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!

Once again, it seems that an earlier review has disappeared. Weird…read more This is a Village beach, for residents only. We used to get photo IDs and permits every summer, because we would stay for 5-6 weeks at my parents' house. There were wonderful cheeseburgers and fries, and the shower/bathroom facilities are quite nice and clean. Apparently Schmidt's is running the concession this summer, and it's very popular. My brother and his family have permits, but I can't get one because I don't live in the village. However, after 5 pm, the lifeguards are gone, and the concession is closed. Great place for picnics! Really a beautiful beach. And the closest one to me. The picnics after 5 are a summer tradition, although the deck is sometimes taken over by weddings or yoga classes. But the beach is open.

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.

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!

Our sunset pontoon cruise was the highlight of our trip. Captain Shari was just fabulous, thank…read moreyou for a wonderful family memory!

Little known park on Dune Road. It's easy to miss and the parking lot only holds 10 to 12 vehicles…read more It's usually full. I imagine if you get there early, you'd have a chance to park here. There aren't any facilities but you do get beach access via walkway. Due to its limited access, you basically get your own private beach for the day. And that my friends is the whole point. So get out of bed early and get there before the crowds. Cheers!!

Down the street from Lashley & Pikes, this unassuming, tiny lot is the go-to spot if it's empty…read morewhen you pass by. The crowd is low-key and necessarily small, and beach access is clutch; not sure what happens post-MDW, but on MDW (Monday, aka Memorial Day itself) no one checked and we scooted out gratis. Sure, there are no amenities, and I'm not really even sure Atlantic Beach is the correct name, but if you don't know, now ya know.

The Poke Bowl was really good. Perfect location. I will be sure to order the poke bowl for lunch…read moreagain.

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.

Beautiful beach. The view is great. It's serene. It's less built up than other nearby beaches…read more I'm new to the area and unsure hold how crowded it gets or the level of services offered during peak season. In working on a photo of the entrance to the beach.

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!).

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.