Sunset Beach, Shelter Island

Shelter Island, NY

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

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It is a crime to be a resident of New York City and never have visited Shelter Island in your life.  I was inspired by a NY Times Article a friend linked me that gave an itinerary for the day.  Here is everything you need to know:

1)  Even though the ferry price is listed as $11 per vehicle one way from both the Greenport (North Fork) and Sag Harbor (South Fork) ferry services, it actually costs $13 per vehicle from Sag Harbor.  So if $2 makes a difference to you, do your round trip through Greenport.  Also, they charge per car per person.  So $11 per car plus $2 per person.  

2)  The North Fork of Long Island is picturesque and full of vineyards and farms.  Something to see in your life at least once.  But the South Fork is where all the action is.  The Hamptons are here!  There is a large and wealthy population!  Not only are there beautiful shops and towns and homes, but there are scenic vineyards and farms that rival those of the North Fork.  We took the Greenport Ferry to Shelter Island and the Sag Harbor Ferry back so we can dine at Il Capuccino (Amazing Italian food!!!  The big draw here is the complementary garlic knots they bring to the table.  And I also enjoyed my ravioli with pistachio sauce!) I was not satisfied with the Italian options on Shelter Island itself.  And there is no real charming Main Street on the Island (at least not that I found).

3)  As soon as we got off the Greenport Ferry in the morning, we drove up the hill to Marie Eiffel Market (which has an outdoor deck facing the harbor) We had our chocolate croissants and iced coffee facing the harbor and yachts.  I highly suggest getting your first bite here before you start your day on the island!  The cafe is one block down the hill from the newly renovated and quaint Chequit Inn.  This hotel is no place to go with young children as it is not stroller accessible.  And if you go here, go when it is a bit more affordable on a weekday.  If you want to make a road trip out of Shelter Island, I would totally stay here.  And the beautifully landscaped outdoor restaurant faces the harbor.

4)  After we ate at Marie Eiffel, we went to Picozzi's Bike Shop right around the corner, parked our car in the driveway, and rented a bike for one hour for $15.  Each bike comes with a helmet and a basket, but be careful to store your mobile phones in a bag as they can slip out.  We biked around Dering Harbor and Shelter Island Heights.  Look at a map and stay by the shoreline to see all the exquisite homes.  And remember, if you are not fit like me, be prepared for lots of hills and a spare oxygen tank in your car upon return.  I almost died.

5)  Have your bathing suit on and towels in a backpack that you place in the basket during the bike ride.  You can stop by Hay's Beach (free and much more private than the main draw: Sunset Beach).  There is no night life or restaurant here.  Just you and the sand and the water.  We didn't have towels so we couldn't relax here after a strenuous bike ride.  And if you don't want to rent a bike, you can still access Hay's Beach by car.  There are a few spots to park and it doesn't get crowded.  Spend a couple hours here before heading to Sunset Beach.

6)  We got to Sunset Beach by 1:30 and stayed four hours.  The sun would have set by 8:30 and my husband and I wanted to get back home for the kids. Otherwise, I'd have stayed here all day to catch the sunset and the alleged bumpin' night scene.  This beach is right across the Sunset Beach Hotel and Restaurant.  Onlynly permitted cars are allowed to park on weekdays (after 5pm, all cars can park).  Only permitted cars can park on weekends. However, if you drive down about 1/5th a mile, you will find free parking for all (to save some energy, make sure to drop off your beach chairs in the front and have your spouse park the car).  

So what can I say about Sunset Beach?  You feel like you are in the south of France when you are really just sandwiched between the North and South Fork.  I have seen charming beaches along the North Shore of Long Island. But nothing matches the crowd and vibe here.  You will feel like the Princess of Monaco.  Also, you can come here with your children (but my guess is those who did with young children either reside on the Island or were staying at a hotel).  There were paddle board rentals for $35 per person per hour and $60 per hour for two people.  If my husband and I weren't beat from the bike riding, we may have done this!  Also, we went on a 78 degree and sunny day.  The water was totally swimmable and clean and was the perfect temperature.  We forgot our beach umbrella so the cabana boy gave us one that belonged to the hotel and we tipped him a couple of bucks.  Also, I ran into a group of women who had ditched their husbands and children to enjoy a day here.  This doesn't have to be just a family oriented or romantic trip.  You can do a girls or guys day too!!!

