Crowdsourcing Local Day Trip Getaways

Summary

All Of It: Episode Summary - "Crowdsourcing Local Day Trip Getaways"

Host: Tiffany Hansen (in place of Alison Stewart)
Guest: Stephen Nessen, Transportation Reporter
Release Date: May 7, 2025
Duration: Approximately 20 minutes
Focus: Exploring car-free day trip destinations accessible via public transportation, alongside current transportation news affecting travel plans.

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Introduction: Planning Summer Getaways Without a Car

Timestamp: [01:00]

As Memorial Day approaches, Tiffany Hansen welcomes listeners to discuss optimal day trip destinations that are easily accessible without the need for a car. Emphasizing the convenience of using subways, trains, and buses, Tiffany introduces Stephen Nessen, WNYC’s transportation reporter, to share his curated list of local getaways perfect for summer excursions.

---

Current Transportation Challenges

Timestamp: [02:35 – 04:15]

Air Traffic Control Issues at Newark Airport

Stephen outlines the ongoing problems at Newark Airport, primarily stemming from underfunding of air traffic control infrastructure. A notable incident—a 90-second outage—highlighted the fragility of the current system, leading to significant flight delays and operational disruptions. Stephen explains:

Stephen Nessen [03:05]: "It's terrifying for the people who do the job. It's actually quite traumatizing because they lose where the trains are on the trains, the planes are on the radar."

The resolution of these issues is uncertain, with hiring and training new air traffic controllers proving to be a prolonged process.

Potential NJ Transit Strike

Another pressing concern is the looming possibility of a New Jersey Transit strike. Workers have been in contract negotiations since 2019, seeking fair raises and pay parity with their New York counterparts. Until a resolution is reached, the threat of a strike remains, introducing uncertainty for commuters planning their summer travels.

Stephen Nessen [04:15]: "They want raises, they want pay that's commensurate with their colleagues here in New York City who are, you know, relatively well paid."

Listeners are advised to stay informed and flexible with their travel plans due to these potential disruptions.

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Featured Day Trip Destinations

1. Beacon, Westchester County Timestamp: [05:28 – 06:47]

   Beacon is celebrated for its accessibility via Metro-North, with a straightforward train ride leading directly to the town. Highlights include:

   • Dia:Beacon: An expansive art gallery reminiscent of MASS MoCA, featuring large-scale installations like Richard Serra sculptures and interactive sound rooms.
   • Downtown Beacon: A walkable area boasting charming ice cream shops, a vibrant food hall, and Hudson Valley Vinyl, a beloved record store offering a diverse selection of music.

   Stephen Nessen [05:35]: "DIA Beacon, the art space art gallery...it's just a fun, interesting way to spend your time."

2. Tarrytown and Rockefeller State Park Preserve Timestamp: [07:04 – 08:07]

   Accessible via Metro-North to Tarrytown, this destination offers:

   • Rockefeller State Park Preserve: Renowned for its stunning forests, scenic walking trails, and sound healing sessions.
   • Downtown Tarrytown: Features quaint cafes and delightful spots for lunch, making it an ideal blend of nature and urban charm.

   Stephen Nessen [07:42]: "You just get off the train and you're right there. I love where you don't have to take like a taxi to get to the place you want to go."

3. Ossining and Hudson Valley Books for Humanity Timestamp: [11:26 – 12:36]

   Ossining offers a picturesque old town atmosphere with:

   • Hudson Valley Books for Humanity: A unique pre-loved bookstore complemented by a selection of pre-owned LPs.
   • First Village Coffee & Malik Turkish Restaurant: Perfect spots for coffee enthusiasts and food lovers.
   • Sing Sing Kill Walk: Featuring the iconic double arches bridge and beautiful old architecture.

   Betsy [11:34]: "Hudson Valley Books for Humanity which is the coolest pre-loved bookstore on the planet."

4. Katona, Westchester County Timestamp: [09:16 – 10:15]

   While slightly further, Katona offers:

   • Charming Downtown: Home to bookstores, general stores with outdoor gear, and eateries like the Michelin-awarded Whitlock restaurant.
   • Katona Museum of Art & Caramore Center for Music and Arts: Venues offering cultural performances and exhibitions.

