Things to do / Travel Guide
If you're in the New York area on a hot summer day, there's no need to fret; relief is readily available just an hour or two away on the sandy beaches of Long Island. The closer you are to Manhattan, the more crowded the beaches will be, but, fortunately, there's plenty of space for everyone.
The further east you go, the more exclusive and less populated the beaches become. Most of these are found close to the far tip of the island in the area known as “The Hamptons.” Among the rich and famous folks who tan there are Steven Spielberg, Billy Joel, Caroline Kennedy and Jerry Seinfeld. If you don't see them on the beach, you might catch up with them in the exclusive restaurants and boutiques in towns like East Hampton, Amagansett, Quogue, and Montauk. The beaches themselves are quite beautiful but not always easy to get to. Parking for free along the mansion-lined roads near the shore is forbidden unless you have a residency sticker on your windshield. And parking lots, where available, are generally expensive. One solution is to take a train out from Manhattan and grab a cab to the shore.
One popular alternative to the glitz and glamour of the eastern shore is Jones Beach which, conveniently, is not too far from New York City. Throngs of sun lovers fill the shores on sunny weekends in the summer. Another good option is the Fire Island National Seashore Beach which is located on an island just off Long Island and is accessible only by ferry. Young people abound at this peaceful locale. Many of them come out every other weekend or so and sleep over in “share houses” - beach homes rented out to groups for the summer. Apres-beach is always a good time on Fire Island as the bathers retire to the local watering holes to drink and socialize while watching the sunset.
The north-shore of Long Island is an entirely different animal, facing, as it does, the calm waters of the Long Island Sound. While not as pretentious as the south shore beaches, places like Sunken Meadow State Park offer a more peaceful and down-to-earth experience that includes fishing and camping.
Beaches in Long Island, the Hamptons, Montauk, Fire Island
Beaches
Coopers Beach - Southampton, New York
Long Beach - Long Island, New York
Westhampton Beach Village - New York
Centerport Beach - New York
East Hampton Main Beach - New York
Norman Klipp Marine Park Beach - Greenport, New York
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