As the weather gets hotter, the need to escape the sweltering city becomes more acute. Fortunately for New Yorkers, we’re just a short jaunt away from some of the best beaches and beach towns in the U.S., making us perfectly situated for a weekend away or just a much-needed day trip.
To the east are the iconic beaches of Long Island, which don’t get any better than the famous Hamptons beaches. But for a short trip, Jones Beach – which is only 30 miles outside the city – will certainly do the trick. Or you can head south to the Jersey Shore and take in the vibrant and eclectic Long Beach Island or the historic Ocean Grove.
Wherever you go, do yourself a favor and get out of town. The therapeutic benefit of escaping the dog days of a Manhattan summer is well worth a couple of hours in the car (or on the train or bus).—Greg Hanlon
Long Beach Island, New Jersey
Ocean Grove, New Jersey
Cooper’s Beach, Southampton
Jones Beach, Long Island
Cadiz, Spain
Kefalonia, Greece
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Surfers Paradise, Australia
Koh Phangan, Thailand
Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Caladesi Island State Park,
Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
Newport, Rhode Island
Ogunquit, Maine
A SUBDUED SLICE OF THE JERSEY SHORE
Time In Car: 2 hours
Long Beach Island, New Jersey
609-361-1000; longbeachisland.com
This 18-mile-long barrier island off the Jersey Shore is really a hodgepodge of communities, some of which swell during the summer tourist season and some of which remain peaceful and quiet.
Whatever you’re looking for, you can find it by heading down to “LBI,” as it’s locally known, either by car or public transportation – from which it’s easily accessible. LBI beaches have varying rates, but they are uniformly less expensive than Hamptons beaches.
The island is just a quarter- to a half-mile wide, so wherever you are, the white, sandy beach is a short walk away. LBI doesn’t have a boardwalk, lending it a sense of peacefulness uncommon in beach communities its size – particularly in notoriously raucous Jersey Shore towns.
Because of its distance from the mainland – it lies four to six miles away – pollen cannot reach the island, so LBI is a good spot for allergy sufferers.
While you’re there, check out the Barnegat Lighthouse, locally known as “Old Barney,” at the northern tip of the island. Standing 165 feet high, this lighthouse lords over LBI and offers a sweeping vista of the island’s many communities.
For those who want to spend the evening, LBI has a vibrant bar scene and lots of excellent restaurants.
A VICTORIAN TOWN BY THE SEA
Time In Car: 1 1/2 hours
Ocean Grove, New Jersey
732-774-4736; oceangrove.com
Ocean Grove is known for its gorgeous Victorian homes that have landed it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places for the past 30 years. This 10-block wide Monmouth County town – which is an hour and a half from the city by car or public transportation – is perfect for a relaxing stroll through town or a day at the beach.
The ornate Victorian homes form the perfect backdrop for beach-going. Take it all in by walking on the boardwalk, or just find a spot on the beach and play some shuffleboard or bocci ball. Parking fees for the beach are a reasonable $6 all summer.
If the beach isn’t your thing, perhaps the high concentration of Victorian architecture is. The Historical Society of Ocean Grove (732-774-1685) offers guided tours of the town’s historic houses.
Even if you don’t take the guided tour, don’t miss the Great Auditorium, a 7,000-seat wooden Victorian auditorium that features the largest pipe organ in the country.
A HAMPTONS EXPERIENCE
Time In Car: 2 hours
Cooper’s Beach, Southampton
631-283-0247
The grand colonial mansions dotting this largest of Southampton’s beaches reflect the village’s status as the oldest settlement in New York State, dating back to 1640.
Cooper’s boasts pristine golden sand, breathtaking views of both the ocean and the village, and waves that can be pretty intense come summertime, with lifeguards on duty from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day during the summer season (from Memorial Day through Labor Day).
A clean, well-kept pavilion provides a concession stand, bathrooms and fresh-water showers.
If you happen to be a jazz fan, check out “A Tribute to the Count” night on July 1, an event sponsored by the Southampton Cultural Center featuring Count Basie classics. For more information on this event, call 631-287-4377.
While parking is free for residents, non-residents must pay $25 parking fees on weekdays and $30 on weekends. Parking in the Hamptons is scarce as well as expensive, so be sure to get there early.
A REFUGE FROM THE CITY
Time In Car: 1 hour
Jones Beach, Long Island
516-785-1600; nysparks.state.ny.us/parks
A state park in southern Nassau County with pretty beaches and a lower-key vibe than the Hamptons, you’ll be hard-pressed to think up a better day trip if you only intend to leave the city for one sun-soaked afternoon.
Equally attractive to families and young singles looking to feast their eyes on other well-tanned bodies, Jones Beach has nearly seven miles of ocean-facing beach and then another half-mile of bay beach with quieter surf.