   Stephen Nessen [09:59]: "It's always like the air is just a little fresher up there and when it's hot in the city it's, you know, it's a cool getaway."

5. Rockaways, Queens Timestamp: [10:25 – 11:16]

   Accessible via the A train, the Rockaways present an effortless beach escape with:

   • Beach Access: Directly off the train, providing immediate access to the sandy shores.
   • Local Variety: Including unique Turkish and Uyghur restaurants, and a vibrant beach culture distinct from typical beach destinations.

   Stephen Nessen [10:53]: "Rockaway really is top of my list. Partly because it's just a no brainer. You just get on the A train, go to Rockaway and you just get off the train and go to the beach."

6. Kingston, New York Timestamp: [13:22 – 14:04]

   Kingston is praised for its reliable Metro-North service and offers:

   • Culinary Scene: Featuring numerous breweries and eclectic restaurants.
   • Cultural Attractions: Including art galleries and historic sites.

   Stephen Nessen [13:28]: "Has extremely good on time performance, I should add, as a transit reporter."

7. Asbury Park, New Jersey Timestamp: [14:15 – 14:35]

   A vibrant shore destination accessible via NJ Transit, known for:

   • Beach and Boardwalk: Ideal for sunbathing and seaside relaxation.
   • Entertainment: Excellent music venues, arts scenes, and attractions like retro arcades and mini-golf.

   Stephen Nessen [14:24]: "Asbury park is on my list of places I want to go...there's very good mini golf and there's the silver ball retro arcade."

---

Additional Listener Recommendations

Timestamp: [12:43 – 15:35]

Listeners contributed various suggestions, including:

• Liberty Park, Jersey City: Accessible via Hudson Bergen Light Rail and Citi Bike, perfect for riverside strolls.
• Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, Oyster Bay: Teddy Roosevelt’s former home, reachable via LIRR with scenic lunch spots.
• Dobbs Ferry and Irvington: Featuring cozy cafes, libraries, and walking trails.
• Storm King Art Center, Orange County: An expansive sculpture garden best reached by bus from the Port Authority.
• Sandy Hook National Park: Accessible by ferry, ideal for nature enthusiasts.

---

Transportation Tips and Updates

Timestamp: [15:37 – 18:50]

Amtrak Tunnel Rehabilitation

Stephen discusses the significant upcoming rehabilitation work on the East River tunnels connecting Queens and Manhattan, damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Scheduled to begin at the end of May, the project involves shutting down one tunnel at a time, potentially disrupting:

• Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Services
• Amtrak and NJ Transit Trains

These closures may lead to delays and require travelers to check schedules meticulously. The project is embroiled in a dispute involving Governor Hochul, Amtrak, the MTA, and Mayor Adams, with debates over conducting work during off-peak hours to minimize disruption.

Stephen Nessen [15:59]: "Your summer could be somewhat uncertain if you're taking the train. But again, check the schedules before you head out."

Checking Schedules

Travelers are advised to consult multiple sources for schedule updates:

• MTA Website: For subway and local transit information.
• Amtrak Website: For intercity train services.
• NJ Transit Website: For New Jersey-based train services.

Exploring New Jersey

Stephen also highlights Paterson, NJ, known as "Little Palestine," accessible by bus. It offers:

• Culinary Delights: Exceptional Middle Eastern restaurants like Al Basha.
• Unique Shopping: Beautiful fabric stores perfect for enthusiasts.

Stephen Nessen [18:18]: "It's known as Little Palestine...great place to visit. Incredible food, and everyone's super nice and friendly there."

Beach Recommendations: Brighton Beach

Beyond the Rockaways, Brighton Beach is recommended for its vibrant community and exceptional Turkish cuisine. Although it can be crowded in summer, the unique local ambiance offers a refreshing beach experience.

Stephen Nessen [18:58]: "Brighton beach, highly underrated. It does get a little crowded in the summer, but again, the food is phenomenal there."

