Pebble Beach NYC
Hanging out in Brooklyn? Looking for a quaint place to visit between so many iconic New York landmarks? Look no further than visiting Pebble Beach NYC. This picturesque beach is located in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
About Pebble Beach NYC
Situated in the Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pebble Beach offers a beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline. The Beach is on the eastern most part of the Brooklyn Bridge Park. This makes it perfectly situated between the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge.
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If you are having trouble finding Pebble Beach, be sure to look up Bridge Park. It is just one of the features within Bridge Park.
The area is not the ‘conventional’ beach you may imagine from your beach days at the ocean or local lake. Rather, this is a rocky spot along the East River. Pebble Beach is known for its views, not water quality!
As a native New Englander, I find it has the vibes of a small town Maine or Canadian Maritime beach with its rocky features. However, instead of getting the cold, vast ocean as your view, you get to be in the heart of New York.
Getting There
As with most of New York City, Pebble Beach is easy to access from any of the boroughs. There are plenty of public transportation options if you are not within walking distance. Otherwise, the walk is very easy (that is how I got there).
Subway
To those coming from outside of downtown Brooklyn, you have a few options for subway stops. The closest stations to Pebble Beach would be York Street (F Train), High Street (A and C train), and Clark Street (2 and 3 Train).
If you don’t mind a little walk, the next closest stations would be Court Street and Borough Hall. Be sure to check the subway maps to see what the best subway is to take.
A number of subway lines run right across the Manhattan Bridge, which make it convenient to take the subway to Pebble Beach!
Walk
If you are staying in and around downtown Brooklyn or downtown Manhattan, walking may be your best bet. Especially true if you want to do the free option. When I visited, I was staying at the Hampton Inn Downtown Brooklyn at the intersection of Flatbrush Avenue Extension and Tillary Street. It was an easy walk and in sight to the Manhattan Bridge!
I will note, I did my morning runs to the Battery in Manhattan, so both the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge are viable options if you want to walk from Lower Manahattan. I had a good loop where I ran across to Manhattan on the Brooklyn Bridge and returned via the Manhattan Bridge.
In either case, who wouldn’t want to go over one of the most iconic bridges in the world? The Brooklyn Bridge was absolutely stunning and is a must do and can’t miss if you do plan on visiting this area of New York City.
Be mindful, if you take the Manhattan Bridge, it can get noisy with the vehicle traffic and subway traffic. I had to break out the headphones for my daughter because the subway noise was too loud for her ears.
Ferry
Brooklyn Bridge Park (home to Pebble Beach) is also unique in the fact that it supports two ferry options to get to Pebble Beach. This may be the most convenient way to Brooklyn Bridge Park if coming from Manhattan, Queens, or other parts of Brooklyn.
You can take a ferry to either the DUMBO Ferry Terminal or Pier 6 Ferry Terminal. The East River Ferry and South Brooklyn Ferry both go to Brooklyn Bridge Park. Be sure to check the latest ferry schedules!
Pebble Beach views
There are great views of both the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge in one shot from Pebble Beach. Plus, as an added bonus, you get a stunning shot of One World Trade Center. The best views come from standing in the middle of Pebble Beach where you are pretty center between both famous bridges.
The Beach
Don’t expect soft sand to greet you at the edge of the East River. The beach is made up of small rocks and gravel. In addition, you won’t see too many people swimming in the East River!
You are permitted to swim in the river. However, between the rocky bottom and lower water quality of the East River, it is advised to enjoy the water from the shore.
Be sure to relax on the slabs immediately adjacent to the beach to catch a good sunset. Many people come to Pebble Beach to watch the sun set over the Manhattan skyline and iconic Brooklyn Bridge. The beach offers the best views of the sun setting over this iconic bridge.
Why Visit Pebble Beach NYC
Located in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn and in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pebble Beach is a must see in Brooklyn. This free attraction offers beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline and iconic Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge. In addition, it offers a unique beach experience within the city.
If you are down to try something new, venture out for a swim. Otherwise, sit back on the rocks at the beach and enjoy the quietness nestled in busy Brooklyn!
FAQs
Pebble Beach is on the eastern most part of the Brooklyn Bridge Park. As with most of New York City, the location is easy to access from any of the boroughs. There are plenty of public transportation options such as the subway and the ferry if you are not within walking distance. Otherwise, the walk is very easy.
No! It is free to enter Brooklyn Bridge Park! It’s just one of the many free things to do in NYC.
There are no public restrooms at the beach. However, there are various bathrooms throughout Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Related
- Have an authentic biergarten experience at Radegast Hall & Biergarten in Brooklyn!
- If you’re looking for some more great water views in the city, check out Pier 57 NYC.
- For more things to do in the city, check out our post with a one day in NYC itinerary with what to see and do!
