7. The Top 12 Secrets of the Rockaways in Queens, NYC

Fort Tilden on the Rockaways.

The Rockaways in Queens is an idyllic oceanside escape from the grind of the city, a diverse collection of towns and complexes, and a haunted, distant otherworld with countless mysteries waiting to be explored.

Located at the juncture between Brooklyn‘s Marine Park and Queens’ Inwood, the peninsula was originally inhabited by Lenape Indians, and was sold to the Dutch in 1639. In the early 20th century, a railroad opened the Rockaways to the rest of New York City, and around then Manhattanites flocked to the Rockaway Peninsula in great numbers. They were seeking a beachfront escape, and they found it at the Rockaways’ many seaside hotels. In the mid-20th century, partly thanks to the efforts of Robert Moses which led to improved transportation, it became a more residential area.

Today, Rockaway remains a beachfront destination and a thriving residential area, and now you can even take the New York City Ferry there! Certain parts have also attracted the adventurous, becoming destinations for exploration. It has also borne the brunt of many natural disasters, especially Hurricane Sandy. This turmoil and change has left the Rockaways with more than a few secrets hidden along its shores, forests, and towns.