Fire Island: The Perfect Getaway

    Who needs to spend a copious amount of time traveling long distance just to get away? Fire Island is the perfect place to escape this summer. Gather your family, significant other or group of friends and make the best of this beautiful Island close to home.  This quaint island offers all you need and more for the perfect place to chill.  Enjoy a little R&R at a bed and breakfast, hotel or rent a home, visit the beautiful Great South Bay or Atlantic Ocean, walk to the local restaurants with live entertainment or hop over to Cherry Grove for an entertaining show.  Each community on the island has different activities held each day and night so be sure to pick up the local paper to get all you need to know.  If you are a day tripper, take a ferry and spend the day to experience all that Fire Island has to offer.  Chances are you’ll find yourself booking your next vacation to stay there.  

How to get there?
Only a thirty minute ferry ride and it will feel as if you’ve flown across the map.  A few popular communities within Fire Island include; Ocean Beach, Fair Harbor, Kismet, Saltaire, Dunewood/Atlantique, Ocean Bay Park, Seaview, Cherry Grove and The Pines.  Ferry tickets are fairly inexpensive – you can view ticket pricing and schedules at fireislandferries.com. A roundtrip ticket for adults is $19 and for children only $9.  The ferry deports from all different areas throughout the southshore.  

Bayshore Ferry
99 Maple Avenue; 631.665.3600
• Ocean Bay Park • Ocean Beach • Fair Harbor • Kismet • Dunewood/Atlantique  
Sayville Ferry
41 River Road; 631.589.0810
• The Pine • Sailors Haven • Cherry Grove • Water Island
Patchogue Ferry
80 Brightwood; 631.475.1665
• Davis Park • Leja Beach • Ocean Ridge • Watch Hil

Where to Stay?
• Clegg’s Hotel
47 Bayberry Walk, Ocean Beach
631.583.9292
Cleggshotel.com
This waterfront hotel and bed and breakfast has been a Fire Island staple since 1946 and has been family owned and operated for more than 67 years.  Clegg’s Hotel is located at the center of Ocean Beach with a bay front property and boasts European style rooms.  They offer many amenities to their guests; bicycles, wagon, restaurant accommodations, games, they have it all and more to make your stay an unforgettable experience.  If you’re looking for quiet and peaceful relaxation, this hotel is for you.  Just a five minute walk to the beach and steps away from the action.   

• Fire Island Hotel and Resort
Cayuga Walk, Ocean Beach
631.583.8000
Fireislandhotel.com
Recently renovated, Fire Island Hotel and Resort offers comfortable and cozy accommodations for your stay.  Each room – whether it be a modernized updated cottage or a suite, offers a private or semi-private outdoor balcony for guests that enjoy privacy.  Just steps away from the beach and all the action.  

Things To Do
• Rachel’s Bakery & Restaurant
Bay Walk, Ocean Beach
631.583.9552
Rachel’s Bakery and Restaurant is the perfect establishment that offers the best of both worlds-salty and sweet.  They serve up popular breakfast dishes and lunch staples like burgers and pasta.  If you’re looking to satisfy your sweet tooth or just looking for a caffeine fix, Rachel’s is a must.  Open since 1972, Rachel’s is the go to place on Ocean Beach to frequent.  Mainly known their famous crumb cake, they have so much to offer and then some.  Stop in and enjoy an ice coffee while tasting a few of their specialties – The Cheese Danish, Chocolate Chip Crumble are among some of the favorites.  Rachel’s Bakery and Restaurant is your one stop shop.

• Surf’s Out
Bay Walk, Kismet
631.583.7400
Surfsout.com
Visit beautiful Kismet and be sure to stop at Surf’s Out-everyday is a party there.  From Taco Tuesdays, Lobster Bash on Thursdays, Happy Hour Fridays, live music and more; they have jam packed events to fill your calendar from now until Labor day weekend.  They serve a large variety of seafood dishes for lunch and dinner, along with an extensive sushi list to choose from.  Surf’s Out is great spot to frequent, whether you’re looking to lounge and soak in the bay or party the night away with the great night crowd.  Either way, you will have a great time at Surf’s out.     

• The Island Mermaid
Bay Walk, Ocean Beach
631.583.8088
Islandmermaid.com
Located adjacent to the ferry on the Great South Bay, The Island Mermaid is a great spot to visit if you’re looking for some global cuisine and a place to party the night away.  They serve lunch and dinner daily with brunch on the weekends. They strive to be the equivalent of your favorite NYC restaurant in a casual beach environment.  Their eclectic resort cuisine rivals that of any other establishment on Fire Island and by far has the largest wine and food selection on the Island.  To elevate every guests experience, they offer a gluten-free, organic and vegetarian options.  After lunch or dinner, stick around for their live music and entertainment and prepare to have the full Island Mermaid experience. 

• Ice Palace Bar & Nightclub
Ocean Walk, Cherry Grove
631.597.6600
Grovehotel.com
Although you’re not in NYC it may feel as if you are.  Hop on over to Cherry Grove for the day and check out Ice Palace.  Cherry Grove, along with the adjacent Pines, is considered one of the most popular lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT), accepting resort communities in the United States.  They are best known for their amazing Pool-side shows, live performances and contests with some of the greatest performers showcasing their talent.  Be sure to stop at Ice Palace in Cherry Grove for a great day of fun and entertainment  and chill with some of the most talented performers on Fire Island.