If you’re already looking into booking next year's summer vacation, we have the perfect spot for you. This vacation spot involves a small beach town, and hardly any traveling if you're from the East Coast. Fire Island is located off the southern shoreline of Long Island, New York, and to me, could be one of the most notable places to go on the East Coast. While steering away from the craziness of Manhattan, and luxury life of the Hamptons, Fire Island has made a name for itself on Long Island as a little piece of paradise.
What is it?
Fire Island is a barrier island located off of the southern shore of Long Island. It can be accessed by boat, ferry, or by the two bridges on either end. Be prepared to ditch your car though, because Fire Island is made up of 17 car-free communities. Most people travel throughout the island bicycle, golf cart, or by foot. Fire Island even has their own water taxi to get around from town to town. Don't worry though, it’s not hard to walk from town to town on this 32-mile long island, there’s sidewalks and beautiful views to keep you occupied.
Fire Island is a place that is sure not to disappoint, and sure to miss during these chilly October days. No matter what your plan is- for a day trip, week-long vacation or getaway for the whole summer, Fire Island is a perfect place to get away from the busy everyday life. People like to spend their summers on Fire Island, though there are communities where residents can live all year long. On the island you can find beaches, marinas, restaurants, hotels and state parks. When walking through the “streets” of Fire Island, you will run into everything from bicyclists to golf carts to deer.
Fire Island has an island life mentality that can make a person think that they’re in the islands of the Caribbean. Residents often walk around barefoot, and most likely in a bathing suit (yes, even in the restaurants too). I personally believe that this is one of the many unique things about Fire Island, because there are no standards or reputations that it’s residents or visitors are held up to. Compared to other popular vacationing spots in New York, Fire Island is a place that can let you kick back and relax.
Kismet Beach on Fire Island. Picture taken by Erin Feltkamp
If you’re looking for a place with turquoise water and white sand beaches- this is where you should be. The island is perfect for every kind of summer vacationer. One long beach that looks out towards the Atlantic Ocean lines the southern side of the island, while the Great South Bay occupies the north side. Many kick back at the northern side to get a good look of Long Island from across the bay. Here, there are usually people jet-skiing or doing other kinds of water sports in the calm water. For people who like an ocean view, the beach is just a short 10-minute walk or bike ride from the bay. I honestly believe that Fire Island consists of some of the most beautiful beaches in the northeast (as a Long Islander myself, this may be slightly biased). Fire Island’s beaches are ideal for swimming, kayaking, surfing and boogey boarding. The lifeguard-patrolled beaches are most often packed with groups from all ages ranging from young children, to young adults to elders. Fire Island is a place that can truly appeal to any group.
Popular Local Towns
The most popular locations are…
Ocean Beach
Cherry Grove & The Fire Island Pines
Robert Moses State Park
Ocean Bay Park
Kismet
Saltaire
No matter which town you occupy yourself in; a day on Fire Island will most likely consist of sitting dockside, lounging on the beach, or barbecuing hamburgers and hot dogs. If you are up to doing any exploring, you could visit the Fire Island Lighthouse located on the western side of the island, overlooking both the Great South Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. This is an easy walk over from Robert Moses State Park if you choose to park your car there. Taking a tour up to the top of the lighthouse costs no more than $7 for adults and $4 for children. You could also head over to the Sunken Forest in the Sailors Haven Marina. This leads you down through a forest between the dunes and creeks. Take a walk over to Ocean Beach, where you can find small gift shops, boutiques and restaurants. Beware though, Ocean Beach is a very tourist-populated town. While walking around you may come across children selling hand painted seashells or string bracelets. Fire Island is a very family-oriented place, where it is safe for kids to ride their bike from town to town, and to walk the beaches on their own. If you’re from around the area, you might even run into one of your hometown friends, because on Fire Island everyone seems to know everyone. And if you’re lucky, you may be able to spot some of the celebrities that live there, such as Tina Fey, Madonna, Michael Kors, and others.
Fire Island Lighthouse. Picture taken by Erin Feltkamp
Kismet Beach
Small towns that are crawling with locals are the ones to go to. A small town called Kismet Beach lies around two miles east of the Fire Island Lighthouse and is just a short 20-minute boat ride from Suffolk County. Kismet is composed of a small marina filled with local boaters, two restaurants, a corner store to get a mouth-watering egg sandwich and a small hotel. The same owner owns the marina and two restaurants, called the Kismet Inn and Surf’s Out. “The Inn” as people call it, is a rustic bar with finger-food appetizers, and can guarantee to have your favorite NFL game on during the warmer days of fall. In the endless days of summer, you can often find beach bums relaxing on the back deck while drinking Fire Island’s infamous drink, the Rocket Fuel. On the other hand, Surf’s Out is slightly more upscale, but is still the perfect place for grabbing a quick bite to eat after a long day at the beach. Their menu has everything from Italian to handmade sushi, made with the freshest seafood. Surfs Out brings in a large crowd during the weekends in the summer, because of its easy access to the Long Island ferry dock, and appealing nightlife to the younger crowds. Surfs Out will normally have a local band play at their outside venue, which draws in residents and visitors.
Sunset on Great South Bay. Picture taken by Erin Feltkamp
After a long day out at the beach, many gather back to their summer homes, boats or to the ferry to head home. During dinnertime, Fire Island will never disappoint in giving you an unbelievable sunset to glare at while enjoying a meal, or a boat ride home. If you visit the island often, it is not uncommon to have these infamous sunset pictures filling up your Snapchat and Instagram feed. They are guaranteed to make you want to come back the next weekend. And the one after that.
