As a kid growing in the suburbs, I always waited with such excitement for the arrival of the carnival, which set up annually in a patch of land in front of the town library. It was THE place to be, and I just loved hanging out at the carnival with my friends, eating funnel cake and occasionally going on rides. I guess in a way I’m still that kid because I absolutely LOVE Coney Island. Not for the boardwalk (though that’s nice) nor the beach (too crowded) but for the rides. Luna Park is like the supersized and grown-up version of the carnivals that I went to as a kid, and I get so giddy whenever I make it out there. The Brooklyn Flyer is a vertical swing ride that takes you 100 feet into the air and gives you a spectacular, 360-degree view of Coney Island. You really feel like you’re, well, flying.