Stretching along the Atlantic Ocean, Fire Island is a thin barrier island that lies parallel to Long Island’s southern shore. It’s famed for its wild beaches, 19th-century lighthouse and seasonal resort communities, which include one of the most iconic gay towns in the United States, Cherry Grove.
Things to do in Fire Island
Sprawling west of Fire Island is Robert Moses State Park, which was established in 1908 and named after the former president of the Long Island State Park Commission. It encompasses beautiful beaches that attract swimmers and surfers, as well as piers where anglers can try their luck. At the western end of the park is a pitch and putt golf course that is nestled amongst native vegetation.
One of the island’s most iconic landmarks is the black-and-white-banded Fire Island Lighthouse, a 55-metre-high stone tower that dates back to 1858. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is open to the public on guided tours and stands alongside a beautifully preserved lighthouse keeper’s cottage.
Stretching east is Atlantique Beach, a wide strip of sand backed by a children’s playground, handball and basketball courts. Overlooking Great South Bay on the other side of Fire Island is Sailors Haven, which is famed for its tract of maritime holly that has become known as the “Sunken Forest”. Ranger-led tours are available through this globally-rare ecosystem while the National Park Service Visitor Center features interactive touch tables and tanks housing native fish.
Getting around Fire Island
Fire Island is around two hours’ drive from New York City and 1.5 hours from John F. Kennedy International Airport. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to and around Fire Island while most of its seaside communities can easily be explored on foot.