A true 5 star beach. I grew up not far away and almost lived here in the summertime. Lifeguards on…read moreduty from about 9-5:30 from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I've been to east coast beaches, west coast and Hawaii. The only ones that compete are Hawaii, particularly one near barking sands. But overall this is my favorite to return to.

This beach is extremely clean , everyone is friendly , there's a beach hut restaurant on the beach…read morewhich makes the beach #1 to go to . Its a plus to have everything right there for anyone . The waves are perfect you can go our in the water and not get hit and smacked around and rolled over everywhere . The water is gorgeous its clear and you can see your feet when your in the water . You can see lots of fish , there's crabs , seaweed . The salt water isn't strong at all . Seashells there's so many seashells that you can take a bucket and have lots of fun shell shopping . There small to big shells . There is also sea glass which I was surprised . The sea glass there is really cool small and big pieces all different colors . There is changing rooms , bathrooms , and showers . Everything is clean and everyone is polite . I didn't even see any garbage laying around . This is the first beach I've gone to which was actually really clean and people are really nice . The parking fee is only 15$ which is not bad at all then you can park anywhere and just go onto the beach . The sand is perfect its so soft and some shells but its easy to walk on . Its great for anyone family , couples , groups etc . The west Hamptons beach is a must to go to .

I love this beach and I'm happiest when I'm walking here. Wonderful even in the winter!!read more

Along Dune Road is a cozy little spot called Lashley Beach. Like many of the other beaches in Long…read moreIsland, before Memorial Day and after Labor Day you can let your dog come here off leash. My pup had the BEST time ever running around the secluded beach. Not far down the road is Main street in West Hampton which has tons of little cute shops and restaurants. Definitely worth the trip out there if you have a pooch that likes to play in the sand!!

I like Pike's because the sand is white and clean. The people are friendly and when it's crowded it…read moreis still NOTHING like a crowded public beach. You've gotta be a local resident to use the beach, so that helps keep the crowds down. Bonus for having a lifeguard on duty, bathrooms, showers and a safe vibe where you leave your shoes at the end of the pier. Even waves for surfing!

One of the local beaches. Family friendly. No dog poop on the beach. Would recommend on a weekday…read morebecause it is not too crowded. Love this beach though because who doesn't love a day on the beach!

Heaven on earth, especially in the off season. Beautiful beach with rest rooms and services during…read morethe season. Had a peak experience yesterday- observed a big pod of dolphins not far offshore.

What a neat tradition! Don't miss the holidays at Roger's Beach where you can add your own shell to…read morethe beach tree! The tree is easily accessible and markers and shells are provided

I booked them for a surprise birthday for my sister and we had a fantastic time! Captain Shari and…read moreher crew were great and so knowledgeable about the area! They played fabulous music and created such a festive environment for us. The boat was really clean too!

We had Shari and Janine as co-captains for our 4-person outing, and they were awesome! So friendly…read moreand knowledgable about the area. They answered all of our questions and gave us great history and recommendations for places, both in the Hamptons and in the city! A beautiful day out on the water. Highly recommended; we would definitely do it again, and ask for Janine and Shari!

This beach tops it off as a #1 beach to come to . They have a restaurant on there beach a cute…read morebeach hut and lots of tables to sit there to eat with umbrellas . They have a live concert almost everyday the music is great the people are great as well very friendly . The food is a little bit expensive but its worth it . Its a must to come here and go to the beach and then grab something to eat.

Where do I begin? I love this beach!!!!!!!!!! I love Beach Huts food and their food selections…read moreand I really enjoy their alcoholic beverages as well as my fellow beach goers. Beach Hut has a menu that appeals to all ages from breakfast to hot dogs, hamburgers and french fries, to seafood. I love everything about this place. I will continue to come back here year after year.

