HEAT WAVE: Rockaway Beach replaces Snug Harbor

Forecast says 89 degrees and partlly sunny Saturday, so let's take a scenic ride on the ferry to Rockaway Beach (see Cost, below), where we'll hang out by the water, bathe if you wish, then walk the boardwalk to the vibrant cluster of restaurants and bars. You can return by subway or ferry at around 6 PM, later if you stay to dine. The lines for boarding in mid afternoon shouldnt be very long, but to be safe I recommend arriving at l)east 30 minutes before the 3:12 departure, since your ticket doesn't guarantee a spot on the boat. (Reserve tickets don't go on sale until July )

TICKETS: $4.50 for each one way "general" ticket, which you can buy at the pier or on the NYC Ferry app. You can return by either ferry or subway.

SUBWAY RIDERS: The 2, 3 train to Wall Street is closest to Pier 11; the 4, 5 to Wall is a little farther. But The 4 train will not run to Wall Street from Brooklyn, and the 5 will run only every 20 minutes in both directions. Please google MTA Service Changes for weekend changes on your trains.