7)  My husband and I were not entirely impressed with the menus at Sunset Beach Hotel Restaurant and the Pridwin Hotel restaurant (right down the block and also across the beach.  Even though they are both trendy...we did not want to eat fish after a long, arduous day.  But if you are good with being hungry your whole life, I highly suggest going to Shelter Island on a Wednesday in the summer to experience the all you can eat dining experience at the Pridwin Hotel (pictures included in the gallery).  The all you can eat is $42 per person and starts at 6:30pm.  It includes drinks and draft beer.  But no alcohol (keep dreaming!).  I checked out the buffet and it was mostly seafood which we don't eat.  So I skipped out on this otherwise amazing opportunity.

8)  As mentioned above, we left Sunset Beach early to dine at Sag Harbor, which is an adorable and historic town on the north part of the South Fork. The main street here reminded me of that of Greenwich, Port Washington, and Northport all fused into one.  I prefer the Main Street in Westhampton Beach, to tell you the truth, but this one is on the harbor and totally adorable in a different way.  You must see it if you do a day trip or road trip to Shelter Island.  Also, we dined at Il Capucino because we were in the mood for Italian food.  But there were far trendier restaurants along the Main Street.  Research before you go.  Every place looked super cute!

For a list of other beaches, click here.

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Deal and Asbury Park

Deal and Asbury Park, NJ

price varies 

Optimum Seasons:  All Year Round

Ocean Place Resort

The Asbury Hotel

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Where do I start? This was truly one of my favorite road trips of all time. Here's a list of reasons why:

1)  The Asbury Hotel was just magnificent in every way.  1)  It has outdoor movies offered every night on the 5th floor rooftop.  I was told by a friend that they also have yoga every morning (ask the front desk).  The pool had the same vibe as a Miami boutique hotel.  The hotel itself was like a posh Brooklyn hotel with a great rooftop!  The Asbury is only one block away from the Asbury Park boardwalk and beach.  The hotel has valet parking which costs $20 per day.  I found a deal on tripadvisor.com for midweek and it was too amazing to pass on.  The neighboring and better priced Berkeley Hotel, which while renovated, is no where close to as charming as The Asbury.  The Berkeley is a half block closer to the beach, must cheaper, and is great bang for your buck.  If you don't find a good deal for The Asbury, just book the Berkeley instead.  

2)  Unfortunately, you have to pay to go to the beach before 4pm every day. The hotel doesn't offer free passes.  The front desk allege that it costs about $7 per person but I didn't inquire further when I got on the boardwalk.  The weather was too chilly to go swimming anyway.  We were able to enjoy the beach after 4pm though.  Tip:  bring sweaters!  This is a coastal town.  Figure it is ten degrees colder here than the forecast in your own inland town, and at night it gets pretty chilly (unless there is a heat wave that day).

3) The Asbury Park Boardwalk is absolutely adorable!!!!  You must try the fried oreos and the cannoli at the Ice Cream and Waffle Place located at the southern tip of the Asbury Park portion of the boardwalk.  From my hotel to that point was about a twenty minute walk with great restaurants at every corner.  And there are Fourth of July fireworks to boot!

4)  If you are bringing children, there are sprinklers and mini golf along the Asbury Park portion of the boardwalk. No need to just go to the beach. There is also a playground on the beach towards the southern end of the boardwalk! There are also murals all along the boardwalk, kind of like Wynwood neighborhood in Miami. Very cute for photo ops with or without the kids!

5)  You must experience the boardwalk at night!  And for an added bonus, dine at a restaurant here during sunset!  Have ipads for your children!  

6)  Walk through the Asbury Park Convention Hall on the boardwalk.  I don't know what this really is but it's frieken adorable.  Wikipedia "Asbury Park" for more details.  There's a lot of history here!

7)  Keep walking south on the Asbury Park boardwalk until you reach the Ocean Grove boardwalk (which according to wikipedia, parts were demolished during Hurricane Sandy).  This is just the most delicious beach town.  The homes are all Victorian.  Ten times more charming than any of the Hamptons, if you ask me!  Drive through this area and try to go through as many streets as you can.  It is just a 5 minute drive south of the Asbury Hotel. But you should walk the Boardwalk too.  There is also a great indoor restaurant on the northern most portion of the Ocean Grove boardwalk.  I believe it's called Dunes Cafe and it has panoramic views of the ocean (on the east side of the boardwalk and very close to the water.  Check the video below for an idea).  They serve ice cream, pizza, smoothies and much more. Google it for more info.  We ended up not dining here.  We were full on fried oreos.

