New York State has over 1800 miles of shoreline with some world class beaches between its northern and southern borders.  Thousands of city dwellers and vacationers visit the nearby beaches of Long Island, Fire Island, The Hamptons, Greenport and Northfork.

LONG ISLAND

Long Island, although urban at the western end, is very much a beach resort location for New York City.  Long Island is rich in natural beauty, with sandy beaches, parks, hiking trails, kayaking and boating, as well as stately historical mansions and museums to explore. You can find dinosaurs, fire fighting equipment, Grumman aircraft and historic railroad cars.  There are miles of beaches, many secluded by dunes and land formations.

Jones Beach is the largest and best known of the beaches operated by the State of New York.  It’s located on Jones Island, a barrier island for Long Island’s south shore.  The 6.5 mile public beach faces the open Atlantic Ocean.  The park, originally planned by Robert Moses, includes a two mile long boardwalk, dining and catering facilities, a Trump project restaurant in construction, and the 14,000 seat Nikon outdoor theater and arena—long a site for musical presentations and dances.

FIRE ISLAND

Fire Island is another barrier island, located off Long Island’s southern shore.  Most of the 30 mile long island is part of the Fire Island National Seashore and protected from further development. The Fire Island Lighthouse, the Sunken Forest and the Fire Island Wilderness (accessible only by boat) are all points of interest to view for the visitor.

In addition to enjoying the beach and water activities, Fire Island is known for world-class shopping, a glittering nightlight and fine dining.

GREENPORT

Greenport is another beautiful beach resort city located on Long Island’s North Fork.  It’s known for the whaling and shipping industries which operated from this port in the past.  Currently the village is more attuned to tourism and recreational opportunities provided by the miles of sandy beaches and acres of vineyards nearby. 

NORTHFORK

Northfork is best known for the wine country which surrounds it.  The nearby beaches of Suffolk County are known as excellent novice swimmer locations.  The north side of Long Island facing the open Atlantic provides recreational activities, dining, shopping, and cultural events.

THE HAMPTONS

The eastern end of Long Island is grouped as The Hamptons due to a number of towns and villages which contain Hampton as part of the name.  The area is noted for wealthy secluded estates with tracts of rural land surrounding them.  Many wealthy residents choose the quiet surroundings for homes or summer homes.  Yet, The Hamptons is also a sought after tourist destination.  The beaches here extend for miles and offer surfing, beachcombing, swimming and just lazing.  Shopping is available for those who want high-end items that are created by some of the local artisans.  The nightlife in The Hamptons is well known, but much of the activity is centered around the summer season, with less excitement during winter or off-season.