Nature lovers may prefer the western side of the park, which has a boat basin and an undeveloped section that hosts migratory birds and native plants. It’s also recommended for surf fishing.
Those who bore of lazing on a beach should arrive in the late afternoon and wander along the two miles of boardwalk before catching a show at the Jones Beach Theater – featuring a slate of world-famous performers every summer. Still to come this season are Incubus, Linkin Park and Meatloaf.
MAKING A GREAT ESCAPE
There are places you dream about when you’re on the subway during rush hour on a hot, humid day. Summer in the city can drive us all crazy, but booking a trip to one of your fantasy destinations may help you get your perspective back.
Compiled is a list of the most luxurious beach communities in the world. Whether you’re looking for the serenity of French Polynesia, the party atmosphere of Thailand, the wild waves of Australia or a little bit of everything, one of these exotic locales will be for you.—Greg Hanlon
AN OLD WORLD GEM
Time In Plane: 12 hours
Cadiz, Spain
011-34-956-21-13-13; cadizspain.net
Noted for their unadorned, natural beauty, the beaches of Cadiz have thus far been immune to the crush of tourism that has taken over southern Spain in recent years.
Featuring soothing yellow sands and spectacular sunsets, Cadiz is a perfect choice for the traveler seeking a peaceful getaway. The town itself – an ancient port city originally settled as a watch-post for trading ships, which explains the 160 towers dotting the landscape – features narrow, Old World streets lined with Moorish architecture and some of the best seafood in Europe.
The city has myriad beaches to choose from, many of which are surrounded by dunes and pine trees that complement the city’s rustic appeal.
La Victoria Beach is the biggest and most popular of the bunch, but its sheer size prevents it from feeling too crowded. If a bustling scene is more your thing, try La Caleta Beach, which is a little smaller but a good deal livelier. And, if you’re looking for the most untouched beach of the bunch, check out the 12,000-foot-long La Cortadura Beach.
AN ISLAND FIT FOR GREEK GODS
Time In Plane: 18 hours
Kefalonia, Greece
212-421-5777; gnto.gr
Many of Greece’s islands feature spectacular beaches, but Kefalonia’s are hands-down the most beautiful. Hundreds of beaches encircle this island, many of which are so remote they can only be accessed by boat. The virgin quality of these beaches is enhanced by their bright blue waters, which reflect the light of the majestic white cliffs that frame the landscape.
Myrtos is probably the most photographed of Greece’s beaches because of its idyllic, secluded feel.
Lourdato offers the unique experience of horseback riding on the beach, while Metexata, in the southern part of the island, is rumored to have inspired Lord Byron to write the epic poem “Don Juan.”
After a relaxing day at the beach, venture inland to take in the local nightlife. Argostoli, the island’s main town, has a vibrant bar, club and disco scene. And if you’re a fan of Mediterranean food and seafood, it’s hard to go wrong in Kefalonia.
A SOUTH PACIFIC REFUGE FOR LOVERS
Time In Plane: 30 hours
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
tahititourisme.com
Nicknamed “The Romantic Island,” Bora Bora’s secluded setting, intimate atmosphere and year-round warm South Pacific air add up to a powerful aphrodisiac. The bright turquoise water, sandy white shores and breathtaking sunsets are just a few draws of this 18-mile-long French Polynesian jewel.
Adventurous types will appreciate the SCUBA diving options, which accommodate both beginners and experienced divers. While you’re probing the depths of the Pacific, be sure to check out the giant manta rays and slow-moving turtles.
If you’re looking for decadent feasts, you won’t be disappointed in Bora Bora. Try the poisson cru, the national dish, a medley of raw fish and vegetables in a lime juice and coconut milk broth.
However, if a raging nightlife is essential to your plans, you should probably look elsewhere. “The Romantic Island” is a much better place for long-term couples than for those looking for one-night couplings.
A PROMISED LAND FOR WAVE HUNTERS
Time In Plane: 25 hours
Surfers Paradise, Australia
61-7-5584-3700; surfersparadise.com
The name says it all, but even if you’re not an expert surfer, there’s no better place to learn to ride waves than at this Gold Coast resort town, since an industry of instructional tours has sprung up to accommodate tourists.
The waves are inspiring, but even if surfing isn’t your thing, there’s still plenty to recommend this town. Aside from the stunning turquoise waters, the town’s environs contain a Sea World as well as a Movie World – a Warner Brothers-run Australian cinema theme park.
Surfers Paradise also has a great nightlife with a vibrant scene of bars, clubs and restaurants. However, if you prefer a quieter vibe, the more intimate Broad Beach is just two miles south. And, for a day trip, check out Brisbane, Australia’s third most populous city, which is just 45 miles north.