8)  Drive through every street of Deal and Allenhurst, NJ.  Asbury Park is sandwiched between Deal and Allenhurst to the north and Ocean Grove to the south.  As I mentioned above, Ocean Grove is a Victorian and adorable town.  Deal is more affluent and the homes are on huge lots.  Kind of like the Hamptons meet Savannah, GA.  Nothing quite like the homes here. Allenhurst homes are similar but are on smaller plots of land.  It's actually more practical to go walking in this town so you see more homes.  The Deal homes are sometimes hidden behind long driveways.  Both are worth driving or taking a morning stroll through!  Allenhurst is sandwiched between Deal and Asbury Park.  This whole area is a grid along the beach.  There is no way to get lost. Ocean Avenue runs North and South and is a great street to drive on to get a good feel!

9)  Some Glatt kosher restaurants in the area:  Crispy Grill, Dougies, A Chinese/Japanese place (not so great) right next to Crispy Grill, Butcher's Cut, and Slices. There is also a Bravo pizza which is fantastic.

10)  Ocean Place Resort in Long Branch is just north of Deal. It is a fantastic hotel on the actual boardwalk with both an indoor and outdoor pool. It is a great option for road trips in colder months as it is significantly cheaper! Also, this is preferred to The Asbury hotel because it is both on the beach and access to the beach is free and lounge chairs are included. Also, the neighboring Pier Village and its shops and arcade are wonderful. There is a carousel on this boardwalk and the newly constructed boutique Wave Hotel which has an outdoor pool and is definitely worth booking if it’s comparable in price to Ocean Place Resort.

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions), the video below of Dunes Cafe in Ocean Grove, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see my next adventure!  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page!

Wave Hotel

Wave Hotel

Ocean Place Outdoor Pool

 

Cupsogue Beach

Westhampton Dunes, NY

$17 dollar parking

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

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There are two beaches in the Westhamptons that are public.  One is Tiana Beach on the complete east end of Dunes Road (where the houses are more grand and have bigger lots....much more scenic drive if you ask me) and the other is Cupsogue Beach on the complete west end of Dunes Road (the videos below will give you an idea of the houses you will see along the way). Both beaches are about a ten to fifteen minute local drive down Dunes road from Rogers Beach, a private beach for residents of Westhampton.  

Rogers is the best of the three in terms of their showers, and proximity to the town..but too bad if you are not a resident.  Scratch this off your bucket list unless you have a rich friend! 

Tiana is the best in terms of the scenic drive and the short distance between the parking lot and beach....however the bathrooms close at 5pm.  

Cupsogue is awesome because it is only $17 parking ($9 if you have a green pass and are a suffolk resident) as opposed to $25 at Tiana, however, it is a long walk to the beach and the parking lot allegedly fills up by 10am on weekends (even though we got there at 1 and got lucky as some cars were leaving...try your luck if you want to save $8...but if you are driving a long distance, play it safe with Tiana as their parking attendant alleged it never fills up...including on weekends).  Also, I preferred their showers to Tiana's and I believe their bathrooms are open later than 5pm.

The big draw here is the live band (the gallery above shows an image of what days and times they play).  I was once told they only play on Saturdays at 5pm so I was surprised to find a couple of bands here on a Sunday as well (they have a bar stand serving beer here as well).  It makes the beach experience extra amazing during sundown.  Except, who wants to stay here for dinner when the main town of Westhampton is so charming and offers so many cute shops and great restaurants?  Unless you stay here till sundown and go to Main Street after.  Make sure you click on the Tiana Beach link gallery to see pictures of Westhampton Beach town which is as close to Cupsogue Beach as it is to Tiana (equadistant).

They also have a great restaurant here (menu and pictures in the gallery above) called The Beach Hut.  I've noticed many beaches on the south shore don't have the greatest selection of food but here seemed to have a lot to offer (even though we didn't dine here).

The water was also clear and the waves this 83 degree and sunny day were the biggest I have ever seen in New York (they were about 15 feet height). Perhaps it was just the day or it happens to be always???  The regulars would know better.  

