Some Lesser Known Shores of Long Island

Best known for its ritzy summer vacationers in the Hamptons, its home to several stars, and its proximity to New York City the isle of Long Island is often overlooked for its tranquil beaches and brisk beauty. Smith Point Beach and Jones Beach are both hot tourist spots-with the former resting on the south shore, providing crisp sand and ample tanning surfaces for beach goers to lie upon.

The waves and water at Smith Point are also quite nice. Surfers gather for the medium scored waves, and the same goes for Jones
Beach. Except, Jones Beach also boasts its large Tommy Hilfiger Amphitheater where numerous concerts are held throughout the
summer, and the mixture of sand, surf, and song generally charges up to crowd to provide an electric atmosphere of good times nestled within carefree summer days. But these two beaches are just a few of the gems on Long Island, and more importantly Jones Beach and Smith Point merely represent mainstream attractions in the area. A closer look at the local beaches will reveal little known hideaways that will draw you into the water, let you escape from your daily grind, and truly entice you-allowing you to fully understand why natives to Long Island love the area so much. Three such beaches are West Meadow Beach, Cedar Beach, and Montauk Point.

Montauk Point, locally known as "The End," is the farthest point on the island, and it holds a great depth of beauty and joy in its ridges. The drive to Montauk has a few scenic overlooks allowing the traveler to see the ocean and vegetation strains of the island gracefully merging as one, and the point itself has a rock walk, delicious sand to fill the spaces between your toes, and the waves are a surfer's delight. While the waves may be for "professional" surfers, the shoreline provides and excellent escape from the grinds of daily life.

The point does not have major thoroughfare traffic, but travelers can reach the area via car or railroad. The Long Island Railroad has a line that runs directly to the point-which can be picked up in New York City or from stations on the island-and there is a snack shop and gift store. Also, Montauk Point is home to the Montauk Point Lighthouse, which is the oldest lighthouse in New York State. The Lighthouse has a nice museum celebrating the point, some of the island's culture, and (of course) the lighthouse. While Montauk Point may not be the typical beach hangout, its serene beauty, mixtures of sand, waves, and rocks, and its appearance of isolation makes it an attractive location to spend a summer afternoon.

For a shift from the isolation and rocky shore of Montauk the Long Island beach goer could easily find an afternoon's pleasure at Cedar Beach. Cedar Beach, on the island's North shore(near Miller Place and Wading River), is another quaint beach getaway. Here, the beach is secluded behind the rows of beach front homes that shelter its inlets, but the actual shoreline opens up for a majestic view of the Long Island Sound. Even more enrapturing is the sunset view of this beach. The yellows, reds, and oranges of the setting sun delightfully blend to create a majestic scene. This semi-private beach provides an ideal atmosphere for a family or singular outing. Cedar Beach has playgrounds for small children, ample lifeguards, snack shacks, and a friendly and open atmosphere.

The joys of this beach reside in its location-hidden along the North Shore, surrounded by private homes, leads many to believe that it is a private zone. But, as I mentioned, this is only a semi-private beach. As with most of the beaches on the island, an Empire Pass will get you a reduced parking fee and the pass will allow you to park at the shores without residency in the area. Accordingly, using an Empire Pass at Cedar Beach will give you access to the public beach, which is large and vast. Signs clearly mark the private zones, but you need not worry about crossing private verses non-private lines. Most beachfront home owners ignore the slight traffic on their beaches because the area is known for its quiet recluse. A family could easily make Cedar Beach into their afternoon's escape, and single beach goers will find the openness of the beach refreshing for their swim or tanning time.

Lastly, West Meadow Beach is a shore line truly hidden in the trees and quiet houses of Long Island's North Shore. Here, much like Cedar Beach, the traveler will find very little traffic. This beach is usually sparsely populated, but well stocked with lifeguards, and (like Cedar Beach) it is divided into public and private zones. The sand of the West Meadow is rocky, but for the ocean lover and swimmer this tid-bit will not matter. Instead, the sea-farer will relish this quiet beach reserve, which is also a wildlife preserve, for its open waters and open shore. The visitors are predominantly locals because the beach is considered private, and it located next to a yacht club. But, non-residents can "get around" the residential zoning of this beach if they are accompanied by a resident of the island.

Accordingly, these three beach fronts will provide any visitor with a sense of relief and relaxation with their solitude and "off the beaten path" atmosphere. The lack of numerous swimmers, sun bathers, and various other beach front games will make the new visitor fall in love with their solitude, charm, and beauty.