Because Surfers Paradise is in the southern hemisphere where the seasons are reversed, it’s best to go during the American fall and winter. It’s packed with tourists from December through February, so try going in the late Australian spring months of October and November; the water is already warm by then.
A MUST-VISIT FOR PARTIERS
Time In Plane: 22 hours
Koh Phangan, Thailand
kohphangan.com
This island off the east coast of southern Thailand is popular among young revelers, drawing an annual crowd of 10,000 to its monthly full-moon beach parties. The music, dancing, energy and decadence of these parties – which can sometimes get out of hand – makes this an ideal destination for passionate party-goers or repressed souls looking to cut loose on the other side of the globe.
There is plenty of natural beauty on this mountainous island, most notably its sandy-white beaches and immaculately clean waters. Many beaches in Southeast Asia were devastated during the tsunami of 2004, but Koh Phangan was miraculously spared.
Koh Phangan’s most popular beaches are Haad Kuat on the north part of the island, which is framed by mountains, and West Had Yao in the northeast part, which features a wide swath of sand perfect for beach volleyball.
A GEOLOGICAL MARVEL
Time In Plane: 16 hours
Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
noronha.pe.gov.br/eng/ctudo-tourism-intro.asp
Be sure to make reservations for lodgings on this pristine island off the northeast coast of Brazil well in advance – only 420 people are allowed on the seven-mile-wide strip at a time.
Those who are lucky enough to gain admittance will behold some of the most spectacular and rich natural beauty in the world. The island itself is one of 21 nearby islands composed of volcanic rock, giving it a strikingly jagged landscape replete with waterfalls and natural swimming pools.
Caladesi Island State Park,
Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
A PLACE TO COMMUNE WITH NATURE
Time In Plane: 3 1/2 hours
Caladesi Island State Park,
Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
727-469-5942; floridastateparks.org/caladesiisland
One of Florida’s few remaining barrier islands, Caladesi is only accessible via an hourly ferry that leaves from nearby Honeymoon Island. But while it may require an effort to get to, Caladesi possesses a secluded quality rare among Florida’s renowned beaches.
Caladesi’s warm, emerald-green waters and embankments of sand dunes add to its spiritual, serene feel. Various species of turtles and sea birds find this island to be an ideal nesting place, and the stark but hearty vegetation – which includes singularly named species like sea oats, beach morning glory and sea purslane – adds to the island’s uniqueness.
Boating, fishing and shelling are popular activities as well. And if you tire of the beach, check out the island’s three-mile-long nature trail, featuring mangrove tree groves on Caledesi’s east coast.
If you get hungry, picnic pavilions are available on the beach and all around the park. Fresh-water showers are also available.
A MOMUMENT TO THE GILDED AGE
Time In Car: 4 hours
Newport, Rhode Island
800-976-5122; gonewport.com
This island city was once named with Charleston, S.C., and Boston as centers of maritime commerce in the 1700s, and during the Gilded Age, it became New England’s first getaway for the rich and famous. Through the centuries, Newport has maintained both its 18th-century maritime feel and Victorian-age grandeur, making it as popular now as it ever was.
Beach-goers cannot go wrong here. Easton’s Beach (or First Beach), Newport’s largest, features a carousel, an aquarium and the Atlantic Beach Club, a popular outdoor restaurant and patio bar overlooking the beach that offers live music. Sachuest Beach boasts the finest sand and best surf in the area. For non-residents, parking fees are a reasonable $5 to $15.
Newport’s maritime tradition manifests in a huge recreational sailing industry, which will appeal to both experts and beginners. Sea kayaking and windsurfing are other popular water sports.
For the architecture and history enthusiast, Newport – with the highest concentration of Colonial houses in the nation, as well as spectacular Victorian mansions – has no shortage of options.
A NEW ENGLAND PARADISE
Time In Car: 5 1/2 hours
Ogunquit, Maine
207-646-2939; ogunquit.org
Nestled between the towns of York and Wells in southern Maine, the small town of Ogunquit – which means “beautiful place by the sea” in Algonquin – overlooks one of the most attractive beaches in North America.
The beach’s three miles of fine white sand distinguishes Ogunquit from many of Maine’s rockier beaches. It forms a barrier between the ocean and the mouth of the Ogunquit River, which provides vacationers with a freshwater swimming option.
The village began as a resort in the 1880s and gained fame as an artist colony. While in town, check out the Ogunquit Museum of Art, a small but excellent museum that overlooks the ocean and boasts a nice collection of Winslow Homer seascapes of the Maine coast.
Ogunquit also has a thriving gay community, earning it the nickname “Mini-Provincetown.”