For a list of more beaches, click here.

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Rockaway Beach

Rockaway Beach, NY

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

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A few things to know about Rockaway Beach:

1) After Hurricane Sandy, they rebuilt the boardwalk which stretches from Beach 9th Street to Beach 126th.  On this particular day, we visited the beach at 86th Street (which is close to the popular Rockaway Beach and Surf Club a couple of blocks north)

2)  It is the only beach in all of NYC that you are allowed to legally surf in.  At B86, one side of the rocks was strictly for surfing and the other was for us regular folk who just wanted to swim in the ocean.  (You'll see the rocks I mention in the video below)

3)  It is a myth that the water gets cleaner further east on the Island.  I found the beach here as clean as any in the Hamptons or on Long Island.  I guess it just depends on the day.  Or perhaps this is actually cleaner?  No seaweed the day we went.  Great waves.  Shallow water.  Maybe it was just our luck?

4)  Free street parking.  And no admittance fee.  At least on the weekday.  Or the day we went.  No one charged us anything.  I highly suggest going on a weekday as the weekends will surely be crowded with locals!  

5)  There are playgrounds all along the boardwalk for the children.  

6) They have pads to walk on to get to the beach comfortably if you have a stroller.

7)  The concession stands here beat those on any I've experienced on Long Island.  It's just a cute pretty place to eat.   

8)  The area is not so sexy once you walk about a block away.  For those who don't know, The Rockaways were like the Hamptons of New York in the early 1900s.  Once they built the subway and railroad system in the 50s, the area lost it's appeal to the wealthy and became accessible to all.  They moved out east, and government built low and middle income housing to accommodate the new population.  The Rockaways even had a famous amusement park that rivaled Coney Island's but was demolished to build these building.  As of late, developers have recognized the Rockaways as a potential goldmine.  It is along the ocean and close to the city.  You'll notice in my pictures that there are new apartment complexes on the beach.  I project in 20 years the Rockaways will be all cleaned up and a popular destination for all!!!!  

9)  Rockaway Beach and Surf Club is an adorable taco shack a couple blocks away from the beach on 86th street.  It is kind of easy to miss as your drive past it.  The signage is small.  It is right under the elevated subway line and kind of has a Wynwood Miami feel to it.  There is outdoor seating and well priced food and juices.  It is just way adorable.  You can't come to the Rockaway and not make a stop here!

10)  Even the bathrooms were better than those at other beaches I've been to.  There were lots of clean stalls.  Like, you don't have to worry about holding anything in here!

11)  If you are super adventurous, bring a bike so you can ride down the entire boardwalk.  In the evening.  During sunset.  Next on my bucket list!

12)  If you are visited from afar, it's worth driving down the entire peninsula (probably a 20 minute local drive at most from one end to the other).  Check the entire culture of the Rockaways.  Some points are more affluent than others.  Towards the west end there are some beautiful homes.  

For a list of other beaches, click here.

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Sea Cliff Beach

Sea Cliff, NY

Admission $15 per adult $10 per child (or so the lady told me when I went here on the weekend....may be less on weekdays if you try)

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

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This is a charming beach located in a charming town on the North Shore of Long Island!  A hidden gem if you will that has a cost for non-residents.  It is only open on weekends until the beach officially open the last week of June. I'm not certain if there is a different rate on weekdays but I'm sure they'll be less strict then and might not even charge.  Or try to go on a weekday before it officially opens to the public and you'll get in free of charge as I did (but the concession stand won't be open on weekdays until then).   The beach is on the Long Island Sound and has more shells than you'd expect, so have a pair of sandals that are good for going in the water with!  Advisory: Call in advance as weather changes can cause potential pollution and rain can potentially cause an increase in bacteria.  The beach may be closed in this event. 

Kill a few birds with one stone:  This entire peninsula is filled with beautiful homes!  Sea Cliff itself has very old Victorian style homes while other towns such as Mill Neck, Oyster Bay, Centre Island, Brookville, Locust Valley and others offer more grand mansions with lots of land.  There is so much else to do around here such as other nearby beaches and an amusement park.  You can also visit Sea Cliff Avenue for cute shops just a couple blocks away from Sea Cliff Beach.  

For a list of other beaches, click here.

