounds of Pelham Bay Park—with picnic areas and nature trails—are equally worth the trip to the end of the 6.
Pelham Bay Park, Park Dr at Orchard Beach Rd, Bronx (718-885-3273). Travel: 6 to Pelham Bay, then transfer to the Bx12 bus to Orchard Beach. Free.

Rockaway Beach
Rockaway is the next-best thing to teleporting your family to a faraway isle. A 45-minute ride on the A train brings you to a wide expanse of sand domed by an even wider expanse of sky. The beach is less crowded than elsewhere (simply because it’s so big) and quite peaceful. But what your kids will remember most is the subway ride over Broad Channel—and the novelty of seeing something other than high-rises and billboards outside the train window.
From Beach 9th St, Far Rockaway, to Beach 149th St, Neponsit, Queens (718-318-4000). Travel: A to Broad Channel; then transfer to a $2 shuttle bus for four stops along the beach. Free.