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williamc
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 Posted - 06/12/2008 : 12:08:10 PM
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I posted this in a different section and it really should be posted here so I've cut/pasted for everyone.
My wife and I visited Lighthouse beach for the first time last Monday. It was an excellent beach, great mix of all people and VERY crowded. I have generally only visited small sites on the Cape and Islands in MA and this was a very different experience. I own a share of a small plane and we flew into Republic Airport and rented a car for the short drive. It was actually the first time my wife felt comfortable (somewhat) in getting completely nude and going swimming. So many people of "like mind" made her feel more accepted. It is very easy to get to and is posted "clothing optional" For those who don't know, go down the Robert Moses Pkwy to the traffic circle and proceed to "Field 5" parking. Park as far to the left of the parking attendant booth as possible; you'll see a boardwalk at that end, start walking. When you come to gravel road, go right until you meet up with the boardwalk again and take that right to the beach. The posted section is right there at the end of the boardwalk.
The beach is mostly sandy with few rocks/shells. I think it was close or at high-tide when we were there. It was mid-June and the water is chilly but some of us were braving the cold; once in the water it really isn't too bad at all. Ice Cream vendors walk up and down which was a nice touch. The surf is typical of the NY/NJ coast and the water is clean.
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old hippie
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Posted - 06/07/2009 : 12:16:32 PM
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Now there's a beach review I can use! Thanks, William. I reckon about 45 min to KFRG in my 182 (shared); was there a landing fee, or parking fee?
Then a brief drive to the beach? Cool.
I can easily fly down to Ocean City NJ, and walk from the airport to the beach - but it isn't C/O; Gunnison is fine, but a 2-hr drive is not that appealing. This may be a good alternative.
Dum vivimus, vivamus!
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williamc
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Posted - 06/10/2009 : 10:35:23 AM
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I don't think I paid a landing or parking fee or it was waived with a modest amount of fuel. I did check the car rental fees (make sure to ask for the pilot discount. Call Sheltair directly, don't go through Hertz) and they went up $10. If I recall, it is now about $69 for the day.
Enjoy!
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Teva
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Posted - 06/14/2009 : 2:28:38 PM
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Consider affiliating with Long Island Travasuns, a nonlanded club that goes there as a group in season and has swims during the cooler months. They are AANR and TNS affiliated.
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Psycho K
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 Posted - 08/07/2010 : 05:16:10 AM
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This is a pretty late report, but contribution is good. I went to Lighthouse Beach on July 18th. I did not have access to a car and I live in Brooklyn, so this was quite a journey. Additionally, I could not convince any of my friends to go with me (bad timing/not comfortable with nudity). It would have been much more enjoyable if I'd managed to. The ride on the LIRR to Babylon took me an hour. The bus stop for the S47 (Suffolk Transit. It only runs in the summer) is very obvious and the buses are prompt. There was no significant traffic, so the bus got to Field 3 of Robert Moses State Park in the projected thirty minutes. From there, I am pretty sure I was walking toward the Fire Island Coast Guard Station (it can be seen on this map when zoomed in). It was a large lighthouse-like brown tower.
It was probably the high 80s or low 90s on that day. I forgot how hot sand could be and there was some darker sand at the back of the beach for some reason. My brief attempt to walk on this terrain barefoot failed within seconds like my experiment with trying to walk barefoot on snow the previous winter. So, I reluctantly walked in my sandals (which got slightly messed up. They're fine now) and passed that tower. I knew I was headed in the right direction, but I could not verify this immediately since the lighthouse was not in my line of sight for a while. I did see the black and white-striped tower soon enough, blinking in the distance.
This long stretch of textile beach I was walking through was very crowded. This heavy activity was what deterred me from walking near the water, which would have been the smart thing to (cooler sand. I did this on the way back, but be a little wary of the few shells). After about two miles of walking (over a bizarre time of ~90 minutes), I encountered two brown signs with white text. The bigger one announced that I was leaving Robert Moses State Park. The smaller one notified me that I was entering a clothing-optional area. I already knew that I was upon sighting a very dark-skinned black woman wearing a cyan bikini top, but no bottom.
Being rather tired from all that walking, I did not go that far beyond the signs, so I think the specific area I was in is called "Lighthouse West" (since it is to the west of the lighthouse). I am pretty sure this clothing-optional area extends beyond the lighthouse a bit. This area, Lighthouse East, is apparently less crowded in general. Compared to the two miles of beach I walked through to get here, it was not as crowded. I am pretty wary about my stuff (brought too much), especially since I came alone, so I camped pretty close to the water and spent most of my time laying on my towel. I went into the water only a few times and not for very long.
From what I saw, I was the only one of my age group (I'll be 21 soon) there that was participating. There were some others, but they were not naked, and they were just walking through. Perhaps they were headed to the lighthouse or just randomly curious. This age phenomenon is typical of nudist areas from what I hear anyway. There were a good number of families here with young children that obviously did not mind and were having fun. I don't consider myself very sociable and this was my first time being naked in public, so I did not interact with anyone. No one interacted with me either save for one man who just wanted to know the time (I was getting ready to leave and he noticed my watch). I spent only two hours there. I would definitely like to come back there with a friend and spend more time. I may have someone on board; his mom may drive us there, which would be cheaper and much less grueling! The trip was still worth it.
Apparently, since I'd optimized my return route, it took just 40 minutes to walk back to Field 3. That's pretty odd in a funny way. I definitely need to go visit Gunnison's Beach since I hear it's easier to get to. I still do not have access to a car, so we'll have to see if that really is so.
Hope this helps anyone else in the NYC area hoping to get this beach without a car (probably people in my age group).
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old hippie
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Posted - 08/12/2010 : 4:09:56 PM
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Good deal, Psycho - congrats on your dedication in traveling over an hour each way, to spend just 2 hrs on the beach. Ya gotta get some friends to go with you next time, tho! It will make the trip more bearable, and you won't fret leaving your stuff unattended.
I don't live in the NYC area, but from all I have heard, there is a ferry that goes from downtown directly to Gunnison (with a short walk - less than five minutes).
Good luck.
Dum vivimus, vivamus!
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Psycho K
Forum Member
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Posted - 08/12/2010 : 4:58:54 PM
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I will need to look over the details again, but from what I saw, a round trip on said ferry costs $35. I don't have a job and money is limited right now, so I see myself putting off the trip to Gunnison's for a while. Easier trip, but more expensive x_x . Additionally, I'm pretty sure that ferry runs all year, or at least for longer than the S47 bus does.
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tubby
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Posted - 11/03/2010 : 11:01:16 PM
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Hello Psycho K.
Sounds like you were at Lighthouse Beach on a weekend. A lot of people from the city come out on weekends.
I have heard of people taking the train (LIRR) out to Bay Shore, and then taking the ferry to Kismet on Fire Island. Kismet is just past the eastern half of Lighthouse Beach.
Another option may be to take the LIRR to Babylon, and instead of taking the bus to field 3, call one of the local taxi companies for a ride directly to field 5. Heck, you can even get dropped off at the entrance to Fire Island National Seashore which would cut your walking time down to about 2 minutes. I think a taxi should be cheaper than the $35 for the ferry to Sandy Hook.
Things to look into. Best of luck next summer in 2011.
-Tubby
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gina
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Posted - 05/16/2011 : 08:15:57 AM
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We've been going to Lighthouse Beach for a long time and we absolutely love it. If you want more information on it there's a website that came on recently called Lighthouse Beach Times. Their web address is www.lighthousebeachtimes.com and you can get directions on how to get there and all kinds of information and pictures on this beach.
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