Long Beach free access? (New York, Babylon: living in, transportation, ferry)

[vlorak]

yeah, that was odd. add florida to that too. no paying for using the beach. geez. and oh yeah, paying to get to a public park? seriously?

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by vlorak

yeah, that was odd. add florida to that too. no paying for using the beach. geez. and oh yeah, paying to get to a public park? seriously?

Isn't a lot of the "paying" not admission per person, but a vehicle parking fee? (Not that that's any better of course, but ...)

In Florida, the beach isn't free everywhere. They have ways some places to get around it ... such as the beach my family had a gulf front beachhouse on for years ... no on the street parking allowed. So if you weren't a resident, renter, or guest of one of the homeowners, you didn't go to the beach around there because you would die of heatstroke literally walking miles from where you could park.

[Jdawg8181]

Originally Posted by I_Love_LI_but

Isn't a lot of the "paying" not admission per person, but a vehicle parking fee? (Not that that's any better of course, but ...)

In Florida, the beach isn't free everywhere. They have ways some places to get around it ... such as the beach my family had a gulf front beachhouse on for years ... no on the street parking allowed. So if you weren't a resident, renter, or guest of one of the homeowners, you didn't go to the beach around there because you would die of heatstroke literally walking miles from where you could park.

well ok you are right on the parking...essentially yeah i guess if you rode your bike to jones it would be free...but no matter what, every park or beach charges some kind of fee...whether it's for admission or parking...or both.

[Burb]

Originally Posted by Jdawg8181

well ok you are right on the parking...essentially yeah i guess if you rode your bike to jones it would be free...but no matter what, every park or beach charges some kind of fee...whether it's for admission or parking...or both.

Not so, Gardiner Country Park in West Bayshore has free parking and beach access, bring your dog. Nice hiking trails. Very pretty.

[S.I.B.]

Originally Posted by Burb

Not so, Gardiner Country Park in West Bayshore has free parking and beach access, bring your dog. Nice hiking trails. Very pretty.

do you let you drive to the beach area...because that's gotta be a hike from the parking lot.

[Burb]

Originally Posted by S.I.B.

do you let you drive to the beach area...because that's gotta be a hike from the parking lot.

It is a hike, 1/2 mile or so, but it's a nice hike

[vlorak]

lived in fl and still visit it and we have never paid for the beach nor parking at the beach. i find a park here that seems semi-descent, as in, not afraid for my life and it costs to enter it. if you're used to paying then you don't understand, but if you have never paid for park access or beach then this is a major shocker

[Jdawg8181]

Originally Posted by vlorak

lived in fl and still visit it and we have never paid for the beach nor parking at the beach. i find a park here that seems semi-descent, as in, not afraid for my life and it costs to enter it. if you're used to paying then you don't understand, but if you have never paid for park access or beach then this is a major shocker

welcome to Long island

[Johninwestbury]

As far as Long Beach I dont know a way around that (perhaps access from West End?) but there are ways to avoid the fees. If you can park in Babylon you can take the S47 bus (for $1.50 each way) to Robert Moses. This wont pay much if you're a group, though.
Smith Point, you can park on one of the streets just north of the bridge and walk across. Napeague beach off route 27, just park near the sand road (there's a small lot) and the beach is a small walk through some piney dunelands.
I dont think Montauk charges for beach use either, just a few blocks from the town.
Fire Island of course has the best beaches, but you'll have to pay for the ferry there (now $18 round trip from Bay Shore...ouch).
There's also some nice beaches in Ponquogue, but parking is limited to Southampton Town residents. Again this can be beat by parking north of the bridge and walking over, though thats a HUGE bridge.
I see plenty of folks walking over these bridges though. And the view from the Ponquogue one is spectacular!

[alexei27]

I believe you pay to park...not for the beach itself. Regardless....its money out of your pocket.