Hi Joyful Scribblings readers! I’m Stacey from Likes to Smile. I met Dawn in Holly’s Blogging Your Way course, where we became fast friends and I became a dedicated reader of Joyful Scribblings! I’m so honored to count Dawn as one of my friends and to be guest blogging today.
Dawn asked me to write about Summer in New York City and I think the NYC: The Official New York City Guide says it best:
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Us “real” New Yorkers know that summer in the city is really about how quickly you can find your way to the beach. After all, New York City is literally an island and is luckily located very near the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Here is a listing of all the different NYC beaches.
I have two favorite beaches in close-ish proximity.
My first favorite is Long Beach, Long Island.
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It is a life guarded, pay-to-enter beach that is so clean with the most gorgeous stretch of sand. It is such a heavenly escape from the city! The Long Island Rail Road features a package deal with Long Beach, where for $21 one gets a round-trip rail pass and beach entry ticket. My friends and I meet with coffee and bagels at Penn Station and take the train out to Long Beach. Who doesn’t love a picnic on the train?! And we all store snacks to share on the beach in our beach bags. I always bring cherries.
Once you arrive in Long Beach, it’s about a quarter mile walk straight to a beach surrounded by a boardwalk. All that’s left to do is to pick the perfect spot and enjoy. Trains return to the city every hour, so we just stay on the beach until we decide we are ready to head back. It’s the perfect day trip. Beachy perfection!
My second favorite beach is Main Beach, East Hampton.
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Another life guarded, pay-to-park beach that is so clean with the most gorgeous stretch of sand. This is about a three-hour drive from New York City (three hours accounts for immense traffic, it can be as short as two-hours if you catch the traffic correctly). When I am in East Hampton, I love to pick up sandwiches from Luigi’s or bagels from Goldberg’s for a picnic on the beach.
To get to the Hamptons, I take the Hampton Luxury Liner and usually stay out East for the weekend. Being in the Hamptons is like being dropped into a movie set. It’s so gorgeous, you forget that you are close to home and always secretly end up wishing for “just one more night.” There is nothing like catching a starry night on the beach. Movie magic. But real life. Even better!
And you? Have you ever been to the beaches near New York City? Did you imagine that summer in the city would be all about the beach?
Dawn, thanks for having me! Until next time!
xoxo,
Stacey
Postscript: My 10-year anniversary in New York City is on August 10! Do I count as a “Real” New Yorker then? Hope so!
OH! Just WOW! That right there is my dream come true vacation. I just want to lounge and eat snacks and sip out of straws all day on the sand! I wonder, if I flew to New York City in the summer….where would I stay so that I could enjoy one of these beaches? any recommendations on lodging? Seriously….this just looks like Happiness. You are so blessed to be there!
Hi Angela!!
If you follow the links to the beaches, they actually link you to the websites for both the towns — so you could follow their guides on where to stay! And I promise you… you would not at all be disappointed if you go to either beach for vacation. Also…you could easily stay in NYC and make a day trip out to either beach (as another option). Definitely let me know if you end up going!
xoxo,
Stacey
Thank you Stacey!
Dawn,
I wanted to thank you again for inviting me guest post today. It was an honor! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
xoxo,
Stacey
Love this post! As a “New Yorker” it’s always great to have all this info!
Thanks Stacey and Dawn!
I’ve never actually been to any NY beaches. In fact, when I think of NY, beaches aren’t usually what I think about! But these beaches look gorgeous — I think I’ll have to check them out!