New York Area Beaches: Which is Best?
So our default beach when our friends lend us their car is Robert Moses State Park on Fire Island. The parking is plentiful and only $8; the sand is white; the waves are big; and if you don't mind walking away from the main pavilions, you can have a small chunk of sand to yourself. Does anybody else have a favorite beach? It's hard to stray from the beach you love for fear it won't live up to the ideal. I'd love to hear about other people's beach escapes.
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Don't tell me it's too hot to type?
Rockaway.... and you don't even have to borrow a car to get there!
Chewing out a rhythm on my bubble gum
The sun is out and I want some.
Its not hard, not far to reach
We can hitch a ride
To rockaway beach.
Up on the roof, out on the street
Down in the playground the hot concrete
Bus ride is too slow
They blast out the disco on the radio
Rock rock rockaway beach
Rock rock rockaway beach
We can hitch a ride
To rockaway beach
Its not hard, not far to reach
We can hitch a ride
To rockaway beach.
--the Ramones
.... and don't take the A train to Rockaway Beach. Take the 2 or 5 to the Flatbush Junction, then the Green Line bus to Neponsit or Belle Harbor (basically, get off the bus once it enters the residential neighborhoods). The beaches are less crowded and cleaner b/c there is no street parking on weekends, so its usually locals only. The only downside is lack of concessions and restrooms - but you can wait for the ice cream truck and pee in the ocean.
THis is my post on my top five NYC beaches at Mommy Poppins
My wife and I went to Watch Hill at Fire Island last weekend - it was dreamy. Our next trip is Shelter Island...a bit of a longer trip, but I hear it's great.
Take the 2 or 5 to the Flatbush Junction, then the Green Line bus (as described above) but get off at the very first stop once you cross the Marine Parkway Bridge (Ft. Tilden).
Walk down the long roadway towards the ocean which will put you in Bay 14, Riis Park. Go right once you reach the shore and you will think you are in Fire Island!
The old gun placements from the days when Ft. Tilden was active have reverted to a natural state and have become actual dunes. There is almost no civilization for a mile or so if you walk west until you reach the Silver Gull beach club.
Conversely, you may be able to walk right through the Fort to the beach but the gate by the Green Line bus stop is often locked.
It is a surprising piece of the Rockaways
I used to go to Jones Beach all the time, but it was too crowded and there were too many boomboxes. Now I always go to Long Beach (when I get to the beach, which is not that often). Easy ride on the LIRR (which you can of course pick up at Atlantic Avenue), which gives you a beach pass in the cost of the ticket. Get off the train, walk a block to the supermarket, pick up peaches and cherries and what have you, turn right, walk a couple blocks to the beach. Walk down the boardwalk a bit and it's very uncrowded. I'll seriously never go back to the Jones Beach bus transfer thing.
i was lucky enough to have the whole day to bike ride out to ft. tilden yesterday. that is by far my favorite beach. between our jetties i counted 10 people in total. the water was MUCH warmer than last weeks robert moses foray. the downsides are there's no facilities. for the intrepid there is a running spigot or feet rinsing next to a trailer when union locals have gatherings... about 1/2 mile from the beach.
the crowd is mostly cyclists as the only other way to access the beach is via parking permit or on foot.. my informal study of these vehicles suggest a free mason/labor union connection.
there is a lunch truck that serves mediocre fare such as burgers and dogs near the entrance.
one of the best parts of the beach is it's past as a military base. there are decaying munitions buildings and batteries that once protected our harbor.
and for male voyers there is the occasional nude female sunbather. however, due to the nature most fixed gear female riders one my be disappointed by the less than hetero nature of said boobs.
happy trails!
ii want to join this beach coz u know ilove nacture i love pepole make by gob so i join this