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This massive camp sits squarely on some of the priciest real estate on the globe, taking over the former Water Taxi Beach and keeping the sand, lean-to bars, and booming sound system. On a summer day, with the Brooklyn Bridge framing the horizon, you’d just be a jerk not to admit that “yeah, well, this is pretty cool.” That said, those with a laundry list of peccadilloes may grit their teeth: Thought-numbing bass—check! Baby carriages—check! Sunburned, rent-a-bike tourists—check! But then you get your beer and your bratwurst and you recalibrate. Look, there’s actual sand! And there’s beach chairs! Is that a life-size chess board? Ping-Pong! And, well, yes, kids do have a right to exist. Large wedding-style tents provide cover during downpours or shade for the fair-skinned. And while this casual atmosphere allows those who’ve got it to flaunt it, the eclectic crowd won’t make the winter-bellied feel like they’ve landed at Muscle Beach. — Patrick Siggins