---

Conclusion: Embracing Car-Free Travels This Summer

Timestamp: [19:31 – 20:24]

Tiffany and Stephen wrap up the episode by reiterating the charm and accessibility of local day trip destinations. Stephen humorously shares his personal aspirations to try surfing at the Rockaways, underscoring the diverse activities available without the need for a car.

Stephen Nessen [19:31]: "With a broken arm from failing miserably at all of those."

Listeners are encouraged to explore these destinations, stay informed about transportation updates, and embrace the ease of public transit to enhance their summer experiences.

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Key Takeaways:

• Accessible Destinations: Numerous appealing day trip options are reachable via public transportation, each offering unique experiences from art galleries to scenic parks.
• Transportation Alerts: Ongoing issues with Newark air traffic control and potential NJ Transit strikes require travelers to remain flexible and informed.
• Upcoming Works: Amtrak’s East River tunnel rehabilitation may impact train schedules significantly during the summer.
• Community Engagement: Listener recommendations highlight the community-driven nature of the podcast, fostering a shared exploration spirit.

Notable Quotes:

• Stephen Nessen [03:05]: "It's terrifying for the people who do the job. It's actually quite traumatizing because they lose where the trains are on the trains, the planes are on the radar."
• Stephen Nessen [05:35]: "DIA Beacon, the art space art gallery...it's just a fun, interesting way to spend your time."
• Stephen Nessen [10:53]: "Rockaway really is top of my list. Partly because it's just a no brainer. You just get on the A train, go to Rockaway and you just get off the train and go to the beach."
• Stephen Nessen [15:59]: "Your summer could be somewhat uncertain if you're taking the train. But again, check the schedules before you head out."

---

Disclaimer: This summary is based on the transcript provided and aims to encapsulate the main discussions and insights from the episode. For a complete and nuanced understanding, listening to the full podcast episode is recommended.

Transcript

[Tiffany Hansen]

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[Almond Joy]

This episode is brought to you by Almond Joy. With its perfect blend of real creamy coconut, rich chocolatey taste and a satisfying almond crunch, Almond Joy is the taste that simply takes you away. Blissful tropical flavors will have you feeling sunny vibes and ocean breezes in every bite. Almond Joy is the ticket to a sweet, indulgent, laid back escape, one you'll want to return to again and again. Grab the creamy coconut and chocolatey crunch of Almond Joy today and taste paradise.

[Tiffany Hansen]

This is all of it. I'm Tiffany Hansen in for Alison Stewart. Well, we've got a couple more weeks until Memorial Day kicks off the summer season. For many of us, that means planning a vacation or some time out of the city. Tomorrow we are going to discuss long distance travel and what you need to know about that, including some new visa requirements and the new real ID requirement. But today we're going to stay a little closer to home. We're going to talk about some day trips that you can get to via subway, train, bus, whether it's a beach day, a day of hiking, bicycling, or just checking out some used records. Wink, wink. STEPHEN nessen, Team Olivet has put together a list of places that you don't need a car or a visa to go to to enjoy. And we are we are joined right now by transportation reporter Stephen Nessen who covers all things public transportation. He also has a list. He also likes records and music. Hi, Stephen.

[Stephen Nessen]

Hello, Tiffany.

[Tiffany Hansen]

All right, listeners, we want you to chime in, of course. Where are some of the day trips you're planning, whether you're going to take the TR train, the bus? Let us know if you what is your favorite? No car. Let's put it that way. What's your favorite no car Getaway. Call us, text us 2124-3396-9221-2433 wnyc Steven, while we give folks a chance to kind of line up their suggestions, let's let me just ask you a couple things about transportation news, okay? And I'm going to start with a pretty basic one. What in the heck is happening over at Newark?

[Stephen Nessen]

Well, there is a lot of problems. It's all related to air traffic controllers. You've certainly Heard a lot about it in the news recently and I think what's happening is a lot of things are coming to a head. There's been a lot of underfunding of air traffic controllers. And as a result of that and as a result of underfunding sort of the whole infrastructure behind it. I think the most recent issue that was like the most glaring thing, the reason it's in the news is because there was actually a 90 second outage.

[Tiffany Hansen]

I saw that on social media somewhere and it was terrifying.

