One Day in Fire Island, New York

The summer heat has officially hit New York, bringing a welcome to the long-awaited beach season. Growing up a Jersey girl I've only been familiar with its infamous shores, but this past weekend my friends and I ventured out to Long Island's Fire Island for the first time. 

Despite the two-hour journey of trains, a shuttle, and ferry, I would return to Fire Island in a heartbeat. As an island completely without cars, it truly feels like an escape from the city. We spent the day in Ocean Beach, known as the "cosmopolitan" center of the island. We drank frosé by the seaside and lounged at ease under the sun, making for a perfect start to this New York summer.

Getting To Fire Island:

For my fellow New Yorkers, the journey to Fire Island takes a bit of planning. From Penn Station, purchase a getaway pass from the ticket machines and select your desired area on the island. A LIRR train to Bay Shore (with a transfer in Jamaica) followed by a short shuttle ride will take you to the ferry terminal for your final transfer to the island. Thirty minutes later, you'll find yourself on the shores of Fire Island.

What We Ate:

Ocean Beach in particular has no shortage of food options. We grabbed a seaside lunch at Maguire's Bayfront Restaurant, which also happened to be serving frosé as the cocktail special. Sounds like the quintessential beach day lunch, am I right? The meal wasn't cheap, but hey, nothing really is around New York. For not having checked reviews first, I'd say it was a very enjoyable meal. Be sure to grab a seat on the patio as well.

No meal is complete without dessert, so we grabbed a quick ice cream from Scoops further into town. Is there really a more perfect beach day treat?

As is the nature of most beach towns, there is no pressure to fill the day with activities in Fire Island. After finishing lunch we headed straight to the beach to work on our tans, with a short stop at the oceanview playground for swing photos (of course). Even as the island's most popular area, Ocean Beach is relatively quiet and allows for ultimate relaxation on the sand. Between the beautiful weather and perfect company, this first beach trip of the season was undoubtedly a success.

Photo Credit: Van Le

Swimsuit: Aerie | Shorts: Mango