Tiana Beach is usually my go-to when it comes to the beaches on Dune Road, but curiosity got the…read morebest of me and I decided to give Hot Dog Beach a try since it's a bit closer. The parking lot for this beach isn't paved, so I had a bit of trouble getting into and out of a spot with my car on the sand. The walk to the beach is also further than Tiana with less amenities. There's no food stand and the bathrooms are very bare bones, though there is a shower. Once on the beach though all was well, there was ample sand and surf to be had and everyone there seemed to be having a great time. I did see two dogs during my time here which made me happy since that's how I hear the beach got it's name (though I've also heard that they no longer allow dogs on the beach during main season so sorry if I'm being a narc...no one was enforcing the no dog policy when I was there though!).

Today's Sunday drive was to the Hamptons. I stumbled across Hot Dog Beach, where locals go for a…read morestroll along the shore with their dogs during the off season. The season begins April 1 and ends on Oct 1. No pets are allowed then. Also known as Triton Beach, Hot Dog Beach is making a come back. From the 1960s to 1980, it was packed daily with "live bands, djs and huge crowds," according to article on the website "classicnewyorkhistory.com". Beachclub hopping to Neptune, Atlantis, Summers and Tiana beaches was the in thing to do, according to the fascinating 1986 The NY Times article "SUN, SAND AND SINGLES: THEY MEET AT THE BEACH". Hot Dog Beach and the other beach clubs mentioned above were frequented by the rich and famous, who came in their Alfa Romeos, Porsches and Ferraris, said the article. There were basketball games, volleyball games, dance contests, best tan contests, people from all walks of life, house rentals, house shares, band groupies, s$! on the beach, drunken drivers and police patrols. Hot Dog Beach had an "international reputation", said The NY Times in another 1986 article "FOR SWIMMERS AND SPLASHERS, IT'S BACK TO THE BEACH". Then later on in the 1980s, a fire burned down a restaurant that stood on Hot Dog Beach, and then the "in" crowd quickly disappeared. No more celebrities and luxury cars. They all headed to Sag Harbor and other villages out East. In 2017, Hot Dog Beach reopened after undergoing renovations. More work needs to be done. I found this beach merely satisfactory. I would not swim here. "theswimguide.org" says that no day passes are available for non residents during the seasonal months: Southampton Town permits are required from July 1 to Labor Day; and that there are no lifeguards or restrooms. A few locals tell me that seal watching is popular here in January. So I promised to come back then, perhaps on another one of my Sunday drives.

One of LI's hidden gems - also happens to be free. Well kept trails and birds of prey you can check…read moreout before talking a nice walk. Trails are very easy to walk, even if you have a stroller with you. Easy beginner hike or leisurely stroll for just about anyone.