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions), the videos below to get a better sense of the area, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see my next adventure!  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page!

 

Robert Moses State Park

Babylon, NY

Parking Fee

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

This is the most western point of Fire Island, and is the only point that is accessible by car.  I have been to both Field 5 and Field 4, and can say that there is absolutely no difference except that Field 5 has a playground. You are also able to cross over by foot into Fire Island's nearby towns like Kismet from the eastern parking lot (Field 5), and walk to the Fire Island Lighthouse (which I didn't care to do).  This beach is a wonderful beach for adults and children alike. It is not such a long walk if you have a stroller.  In my opinion, it has the best concession stand of all beaches on Long Island!  An added bonus for men: there are plenty of exposed boobs when you walk east on the shore line towards the Fire Island beach where nudity is permitted. Also, parking is only $10 per vehicle!

For a list of other beaches, click here.

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Nickerson Beach

Long Beach, NY

Parking Fee

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

This was quite possibly the worst beach experience of my life.  If you have a child in a stroller, this is not the place for you!  The walk from the parking lot to the beach is approximately give or take a quarter of a mile and the concession stand is far from the beach front.  Please note never to go to this beach unless you are a member!  The other beaches on the Long Beach strip are infinitely better!

For a list of other beaches, click here.

Check out the video below of my children having a blast in a pool of urine!  Follow me on instagram and facebook for live adventures.  And share this page with your friends if you appreciate.

 

Point Lookout

Long Beach, N

Parking Fee

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

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This is the furthest east on the Long Beach strip.  It has a great concession stand but a massive parking lot and a long walk to the water.  I'd rather skip this experience and drive down a few miles west to Lido Beach West, same water, same price, more privacy!

For a list of other beaches, click here.

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Lido Beach West

Long Beach, N

Parking Fee

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

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I love this beach for it's short distance from the parking lot to the water, its concession stand, the crowd, how clean the water is, and how private it is. This is by far the best of all the beaches on the Long Beach strip.  Tip:  if you are going on a weekend, make sure you arrive before 11am as the parking lot fills up fast!

For a list of other beaches, click here.

Click on the gallery above to view pictures (best viewed on desktop for captions), the videos below to get a better sense of the area, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on instagram and facebook for live adventures.  And share this page with your friends if you appreciate!

 

Cooper's Beach

Southhampton, NY

$40 Parking Fee

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

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There is a $40 fee to park (most in Westhampton are $25 and under), a longer walk from the parking lot to the beach, and a longer drive from home as the Southhampton is further east than Westhampton, but if you are into people watching and a decent concession stand (serves fries, breakfast, and sandwiches), this is the place for you!  I find the water the clearest of all the beaches I've been on the south shore.  Depending on the time of the season you go, there may or may not be huge waves.  We went towards the end of the summer and for some reason, there was a huge cliff by the shore so we were not able to sit in our beach chairs and watch our children at the same time.  They were under our field of vision.  The second time I went this was not the case, so I'm guessing this is just based on your luck!  

Kill a few birds with one stone:  Go into their town for dinner and some high end shopping. 

For a list of other beaches, click here.

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Asharoken Beach Park

Northport, NY

Parking Fee

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

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I discovered this by complete accident and through an inquisitive mind. When I had visited the Vanderbilt mansion the town over, I had asked the guide if the land across the water was Connecticut.  He told me it was actually Asharoken peninsula in the town of Northport.  He told me it was a street with water on both sides and it is worth seeing.  So I followed through and drove ten minutes to Asharoken Avenue.  It is a three mile stretch of waterfront homes on both sides of the street.  It is a very unique point on the North Shore of Long Island.  At the very beginning of the street, you will find two neighboring beaches, one for residents and one for anyone willing to pay $20 for parking.  The beach is a sand beach with calm and crystal clear waters, and a concession stand, and a short walk to the parking lot!   I went on a weekday and was able to find a lifeguard who let me access the private beach.  This is a wonderful place to go with the family and enjoy collection shells with the kids and actually swim in calm waters!  Tip:  have sandals for the rocks at the bottom of the ocean!

Kill a few birds with one stone:  Vanderbilt Mansion in neighboring Centerport!  And park on Main Street in the town of Northport and walk around the town!

For a list of other beaches, click here.

