Long Beach guide
Every summer, a mix of locals and day-trippers hit Long Beach, a quaint area with both a bustling beach and vibrant nightlife. It's the quintessential beach town, the perfect mix of summer fun for any age group.
The beach is lined by a two-mile-long boardwalk where bikers and runners get their exercise and others go for relaxing strolls. Some just grab a bench and a book and embrace summer's tranquility. Volleyball enthusiasts go head-to-head in both league and recreational play while surfers ride the waves.
Mere blocks from the sand are various types of restaurants, ranging from casual to fine dining. Some of these places will deliver to the boardwalk, so program some phone numbers into your cell phones because the only thing better than a day at the beach is having food delivered during that day at the beach.
Nightspots similarly run the gamut, ranging from low-key watering holes to trendy spots with DJs playing the hippest tunes.
Whether you're headed to Long Beach for the first time or you're a regular, here's what you need to know to plan your next trip.
Daily Entrance Fee:
- $10 per day (13+) Weekends May 24-June 22; Daily June 23-Sept. 1
- $60 Economy Pass for 10 admissions
Season Beach Rates:
- Resident (18+): $40
- Resident and family: $50
- Resident Senior Citizen: $15
- Non-resident individual: $70
- Non-resident family: $100
- Non-resident senior: $30
- Child/student (13-17): $20
- Physically challenged: $15
Amenities: Public restrooms, boat ramp, marina, pavilion, fishing area, food stands and showers
Lifeguards on duty: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily June 28-Sept. 1
Parking fee: Free parking on the street
Notes: No dogs, no alcoholic beverages, no fires
When the sun goes down and the beach empties out, a vibrant nightlife remains. Here's where to party:
The Beach House: 906 W. Beech St.
The Big Kahuna: 832 W. Beech St., 516-897-9708
Fin Bar & Grill: 1148 W. Beech St., 516-432-3765
The Inn: 943 W. Beech Street, 516-432-9220, thelongbeachinn.com
Minnesota's: 959 W. Beech St., 516-432-4080, minnesotasny.com
The Saloon: 1016 W. Beech St., 516-432-9185
The Sand Bar: 912 W. Beech St., 516-432-9850
Whale's Tale: 914 W Beech St., 516-432-9587
Shines: 55 California St., 516-432-9248
Brooklyn's: 124 W. Park Ave., 516-431-3133
John Henry's Pub: 150 E. Park Ave., 516-897-9551
Sutton Place: 124 W. Park Ave., 516-431-3133, suttonplacelb.com
780 Grill & Clam Bar: 780 W. Beech St., 516-432-7262
Caffe Laguna: 960 W. Beech St., 516-432-2717
Caffe Spiaggia: 831 W. Beech St., 516-889-3384
JR Sushi: 914 W. Beech St., 516-431-1780
Newtown Chinese Restaurant: 1026 W. Beech St., 516-431-8620
Paninis and Bikinis: 896 W. Beech St., 516-431-2244
Swingbelly's Beachside BBQ: 909 W. Beech St., 516-431-3464, swingbellysbbq.com
Angelfish Undersea Cuisine: 180 W. Park Ave., 516-431-0044
Bagel Cafe: 757 E. Park Ave., 516-432-2582
Coffee Nut Café: 250 E. Park Ave., 516-987-6616
Corbin and Reynolds: 20 W. Park Ave., 516-431-4600, corbinandreynolds.com
Duke Falcon's Global Grill: 36 W. Park Ave., 516-897-7000
Fresco: 150A E. Park Ave., 516-897-8097
George Martin's Coastal Grill: 40 E. Park Ave., 516-432-2690
Geri's: 631 E. Park Ave., 516-897-3600
Gino's of Long Beach: 16 W. Park Ave., 516-432-8193
Himawari: 116 E. Park Ave.
Kawasaki: 22 E. Park Ave., 516-889-6699
Lido Kosher Deli: 641 Park Ave., 516-431-4411, lidokosherdeli.com
Nick DiAngelo: 152 W. Park Ave., 516-889-3366
Ocean Park Coffee Shop: 44 W. Park Ave., 516-889-8200
Sugo: 62 W. Park Ave., 516-431-7846, sugocafe.com
Sutton Place: 124 W. Park Ave., 516-431-3133, suttonplacelb.com
From hanging on the boardwalk to joining a beach volleyball team or learning to surf, here are some activities you can enjoy in the area:
2008 Events:
May 26: Memorial Day Parade
June 14-15: 14th Annual Kennedy Plaza Fine Arts Show
June 27: 4th Annual Sean Ryan Family Fun Run/Walk
June 28: Little Louie Foundation Annual Walk
July 4: 234d Annual Fourth of July Boardwalk Race
July 11: Fireworks Extravaganza
August 17: Antique Car Show
October 4: Irish Day Festival and Parade
Surfing:
Surf 2 Live School: 516-432-9211, surf2live.com
$65 per person group class (Saturday and Sunday), private lessons and camps available
Surf Shops:
LB Surf: 70 W. Park Ave., 516-431-5431, longbeachsurfcam.com
Unsound Surf Shop: 359 E. Park Ave., 516-889-1112, unsoundsurf.com
Live Surf Cam: surferjims.com/surfcam.htm
Volleyball:
East End Volleyball (EEVB) hosts official game play with weekend tournaments. Sign-up at eevb.net.
Nets are on the beach during summer months. Bring your own volleyball and start playing.
Bicycling:
Rent a bike at Bicycle Rental of Long Beach (755 E. Park Ave., 516-432-9632, longbeachbicycleny.com) and pedal along the boardwalk. $20 per day for a cruiser, $50 for a tandem bike.
Spas:
Aroma Day Spa: 234 E. Walnut St., 516-889-3962
Joseph Christopher: 254 W. Park Ave., 516-889-3900, josephchristopher.com
Places where you can buy teeny bikinis, beach cover-ups, dresses and other summer staples:
Danielle M: 889 W. Beech St., 516-431-9277
Frock: 888 W. Beech St., 516-208-3216
Pheobe's Apparel: 140 E. Park Ave., 516-431-2761
Rose & Eye: 893 W. Beech St., 516-897-7900
By Car from the West: Take Belt Parkway or Southern State to Meadowbrook Pkwy, South. Just before you approach the Jones Beach Toll Plaza, bear Right on Loop Pkwy with signs that read, "Long Beach," Point Lookout." Take Loop to the end, bear right. You are on Lido Blvd. heading West. Lido Blvd. turns into Park Avenue as you enter the City. Four miles down the road you will hit the intersection of Long Beach Road and Park Avenue. Take any of the city's boulevards, south to the boardwalk and beach.
From the LIE: Exit to Meadowbrook Parkway and follow directions above.
By Long Island Rail Road: The LIRR runs directly to Park Place and Park Ave., 1/4 mile West of Long Beach Rd. Express trains are available from Penn Station: 10:22 a.m. Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays (arrive 11:08 a.m.). Long Beach is 24.9 miles to Penn Station.
Long Beach Taxi: 516-432-7500
Where to Stay
Jackson Hotel: 405 East Broadway, 516-431-3700, jacksonbythebeach.com
|
Photo Gallery
More Coverage
MyLI: Beach Photos
More Coverage
|