4.5 Stars.    I love…read morethe Long Island Pine Barrens Region. So much so, that in Las Vegas, I have had dreams that I was hiking in Sears Burrows County Park. A few forested miles southwest of it, my dream kind of came true when we visited the Quogue Wildlife Refuge. My stepmother, who is familiar with the Refuge encouraged my dad and I to join her there on a nature walk.    The Quogue Wildlife Refuge has been protecting this 305 acre naturescape since 1934. It is a naturescape adorned with pine forests, fields, the rare dwarf pine forest, bogs, swamps, a pond, and pine oak forests.    Contrary to how I envisioned the Refuge, it was not this difficult to find place. Parking was right off Old Country Road. Across from the unpaved parking lot were the attractions that serve as a trailhead to the four color coded trails (please see the map proceeding the review) that range from a 0.8 mile hike on the Green Trail to a 2.5 mile hike on the Blue Trail. Welcoming us was the Outdoor Wildlife Complex where injured wildlife are well taken care of thanks to the kindness of people that care. One of the acts of kindness are the Visitors who donate money at the entrance. This leads to the point that admission is free, yet a donation is the right thing to do. I took some time photographing the animals that included owls, foxes, raccoons, and Giant African Spurred tortoises in the nearby greenhouse. Although these aren't grand habitats that would be found in the Bronx Zoo, I appreciated that the animals had a home. In the shadow of the Outdoor Wildlife Complex and pine trees was the full service restrooms. All the way to the left was the Old Ice Pond.    My Dad, stepmother, and yours truly engaged in a relatively short walk in the southeast corner of the park where a pine oak forest interspersed with fields dominate. My Dad's knees bother him, so we engaged in a shorter hike with breaks on the benches breathing, hearing, and sightseeing the pine barrens. We'd see a deer and birds up on the pine trees. Our ears would also take in the sound of the nearby train. Our experience leads to the point that the seven miles of hiking trails appear to be more relaxing than strenuous.    The Old Ice Pond framed by a mature forest is the picture postcard centerpiece of the landscape. There are hiking trails that overlook it. We took in this picture postcard from a bench and inside the Charles Banks Belt Nature Center, which looks like an inn overlooking the pond. We shared the panoramic spectacular views of the ice pond with several volunteers who were sending out materials that we assumed were promoting the Refuge. Within this building that reminds me of a lodge, is a museum of neat nature related stuff. Some were real like the lizards. The preserved butterflies were really cool. This is a neat place to check out when it os open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.    Our visit ended with the three of us taking in the springtime scenery of the Old Ice Pond.    I do have a concern that is causing me to leave my rating at 4.5 instead of 5 stars. That has to do with the east preiphery fence. When we walked along the southeast border there was a fence smack dab in the middle of the pine forest. My concern is that this is unprotected land that can fall victim to the bulldozer. If that were to happen, it would ruin the experience on account of a truncated forest causing the Refuge to feel more like a caged in 305 acre yard than a part of a pine forest. I really hope that the other side of the east periphery fence is a protected forest. My concern is merited from seeing a before and after picture inside the Nature Center of rapid sprawl along nearby County Route 104.    On the future, I would love to return to Quogue Wildlife Refuge. Especially in the Fall when the trees change colors over the pond. Until then, I hope to have more dreams about the Pine Barrens.

What was looking as a promising experience turned into a big disappointment. I like the idea of a…read morerustic bungalow with a modern edge. What I found was far from this. First of all they claimed water view from our unit. That was not the case. Secondly the units were not well maintained. They have a lot of deferred maintenance on the units. When I expressed my issues I was offered another unit at a significantly higher price. Even though on their website they were listed at the same price. For the money you can do better on dune road.

If I could give NO STARS I would. Be aware, the website is completely misleading, and when you try…read moreto work with management it's a no-go. We booked and paid for a water view. What we got was the third bungalow back from the bay up against Dune road with NO water view in the site. When we called to discuss we were told we had to pay over $250.00 more plus two cleaning fees to move to a new bungalow that is exactly the same price on their website. Well, it is $1.00 more a night. We were only staying 3 nights. Leaving on Friday morning. The majority of the bungalows were not booked.I will look for another location on my next visit and advise you to as well.

Such a great value add to Fire Island activities. Being able to charter a boat with friends for a…read morefew hours, get on a paddle board or ride the fat tire bike really changes the dynamic, in a good way, for day time activities. Captain Keith was fun, knowledgeable and extremely professional when he took our group out for a day cruise. Can't wait to do it again next year!!!!

Our big family had a great time with Fire Island VIP! Keith was a great captain who took us on the…read morebanana boat and fishing. They have a small boat that can accommodate 6 people for fishing. He was able to take 6 for a banana boat ride while 2 sat in the boat and took pictures. We had 11 people for the banana boat so he made 2 trips for us. Everyone had a great time from the youngest (5 yrs.) to grandma and grandpa. Keith was so accommodating to all the needs of our large group and everyone liked him so much. My husband and boys went fishing and caught a couple fluke. The boys were excited to catch a couple of crabs and robinfish as well. We definitely felt like VIPs and we will only use Fire Island VIP for our yearly vacation from now on! Thanks for a great time we all thought it was awesome!