[Stephen Nessen]

It's terrifying for the people who do the job. It's actually quite traumatizing because they lose where the trains are on the trains, the planes are on the radar. And so basically at that point there are no injuries. Of course, nothing was damaged. But they're like, nobody can land, nobody come into our airspace. They, you know, they just don't have visibility. So this causing massive delays at Newark. And so it's still unresolved, let's just say. So there's a lot of warnings about check your flight before you go. And it's unclear how they'll resolve it by the summer because a lot of it does involve just hiring more people. And that's not like you just flip a switch and like, all right, we got 100 new air traffic control, like.

[Tiffany Hansen]

I can walk in the door and they're going to put me down in front of the. Yeah, that's not.

[Stephen Nessen]

You need to go to a school. There's training. This takes years and years of, you know, dedication and planning for.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Well, another thing that is sort of up in the air. See what I did there is the possibility of a New Jersey transit strike. So talk to us.

[Stephen Nessen]

That's still on the table as well.

[Tiffany Hansen]

So we're starting with the good news today, right?

[Stephen Nessen]

So as you plan to take transit, plan for uncertainty. There could be a transit strike. You know, this changes day to day. So I wouldn't like tell anyone to bank there's, you know, planning on it just yet. But there could be the first NG transit strike in decades because workers have been, the people who operate the trains have been without a contract for I think since 2019 at this point. So it's getting pretty contentious. They want raises, they want pay that's commensurate with their colleagues here in New York City who are, you know, relatively well paid. So there's been a lot of back and forth on that and that's still ongoing.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Listeners Stephen Nessen and I are going to talk about other things besides just the bad news of transportation. We are going to talk about car no car getaways for the summer. We're coming up pretty fast here on Memorial Day. Let us know where you like to go that's close to the city. Close enough that you can get there by bus or by train. 212-433-9692. You can call us, you can text us at that number. Steven, we'll start with. You have a couple of picks in Westchester. One in Katona, another in Beacon. I'm gonna start with Beacon, actually. Can I do that?

[Stephen Nessen]

Let's do it.

[Tiffany Hansen]

I'm gonna just.

[Stephen Nessen]

One of my favorites.

[Tiffany Hansen]

You know what? I love Beacon. Actually.

[Stephen Nessen]

I do too.

[Tiffany Hansen]

So talk to us about why we both love Beacon.

[Stephen Nessen]

Well, it's for one thing, you can take Metro north there. It's pretty straightforward. You just go on, get on the train to Beacon. There's no like other steps you need to take. Cause once you're there, it's great. The downtown is walkable from the train station. But what I might. What I primarily love to go there for is to check out DIA Beacon, the art space art gallery. It reminds me of mass MoCA. It's just this amazing sprawling space. Great for all ages. I have little kids, but they love it because there's room to run around. And they've got these amazing Richard Serra sculptures that just phenomenal. And right now there's this sound room downstairs. Excuse me. That is just this like overwhelming sensory experience of like bass and light. And it's. It's just a fun, interesting way to spend your time. And then downtown Beacon is great. The main street, there's great ice cream. There's this food hall. That's great. I also love records. There's Hudson Valley Vinyl. Chris Riceman. What's up? Thanks for the deals. He has an incredible selection. I know New York City is brimming with record stores, but believe it or not, I've never left there open empty handed. There's always something that you need.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Well. And if you need an excuse to go to Beacon and you're a record. Yeah, exactly. All right. We have a text that says Liberty park in Jersey City. Jersey City accessible by Hudson Bergen Light rail and Citi bike. And Marilyn and Chelsea has a recommendation. Hi, Marilyn.

[Almond Joy]

Hi, Tiffany. Thank you for taking my call. My recommendation is also related to Metro North. Easy train ride to Tarrytown because there's the Rockefeller State Park Preserve. It's so beautiful with gorgeous forest. You know it as well? Yeah. So you know the fields, the scenic roads, even the sound healing. That's offered in the gallery at the beginning and walks by moon light. So I highly recommend that.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Thank you. Marilyn Rockefeller State Park Preserve. Stephen, how do I get there?

