While wanderlust often leads to the desire of faraway locales, sometimes you need to look no further than your own backyard. With today’s weather approaching summery temps, there is no place we would rather be than soaking up some sun at the Rockaways.

Here’s what we would be up to if we could escape the midweek humdrum:

- To get there, hop on a Rockaways-bound A train and transfer to the S at Broad Channel. Your beachy oasis awaits you at any stop along the way.

- After spending some quality subway time escaping the city, reconnect to the decidedly not urban with a morning surf session. New to surfing or need a board/wetsuit/surfing buddies? We’ve heard good things about Locals Surf School and Rockaway Beach Surf School. Both are located down by 67th street so stay on the Far Rockaway A (don’t transfer to the S) to get there.

- Swing by 87th St to Rockaway Beach Surf Club, as you have now worked up your appetite, and enjoy some grub from the new/old Tacoway Beach (former Rockaway Tacos - RIP).

- Walk off the food coma along the shoreline for some nature-appreciating and prime people-watching. We also fully recommend the time honored activities of beach lounging, trashy novel reading, and maybe even some frisbee throwing. Make sure to take advantage of the ocean to cool off.

- As the sun begins to set, mosey to the Wharf Bar and Grill at 116th St down by Jamaica Bay. Unassumingly tucked away behind a gas station, this pub offers prime sunset viewing while enjoying a couple of beers and some deliciously fried food.

There you have it! We’ll just be sitting here daydreaming of tacos and the perfect wave.

note:

- the rockaways are awesome all year round. during the off-season, the beach is pretty much empty but consider this your warning - it can be a bit brisk.

As a final ode to summer, I must reflect on la playa. We wait all year long for it to be summer, because we're going to do ALL THE THINGS. We'll see all the free movies and concerts in the park, breath in every sunset on cool rooftops, and of course beach it as much as possible. And somehow, at the end of the summer, there's no time left to do ALL THE THINGS. "How did we only make it to the beach twice in the past 3 months?"

Well, I was a bit more intentional this year than summers past about beaching it more often. Why not? I decided to simplify my routine for a few months: work less and breath more. Create some space in my life for new things to blossom. Create some time in my life to actually dream about what I want those new blossoming things to look like and taste like. And eat a few tacos. (Best decision ever.)

We frequented Rockaway Beach quite often. (the Ramones were onto something...) It's a hit for us 20-somethings in the city; I know i'm not unique in this find. But I love that I can get on the A train up in the heights, ride it down for an hour or so, collecting more folks along the way, pass JFK, and then hop out in a small local surf town. I didn't really need much notice on the decision-making end to beach or not to beach on any given day. It's a choose your own adventure. And it's free...so anyone could come along, no excuses.

There are multiple beaches accessible to the city, and Meg and I made a list of all the ones to hit up this summer (and report back here of course), but I found myself liking the familiar. Don't get me wrong, I love new things, but I may be the type of person who goes to a restaurant and orders the same thing I got the last time. Because it's sooo good every time. Sure, the menu probably has a lot of other good options, but I just get my reminiscent heart set on things some times. I would rather have something I know I'll love than the risk of something mediocre. Do you know what I mean? Rockaway became my local beach of choice.

Rockaway has an eclectic scene-- young families, thong-wearing Latino mothers, tatted Scandinavian hipsters, dreaded surfers, and everything in between. And I love that. I love the freedom of diversity, the accessibility to all, and the fact that we all made the pilgrimage to this small chunk of the sea because being by the ocean is good for the soul. It may not be the cleanest, but I prefer it to the homogeny of the hamptons. Did I mention THE FOOD? There's good food options (and usually friends to make while waiting in line and some live music). Gamechanger.

The chill of Fall may have settled in, but consider running away to the Rockaways for a few hours. The town has come so far post-Sandy, so come breathe in the sea, do some people watching, eat a taco, and boost the local economy :)

to note:

- head to the 97th St Pier for more of a crowd & diverse hipster-y food options. (i mean the stop on the subway is called: "Beach 98 Street- Playland")

- head further down to 116th for less of a crowd. on your way back to the train, check out the Wharf Bar & Grill on the bay-side of the beach. It's hidden behind a gas station, so it's not swarmed with people. You can sit on the deck, drink some Coronas, eat fish & chips, and watch the sun sink into the little tiny city skyline in the distance. It's not fancy, and I likey that way.

- make sure you stop at Rockaway Taco. #tacos4lyfe warning: the line gets LONG