Summer Fridays're here, and instead of begging your coworker's
roommate's brother's friend's babysitter's bodega owner's cousin to
borrow their car again, we’ve put together a definitive list of every
beach accessible from New York sans car.
Robert Moses Beach, Long Island
A $23 train and bus ride (take the
LIRR to Babylon then transfer to the S-47 Suffolk Bus to Robert Moses State Park)
is all that stands between you and five miles of idyllic oceanfront, an
18-hole golf course, picnic areas, surfing, and best of all, fewer
crowds than the always jam-packed Jones Beach.
Sandy Hook, NJ
A
40-minute ride on the Seastreak, which departs from East 35th St Pier 11 seven days a week, sets you back
$45 for a round-trip ticket
(approximately what you would've spent on beef jerky if you drove) but
lands you at this historic beach with plenty to do: seven miles of
shoreline feature hiking and biking trails, fishing, Fort Hancock
walking tours, and the oldest operating lighthouse in the US. Oh, and
also, Gunnison is a
nude beach. No tan lines. Amen.
Orchard Beach, Bronx
Dubbed the “Riviera of New York City”, this manmade beach spills over
the Long Island Sound. The basketball courts, tennis courts, and picnic
areas can be all yours in one and a half hours with a quick ride on the 6 train to Pelham Bay Park, and a transfer to the Bx12 bus to Orchard Beach. Come sunset, nothing beats a relaxing stroll on the hexagonal boardwalk.
Brighton Beach
Next door to Coney Island, this popular beach gives you plenty to do
beyond crisping in the sun: grab some borscht and vodka at any of the
nearby eateries then make your way to the surrounding neighborhood,
known as Little Odessa, for an even more immersive cultural experience. The Q or B train (get off at the Brighton Beach Stop) will get you where you need to be in under an hour.
Coney Island
Indulge in a Nathan’s Famous hot dog, carnival games, and amusement park
rides galore and still make it back in time for your rooftop happy
hour. With a simple ride on the F or Q train to Ocean Pkwy or W 8th St, you can be on this iconic slice of coastline.
Fire Island
As an alternative to playing
Frogger in the crowded Hamptons,
Fire Island -- home to 26 miles of coastline -- offers something for
everyone, from the family-oriented Fair Harbor to the scene-y Ocean
Beach. Just jump on the
Long Island Railroad to Bayshore, where you can catch a 20-minute ferry ride and
be on your way to no-traffic heaven -- the Island is free of cars and
paved roads, and the only way to get around is by foot, bike, or golf
cart (BYO golf cart).
Shelter Island
Hop on the Long Island Railroad to Greenport and then take a 10-minute ferry ride. Boom. It’s that easy.
Rockaway Beach, Queens
To get to this surfer sanctuary,
take the A train to Broad Channel before switching to the S train to Rockaway Park-Beach 116th for good sand, killer waves,
snack shacks (Rockaway Taco, Rippers, etc…),
hotels made out of boats, and the occasional crazy party. Alternatively take the
ferry from Wall St and get dropped off at the Jacob Riis State Park.
Long Beach, Long Island
It's approximately an hour from the city, and you can
just hop on the LIRR and get off at Long Beach -- beach packages cost
$22 and include a round-trip train ticket plus beach admission voucher. This
Long Island town is home to a long (see what we did there) five-mile
stretch of volleyball- and frisbee-perfect sands. Also, it’s got a
pretty great local music scene.
Jones Beach
For being so damn crowded, this one’s a bit of a schlep -- you’ll have to
take the LIRR from Penn Station to Freeport then hop on the usually over-packed Jones Beach shuttle bus.
But once you’re there, you’ll have some help forgetting all about the
trip courtesy of mini golf, two swimming pools, and a massive beach.
Jersey Shore and Long Branch
Go for the beaches and boardwalk; stay for the top-notch hooligan watching.
The New Jersey Transit bus will
get you all over the shore including Seaside Heights, Toms River and
Seaside Park, Cape May, and Atlantic City no problem -- but you can keep
a glimmer of hope that the Garden State isn’t all about GTL by making
your way to
Long Branch, which has $31.50 beach packages available (beach pass included), where you’ll stumble across high-end shops and tons of waterfront eateries.
Manhattan Beach
The mix of mansions that surround this beach provide the ultimate inspiration for making your own (sand) castles. Take the B or Q to Brighton Beach, then hop on a five-minute ride on the B1 bus to Oriental Blvd and get building.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Beach and South Beach, Staten Island
If you’re in the mood for something a little off the beaten path (
or pizza), take the
Staten Island Ferry to St. George Terminal before transferring to the S51 bus to FR Capodanno Blvd/Robin Rd,
which is a short walk from the shore. Once there, take in views of the
Verrazano Bridge, jog along the boardwalk, test the waters in
a kayak,
or fish the hell out of that place. SI’s got other beaches as well like
the Franklin D. Roosevelt, which offers equally awesome backdrops of
the Verrazano and a long boardwalk. For this one, take the
Staten Island Ferry to St. George Terminal before transferring to the S51 bus to FR Capodanno Blvd/Seaview Ave. Bonus: the Staten Island Ferry is free!
Hamptons
If you’re in a balls-to-the-walls kind of mood,
book a StndAIR sea plane to East Hampton. Departing from the East River at 23rd St, the
trip takes 45 minutes and costs a cool $525,
but saves you from an otherwise terrible four-hour drive, Jitney (ugh),
or ferry crossing. The red-and-white Cessna, which can carry up to
eight fliers, also makes its way to other destinations like Martha’s
Vineyard, Nantucket, and Shelter Island. Other jet-set options include
Liberty Helicopter Tours or sea plane-ing it with
Sound Aircraft Services, which departs from the East River. #Yolo
There’s also a new app called Blade that
1) can totally walk around in sunlight (!) and 2) can hook you up with
helicopter rides out East; they let you snag seats on their
already-scheduled flights, or you can crowd-fund your own charter flight
through them (the more people that buy, the cheaper your flight is).
Bonus: if for whatever reason your flight is canceled, they still
guarantee passage to your Hamptons destination via Maserati of NYC.
Those of you who aren’t rolling in Benjamins (or rental cars) can get to the Hamptons
by way of the LIRR’s “Cannonball”. Just
reserve a seat on this train
leaving from Penn Station every Friday, and it goes non-stop to West
Hampton, followed by South Hampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, and
finally Montauk.
Coopers Beach, South Hampton
Immaculate white sands, clean blue waters, and surrounding drop-dead
gorgeous mansions make this South Hampton spot the best. No, really, it
was given the title of Best Beach in America in 2010. No travel tricks
here sadly,
just take the ever-popular Jitney with direct service from Manhattan. From your destination, grab a taxi to the beach.
Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard
Screw however you were planning on getting there and
hop on board the Seastreak catamaran to MV
instead for eye-rousing panoramic views of Manhattan, Roosevelt Island,
Queensboro Bridge, the Long Island Sound, and Block Island.
Round-trip tickets cost $240 and ferries operate every Friday from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Alisha Prakash is a contributing writer at Thrillist NYC. Her
mission: make Sriracha a food group. You can find more of her musings on
her website or follow her on Twitter.
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