[Stephen Nessen]

Tarrytown? Yeah. Again, Metro north to Tarrytown. It's super easy. It's, I think it's only about an hour, maybe less. And that's great. I used to do it all the time. I had some friends that live there. Again, you just get off the train and you're right there. I love where you don't have to take like a taxi to get to the place you want to go.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Yeah. Listeners, tell us what is your favorite no car getaway for the summer? 212-433-9692. We're talking with WNYC's transportation reporter Stephen Nessen about where to go. We're going to hit Westchester. We're going to hit Katona for sure. We've already hit Beacon. There's a bunch more cold spring peakskill. We'll get to them. Let us know where yours is. We're going to take a quick break and come back. This is all of it. I'm Tiffany Hansen in for Alison Stewart. And with Memorial Day sneaking up on us here, we're talking about no car getaways for the summer. In other words, where do you go? Listeners within a close enough range to the city that you don't need a car. You can get there by train, you can get back, get there by bus. We're talking with WNYC's transportation reporter Stephen Nessen about some of our favorites and we'd like to hear yours, 221-243-9692. You can call us, you can text us at that number. Stephen, we were talking about Beacon. Another one on your list is Katona.

[Stephen Nessen]

Yeah, it's a maybe not on everyone's radar, but it's not that far, maybe an hour and 20 minutes slightly, slightly farther. But there's a very cute downtown. It's got a little bookstore. It's got this sort of old timey general store where people like me can feel like the rugged outdoorsman you've always wanted to be. Get some, you know, you can buy some wool socks, get some wool gear, some Carhartt, you know, feel like you're a real outdoors person. But there's also, you know, the Katona Museum of Art does have some interesting stuff. There's the Caramore center for Music and Arts, which has performances. Check the schedule. I think, you know, tickets are not impossible to get. There's a fancy restaurant There called the Whitlock that won a Michelin Award.

[Tiffany Hansen]

What's that?

[Stephen Nessen]

You know, American food, fancy stuff when you want to treat yourself. So you know, and it's a, it's just great to get out. It's always like the air is just a little fresher up there and when it's hot in the city it's, you know, it's a cool getaway.

[Tiffany Hansen]

We have a couple of texts. Steven. Fire Island. Kind of. Kind of, yeah. A no brainer there. Greenpoint, Long island. Side trip from there to Shelter island. Which leads me to another transportation question. Real quick. Sidebar. What about the A out to the Rockaways?

[Stephen Nessen]

Coming back.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Okay, coming back.

[Stephen Nessen]

I believe, don't quote me on this, but I believe it's either this weekend or Friday.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Oh really?

[Stephen Nessen]

It's that soon? The work is done. A little sneak peek. I am going to go take a look at that this week.

[Tiffany Hansen]

All right.

[Stephen Nessen]

I mean before the week is over.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Okay.

[Stephen Nessen]

So I will have an update for our dedicated WNYC Transit followers. That work is just about completed. So yeah, Rockaway really is top of my list. Partly because it's just a no brainer. You just get on the A train, go to Rockaway and you just get off the train and go to the beach and it's like such an amazing thing to like be on the beach getting right off the train that easy.

[Tiffany Hansen]

We have a text. The Nyack Memorial park on the river. You can walk, walk over the Tappan Zee Bridge. I always appreciate someone who still calls it the Tappan Zee Bridge. Or you can buy.

[Stephen Nessen]

I'm sorry, Tiffany, what else is it called?

[Tiffany Hansen]

I don't know. Let's go to Betsy in Ossining. Hi Betsy.

[Betsy]

Hello. So come to, come to Ossining. Get on one of the 10 most beautiful train rides in the country as voted by somebody at some point. And you get off the train, you walk right up the hill into downtown Ossining. Your destination is Hudson Valley Books for Humanity which is the coolest pre loved bookstore on the planet. And you will agree as soon as you walk in. They also have plenty of pre loved LPs and I just happen to work there so I'm shouting it out. But also first Village coffee. Incredible, delicious, amazing coffee. Malik Turkish restaurant. And then you can take a walk on the Sing Sing Kill and see the double arches bridge. And it is a very beautiful and amazing little old town with incredible old architecture and our home.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Yeah, Betsy in Ossining. Shouting out the hometown there. She's hitting highlights. She's Got coffee. She's got record store.

