Cyclone
The warning posted outside the Cyclone reads "DO NOT RIDE IF YOU ARE PREGNANT, WEAR A PACEMAKER OR SUFFER FROM OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS," and they mean it. This 100-second, 9-hill legendary roller coaster has no upside-down corkscrew loops, but will make you lose your lunch, nevertheless. Winding its way over rickety wooden planks at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour, the entire structure feels as if it could collapse at any moment. What’s even more terrifying after the initial 85 foot plunge, is the way this relic of a roller coaster violently jerks you about. Built in 1927, the Cyclone is now included in the National Register of Historic Places.

Wonder Wheel
At 150 feet, the Wonder Wheel is the world’s tallest Ferris wheel and the centerpiece of the Coney Island amusement area. Built in 1920, this one-of-a-kind ride includes 16 swinging and 8 stationary cars that provide a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean, the Jersey Shore and the NYC skyline. While the Wonder Wheel looks like harmless fun, in reality, the swinging cars are nasty nausea-inducing contraptions. In 1989, the structure was declared an official NYC landmark.

You stand inside a circular chamber with a dozen other sadomasochists, when suddenly, the chamber starts spinning as the floor drops out. Before you know it, the centrifugal force has you pinned to the wall like a sock during the spin cycle of a washing machine. Dare to throw up and the centrifugal force glues your spew to your body.

Eldorado Disco Bumper Cars
Coney Island’s Eldorado Disco Bumper Cars are the perfect way to vent your frustrations. If you ever had the urge to ram you car into the jerk who just cut you off, here’s your opportunity. And with blaring disco music shattering the decibel meter, your victim will never hear you coming. Surf Avenue and W. 12th Street.

Eiffel Tower of Brooklyn
Built for the 1939 World’s Fair and dubbed the Eiffel Tower of Brooklyn, this designated national landmark hasn’t been operational for years. In its day, the Parachute Jump hoisted riders to its summit, then dropped them into a freefall before deploying a parachute. While some view the 262-foot tower as wrought-iron wreckage, others value the distinctive structure as a permanent fixture on the Brooklyn skyline.

Step right up and witness the fire eater, the bearded lady, the snake charmer, the human blockhead (who hammers nails into his skull), and a bevy of other human curiosities. You’ll see 10 live acts in all in this good old-fashioned freak show. Staged by the non-profit organization Coney Island USA, shows last from 45 minutes to an hour.

Coney Island’s Mardi Gras!
Watch floats, antique cars, marching bands, mermaids, Neptunes and other sea creatures march down Surf Avenue and the boardwalk during the 15th Annual Mermaid Parade, June 21, 1997, beginning at 2 PM.

Aquarium for Wildlife
Get splashed by the dolphins (a "Saltwater Souvenir") at the Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation (formerly known as the NY Aquarium). Considered one of the top marine facilities in the country, the aquarium features 10,000 living specimens including beluga whales, sharks, octopuses, penguins, electric eels, walruses and seals. Catch a show at the new outdoor theater, or reach out to a horseshoe crab in the touch tank.

Nathan’s
The original Nathan’s Famous. Opened in 1916, some people swear Nathan’s makes the best hot dogs and French fries on the planet. The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, held every July 4th, is a spectacle in gluttony not to be missed.

Other rides and attractions, some of which operate independently of Coney’s two major amusement parks include carousels, a water flume, spook houses, go karts, batting ranges, BB gun shooting galleries and a variety of carnival games where guys still win kewpie dolls for their sweethearts.