I've had this post hanging out as a draft for a while, as in a month's while, always with the intention to finish it. Life has a tendency to get busy and messy, and full of people and places, and shoulds and shouldn’ts. And this space was never meant to be a chore. We have enough checklists in our lives as it is. But this little section of beach out on Long Island is just too good to keep to myself and with the summer season dwindling down, I thought it was high time to share.
Since the beginning of this year, I’ve mentioned multiple times about school starting this summer and life as I knew it would be turned upside down. (I promise, I'll stop mentioning it after this... I'm sick of it too.) And it was. But not nearly as terrible as I anticipated. Sure, my schedule was full and my days contained much less sunshine and nature than I would have liked but it was manageable. Adventures were still to be had; they were just a tad less frequent and a bit more organized.
It was a bit of a lesson for me as I am not much of a planner. I love spur of the moment, where ever one's heart leads kinds of escapades but I've learned that there is joy to be had in the scheduled getaway. When I felt the need to have some space to breathe or at the very least run away from the city heat, I reached out to see who was with me for some planned adventuring. Funny thing is people are more available (and willing) to go along with my shenanigans when I asked them in advance and have some sort of a thought out agenda. Fascinating.
It is no secret that I am a bit obsessed with the beach. I need sand beneath my feet, sun on my skin, and salt in my lungs. Therefore it should come as no surprise that every chance I got, my scheduled fun involved sandy shores and salt water. While it would have been easier to spend the day at the Rockaways, I've found myself drawn to Watch Hill this summer. Sure it requires a combination of train/car/ferry/boat but it's worth it. Let's just add it all as part of the adventure.
Watch Hill is part of the Fire Island National Seashore, a unique little national park off the southern coast of Long Island. It is magical. A quick 20 minute ferry ride across the bay and you find yourself surrounded by sand dunes and pitch pine. There are no automobiles (save for park rangers), few amenities, and limited cell service which means you can give the beach the undivided attention it deserves. Summer always seems to short and soon we will be faced with cooler temps and cozy sweaters. Why not spend the next few official weeks of the season soaking up the sun on a quiet stretch of beach to claim as your own?
notes:
- to have your own beach day at watch hill, take the lirr to patchogue and walk to the ferry terminal. a quick 20 minute ride will land you at the seashore. be sure to check the ferry schedule though - only a few run per day and you will have to make the trek to one of the westerly communities should you miss the last ferry.
- there's booze and grub to be had should you find yourself in short supply of snacks. unless you eat at the restaurant, you will need cash but don't fret the little harbor store has an atm.