[Stephen Nessen]

Right? You've sold me, Betsy. I'll see you this summer.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Let's see, we have a couple more texts. Here's Steven. Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, which is Teddy Roosevelt's home and the summer White House. I've been there. It's pretty cool. You take the LIRR to Oyster Bay. Also nice. Great little place to have lunch, do a little lunching. Another text. Dobbs Ferry has cute cafes, nice library, a walking trail to Irvington. We have a recommendation for Kingston which was also on our list. Steven, how do people get to Kingston?

[Stephen Nessen]

Lot of love for Metro north today. It sounds like. Which does have extremely.

[Tiffany Hansen]

We did shout out the A. Yep.

[Stephen Nessen]

Has extremely good on time performance, I should add, as a transit reporter.

[Tiffany Hansen]

I like that.

[Stephen Nessen]

Yeah. Like almost near perfect.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Right? But Kingston, you know, that's also, you know, there are. What is that? Breweries there. There's all kinds of stuff to do in Kingston as well. And easy to get to, right?

[Stephen Nessen]

Yeah. Relatively soon.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Let's see, we have Asbury. A text come in. Asbury Park, NJ Transit. As long as they're not on strike in parentheses. And it's a perfect beach day beach, restaurant, bars, excellent music, arts scene. I mean, we really haven't touched on the shore.

[Stephen Nessen]

Asbury park is on my list of places I want to go. Believe it or not, I've never been. Former WNYC reporter Matt Katz was a big fan. Apparently there's very good mini golf and there's the silver ball retro arcade. Also my personal favorite writing teacher I've ever had, Kevin Coyne is from there, so I'd love to pay him a visit.

[Tiffany Hansen]

All right, well, let's knock that off the list. Anything else down the shore?

[Stephen Nessen]

I don't have anything else at the moment, but if listeners have recommendations, let us know.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Yeah, let us know if there's something. Of course we had to mention the stone pony. Someone reminds us, I love hiking near Cold Spring. This text says, so easy to get to. And the town is super cute. I mean, I think, I feel like that's the high watermark. Is the super cute town kind of downtown area. You can get a bus from the Port Authority and get to the Storm King Art center in Orange County, New York. Amazing sculpture garden and worthy of a day trip. Another text says a ferry to Sandy Hook National Park. And so we kind of were going up the Hudson here a lot.

[Stephen Nessen]

We are.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Is there anything on your list or on your radar in Pennsylvania, you know, nearby Pennsylvania? Ish.

[Stephen Nessen]

Pennsylvania is a little harder because you would need to take a bus and then anything you would want to do is not necessarily off the bus stop. But Philadelphia is nearby, which is a great city, which Amtrak is an accessible way to get to Philadelphia.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Let's talk about Amtrak for a second.

[Stephen Nessen]

I'm glad I brought it up.

[Tiffany Hansen]

I remember hearing something last weekend about a tunnel and I think some listeners are going to come with me on this journey here. Of yes, there was something about a tunnel being closed for several years and how much of a headache it was going to be for all of us. Tell us how much that's going to affect our summer.

[Stephen Nessen]

Stephen well, so Amtrak for years has been planning to do some tunnel rehabilitation work. Those tunnels in the east river that connect between Queens and Manhattan, you know, the east river tunnels, they were damaged during Hurricane Sandy back in 2012. And they are still planning on fixing some of the stuff that was damaged, upgrading it, modernizing it, making sure that, you know, if it gets flooded again, it's not going to get so damaged. That's work that was been that has been planned for years. They were supposed to start seven months ago, but there were some mix ups and the MTA wasn't quite finished with some of their work. So they needed more time. Long story, long story. The work is supposed to start at the end of May. Actually, it was supposed to start last Friday. But again, just another don't quote me on this, but yes, it's very much a don't quote me, but the work is supposed to start at the end of May and there's basically four tunnels. Amtrak's going to shut down one at a time while it does its work. And the result of that is that if there's any problem whatsoever, like, you know, some work spills over or, you know, there's a delay or a problem or something gets broken, whatever it's going to impact Long Island Railroad service, Amtrak service, even potentially New Jersey transit service.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Just sounds does sound a bit like a headache.

