Steps from the carnivalesque atmosphere of Coney Island is another seaside stretch of Brooklyn -Brighton Beach-, which is a world away from the neighboring beach. While Coney Island has a steady influx of tourists, Brighton Beach is a residential community that is often referred to as Little Odessa due to its many residents from Russia and the Ukraine. On the main drag, Brighton Beach Avenue, many of the storefronts signs are written in Russian. You’re sure to catch snippets of conversations in various dialects as you explore the main street.

This part of Brooklyn is steeped in history. Immortalized in Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs. It was once home to Hotel Brighton, a 19th century resort for the New York City elite, as well as a race track and bungalow colonies. Although these places are long gone, there are still signs of Brighton Beach’s history. On the boardwalk, there are posters with pictures of the beach’s 19th and 20th century attractions and if you stroll a few blocks from Brighton Beach Avenue, you’ll find a few bungalows still remain.

Explore it.