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Soundside Beach Park

Bayville, NY

No admission fee, free parking on street

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

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One of the rare sand beaches on the North Shore of Long Island!  And my favorite beach!  The water of the Sound is much clearer and calmer than that of the Atlantic.  It is as though you are swimming in a lake! The depth of the beach is very shallow, and there are lots of shells and rocks so swimming with sandals is a good idea!  Children will love collecting shells by the shore and building their sand castles while adults can enjoy the cocktails offered by Walls Wharf restaurant on the beach (wonderful menu with a huge variety).  Tip:  go here on a weekday with minimal traffic and easy parking.  Parking in the main parking lot is for residents only so your best bet is dropping off your family with their beach chairs and finding parking yourself if you go on the weekend.  If you go on a weekday, be there by noon, park in the lot of Walls Wharf and dine there so they allow you to use the parking lot after you've finished eating.  Advisory: Call in advance as weather changes can cause potential pollution and rain can potentially cause an increase in bacteria.  The beach may be closed in this event. 

Kill a few birds with one stone:  Walk along the shore a quarter mile east and west to view some quaint and charming homes.  North Shore's Malibu, if you will!  Walk over a couple of properties to the left and you will find Crescent Beach Club, a restaurant as well as a catering hall, with palm trees planted on its beach.  You're not allowed to walk on this property but just pass by along it's shore line.  It's the closest you'll get to feeling like you are in the Caribbean in Northeast America.  Also, if you are into nice homes, drive a half mile east on Bayville Avenue to Centre Island (Bill Joel lives here).  It's about a mile long peninsula with houses on the water on both sides of the street.  Very scenic drive!

For a list of other beaches, click here.

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions), the videos below to get a better sense of the area, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see my next adventure!  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page!

 

Ocean Beach Park (Long Beach)

 

Long Beach, NY

Admission Per Person Fee

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

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I found everything about this beach amazing!  The free parking spots.  The $15 per adult charge but free for children.  The numerous food vendors and restaurants you will find along the 2 mile boardwalk (lined with apartment buildings and the modern and sleek Allegria Hotel). 

Kill a few birds with one stone:  

There are a lot of restaurants and delis along West and East Park Avenue. Walk around the Allegria lobby and have a meal or drink in its restaurant with views of the beach.

For a list of other beaches, click here.

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions) and vides below to get a better idea!  And please add your feedback on the comments section.  Follow me on instagram and facebook for live adventures.  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page. 

 

Allegria Hotel rooftop

Allegria Hotel lobby

Tiana Beach

Westhampton Beach, NY

$25 Parking Fee

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

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Tiana Beach is all the way east on Dune Street.  I choose this beach over Rogers because Rogers is private for residents only.  But Rogers is far more convenient!  Anyway, the drive to Tiana is spectacular.  Here is where you can spot 50 million dollar homes and dream big! Tehre is a myth that you have to get here before noon to find a spot in the lot, but the people by the entrance assure that the 800 spot lot never fills up on weekends.  And I always see people strolling in hours after I arrive.  So if this is the truth, go a little later as your children might get naggy at a beach for that long.

There is a concession stand but you may want to bring some extra food regardless!  I love this beach because the coast line is nearly on the parking lot, so you don't have to schlep a long distance.   The water is also extremely clean and the beach is far more private than those you'll find closer to NYC! 

Kill a few birds with one stone:  The closest of all the Hamptons, I find Westhampton extremely charming and much more kid friendly than neighboring Southhampton.  Westhampton Bakery is my personal favorite.  It has a wide variety of foods on its menu, you can dine inside or outdoors on its adorable patio, and you will never have a custard croissant quite like theirs.  Tip:  beat the after-beach traffic so you can get your hands on one of these before they run out!  I love their Napoleon, pizzas, seared tuna dish, and most everything I try here.

Also, 4th of July (or another date depending on when they do the fireworks) is a wonderful time of year to come here.  The fireworks on the Great Lawn on Main Street are magical and start around 9:15pm.  Worth it to drag out your kids bed time!  Tip:  beat the after-beach traffic so you can get your hands on one of these before they run out!  I love their Napoleon, pizzas, seared tuna dish, and most everything I try here.

For a list of other beaches, click here.

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions), the videos below to get a better sense of the area, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below! Follow me on instagram and facebook for live adventures.  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page.