[Stephen Nessen]

This is at the heart of a very contentious battle right now between Governor Hochul and Amtrak and the mta. And now even Mayor Adams threw his hat into the ring. Everybody wants them to do the work on nights and weekends. Don't shut down the tunnel entirely. And so this hasn't we don't know how it's going to play out, which is to say stay tuned, stay tuned. Your summer could be somewhat uncertain if you're taking the train. But again, check the schedules before you head out.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Always good advice. Where do we check our schedules?

[Stephen Nessen]

Steven That's a great question. You can go to the Internet, you can search. You gotta do each one in order, right? You gotta do MTA to make sure you get your subway. Then you gotta go to Amtrak. And then if you're taking NJ Transit, check their website as well.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Speaking of taking NJ Transit, we have a text that says, take NJ Transit to the Rutgers Zimmerly Art Gallery in New Brunswick and stroll the campus. Stephen, you also, in our last minute here, you also have a recommendation for New Jersey.

[Stephen Nessen]

My all time favorite city. Patterson is accessible by bus in New Jersey.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Oh, okay.

[Stephen Nessen]

Throwing it out there only because the food is just incredible. It's known as Little Palestine. Shout out to Al Basha restaurant, which is just phenomenal. I try to go there a couple times a year. There's great dessert places, Egyptian dessert places, and there's fabric stores that are just fabulous, beautiful stuff. And it's just great place to visit. Incredible food, and everyone's super nice and friendly there. And I've never had a bad time.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Everyone is super nice and friendly. I love it. Okay, you're headed out on the A train. You're going to go to the Rockaways. Do you have other beach recommendations?

[Stephen Nessen]

Honestly, Brighton beach, highly underrated. It does get a little crowded in the summer, but again, the food is phenomenal there. There's great Turkish food. There's a Uyghur restaurant that I love that's out there. And, you know, just the characters on the beach there are really unlike, I would say, any other beach in our area.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Really?

[Stephen Nessen]

Yeah, just people who live for the beach and not your typical, like, beach bums. I'm talking, you know, some older folks who really make it their career in the summer to be out on the beach. And it's fun. It's a fun vibe.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Well, Stephen, is that going to be your first trip?

[Stephen Nessen]

You know what? I haven't been there yet this summer, but, you know, I do want to do some surfing this summer. I've actually never surfed before, although I skateboard and snowboard. I shouldn't say I've tried it before and failed miserably, but I'm ready for the challenge and I'm ready to stand up and do it. And my friend Lou Harris, who runs a program for kids out there teaching kids how to surf, which is amazing. Check him out. It's the Black Surfers association, but he teaches all kinds of kids and it's really fun. And hopefully he's going to give me a few pointers this summer.

[Tiffany Hansen]

So we'll see. Steven either on a surfboard or in Patterson or down the shore somewhere or.

[Stephen Nessen]

With a broken arm from failing miserably at all of those.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Stephen, thanks for talking about transportation and about all the great places to go this summer.

[Stephen Nessen]

Thanks for having me.

[Almond Joy]

This episode is brought to you by Almond Joy. With its perfect blend of real creamy coconut, rich chocolatey taste and a satisfying almond crunch, Almond Joy is the taste that simply takes you away. Blissful tropical flavors will have you feeling sunny vibes and ocean breezes in every bite. Almond Joy is the ticket to a sweet, indulgent, laid back escape. One you'll want to return to again and again. Grab the creamy coconut and chocolatey crunch of Almond Joy today and taste paradise.

[Stephen Nessen]

I'm Ira Flato, host of Science Friday. For over 30 years, our team has been reporting high quality news about science, technology and medicine. News you won't get anywhere else. And now that political news is 24 7, our audience is turning to us to know about the really important stuff in their lives. Cancer, climate change, genetic engineering, childhood diseases. Our sponsors know the value of science and health news. For more sponsorship information, visit sponsorship.wnyc.org.