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At the far eastern tip of Queens, Far Rockaway sits right on the Atlantic Ocean, and the beach and boardwalk are genuinely part of daily life here, not just a summer destination. O'Donohue Park near Beach 9th Street has a playground right off the boardwalk, and the circus-themed Beach Channel Playground, with its small Ferris wheel sized for little kids, is a local favorite a bit further along the peninsula. When the weather turns, the Queens Public Library's Far Rockaway branch on Central Avenue is a solid option. It opened in 2024 as a brand-new two-story building with a dedicated children's reading area, and Queens Public Library runs regular storytime and kids' programming there. NYC Parks also runs events in the area through the warmer months. Getting here takes some commitment from most of the city. The A train terminates at Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue, and the ride from midtown is close to an hour. Most local families drive. Once you arrive, the pace is noticeably slower than most of Queens, and on a summer weekend the beach makes the schlep worth it.