A Staycation on the Beaches of Long Island

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With gas prices soaring, this summer is a great time for a Staycation on the beaches of Long Island. It's one of the best vacation's there is, especially if you live on Long Island. I'm a Bay Shore Native, and this town is known as the gateway to Fire Island. There are miles of gorgeous beach along this barrier island, and each one is accessible by ferry. The boat ride is half the fun.

From Montauk Point to Rockaway Beach, and everything in between, these mainland beaches are accessible by car. I have relatives in Long Beach and Rockaway, so I visit here every summer. Jones Beach, Long Beach, and Rockaway are famous for their long boardwalks that you can stroll on and take in the view. Long Island's beaches are some of the most beautiful anywhere in the world, and thousands of people from far and near visit them each year.

On Friday, I started my Staycation by visiting some friends early in the day and then taking a ride to Field 5 at Robert Moses. They have a bar there now, and it's become a favorite destination of mine. They even have an old-fashioned viewer scope that you put a quarter into so you can see far out into the ocean. With so many container ships lined up waiting to get into the New York Harbor, there's a lot to see now. I even spotted a pirate. Or at least I imagined I did.

With miles of sprawling sand, the beaches on Long Island are legendary. From the powder-fine, white sands of Long Beach to the pounding surf of Montauk, you don't have to travel far to embrace these natural wonders. Take a drive along Dune Road in the Hamptons to Shinnecock Beach at the east end and Cupsogue Beach at the west end. There are some great restaurants that you can stop at along the way including Oakland's, Sunday's, and Docker's Waterside. The food is great at each of these places and so is the people-watching. This strip of land also offers luxurious views of beautiful homes along the Atlantic Ocean. 

There are also some really cool bay beaches that have great food and live music. Some of my favorites are Corey Beach in Bayport, Islip Beach, Tobay Beach in Babylon (one of the best places to catch a sunset), and Venetian Shores in Lindenhurst. These little "beaches by the bay" are easy to get to and offer their own special blend of beach bum fun.

When you spend time at the beach, you are immersed in a landscape of freedom and peace. The beach takes us away from our daily grind and feasts us with sand, sun, sky, and sea. From kite-flying to building castles, the beach is a place to let our minds expand. La Spiaggia (beach in Italian) influences our psyche much like what hypnosis does. It is the change in the way our brain reacts to the environment – leaving us stress-free, happy, relaxed and re-energized. Life is a beach.

Peace and Love,

Skylark

At 60 and beyond, the beach can offer us tranquility and child-like wonder.

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I am a columnist with Skylark Live Town News (SLTN) and write short, poetic articles geared to the 60 and beyond population. Topics include human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, music, and events in and around Bay Shore. I also write about restaurants and stores I've been to in the area. You can also watch my first Monday-of-the-month vlog, “60 and Beyond with Skylark" on my YouTube Channel, Skylark Live, that features my articles from SLTN. Please subscribe to my free STLN newsletter that gets delivered directly to your email each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. To support SLTN, you can make a recurring monthly donation ($5 Friend or $15 Advocate) or a one-time donation of any amount. It's up to you, and it's easy to do on my feed. You can also advertise your business or event here as well. Please follow me on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn under my brand, Skylark Live. Thank you for your support.