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You could also take the ferry to Block Island from CT in the winter and in the summer from Montauk. It's quite a fishing village. In the summer, it's very crowded, especially on the weekends. What about living on Fire Island year round? It's probably only for the hardy, but they do have their own school system. Jackson Pollack was a resident of Springs.
Thanks for all your responses.
I think I'm going to take a second look at the North Fork.
If there was some way I could get a non resident beach pass for the South Fork that might solve a few things. Really I want to set up and paint the beaches. I could maybe do that without a pass in the Winter months?
I'll take look and see how early the ferries run across Shelter Island. One issue is going to be getting to either side early enough to catch the sunrise, but I guess I'll have that problem wherever we end up.
Thanks for all your help.
Still interested in perspectives if anyone has anything else to add.
Just remember in your outdoor adventures that Shelter Island and the South Fork are well known for having a high percentage of Lyme Disease-carrying deer ticks.
Thanks for all your responses.
I think I'm going to take a second look at the North Fork.
If there was some way I could get a non resident beach pass for the South Fork that might solve a few things. Really I want to set up and paint the beaches. I could maybe do that without a pass in the Winter months?
I'll take look and see how early the ferries run across Shelter Island. One issue is going to be getting to either side early enough to catch the sunrise, but I guess I'll have that problem wherever we end up.
Thanks for all your help.
Still interested in perspectives if anyone has anything else to add.
We have been living on the North Fork since 2015, and have a small family place in Flanders since the 40’s.
For the beaches on both forks you have State, then County, then Town, then hamlet/village passes to research.
Each jurisdiction has their own rules and passes. You can get NY State and Suffolk County passes for state and county beaches on both forks.
For Southold town beaches on the North Fork you need a resident pass all year round, and there are no non-resident passes. They got serious about enforcing this in Southold during the pandemic when crowds showed up at the normally quiet beaches. Each hamlet also has a a few beaches that need the hamlet pass.
I believe for Southampton town beaches you don’t need a permit to park after Sept 15th until the Friday before Memorial Day.
I am not sure about Southampton Village.
East Hampton Town seems to be similar to Southampton Town rules.
East Hampton village looks like they offer non-resident beach parking passes for $500, with a limit of 3,100 passes offered.
Shelter Island is a separate township and I believe they offer a limited number of non-resident day passes.
Just remember in your outdoor adventures that Shelter Island and the South Fork are well known for having a high percentage of Lyme Disease-carrying deer ticks.
Doesn't the North Fork have that too? I think they are pretty rife everywhere right? We have them in Westchester as well.
One place I know I will definitely avoid is the west side of Northwest Harbor. It's basically swampland there. We looked at a house there last year then wandered over to walk along a bit of sheltered beach around the tidal wetland area. We were mercilessly attacked by bugs of all shapes and sizes. Never experienced anything like it - it was like being in a horror movie. I was like - Nope! Definitely pays to explore areas around places before you decide.
Doesn't the North Fork have that too? I think they are pretty rife everywhere right? We have them in Westchester as well.
One place I know I will definitely avoid is the west side of Northwest Harbor. It's basically swampland there. We looked at a house there last year then wandered over to walk along a bit of sheltered beach around the tidal wetland area. We were mercilessly attacked by bugs of all shapes and sizes. Never experienced anything like it - it was like being in a horror movie. I was like - Nope! Definitely pays to explore areas around places before you decide.
We have been living on the North Fork since 2015, and have a small family place in Flanders since the 40’s.
For the beaches on both forks you have State, then County, then Town, then hamlet/village passes to research.
Each jurisdiction has their own rules and passes. You can get NY State and Suffolk County passes for state and county beaches on both forks.
For Southold town beaches on the North Fork you need a resident pass all year round, and there are no non-resident passes. They got serious about enforcing this in Southold during the pandemic when crowds showed up at the normally quiet beaches. Each hamlet also has a a few beaches that need the hamlet pass.
I believe for Southampton town beaches you don’t need a permit to park after Sept 15th until the Friday before Memorial Day.
I am not sure about Southampton Village.
East Hampton Town seems to be similar to Southampton Town rules.
East Hampton village looks like they offer non-resident beach parking passes for $500, with a limit of 3,100 passes offered.
Shelter Island is a separate township and I believe they offer a limited number of non-resident day passes.
Thank you for all of that! It's a lot to consider.
Can you share any more about what you personally think of North Fork beaches? I follow North Fork Polar bears (cold water swimmers) on IG just so I can see what the beaches are doing every morning. I think they mainly swim from a beach in Orient. Also how do you like the North fork in general? Do you love it?
I had already investigated the East Hampton non resident pass. I might try to get one whatever the case this year and see how things work out.
I've just been investigating ferry times.
Sunrise on long Island June and July is around 5.30 am, but ferries don't start until 5.40am which is early but not early enough. To catch a sunrise you have to set up at least an hour before the sun appears. Some of the best light is actually before the sun appears. You get some gorgeous soft mauves then. Anyway my option in summer months is to face the 1.5 hour drive around early morning then get the ferry back when I'm done. Winter month are probably doable by ferry. I do think the best beaches are on the south fork. There are a wider variety of landscapes. Hmm. Still in a big quandry!
Cruithne, would you consider Rhode Island, specifically the coastal stretch from Westerly to Narragansett?
The travel time between Westchester and this part of Rhode Island is similar to the travel to time between Westchester and Long Island's East End.
Homes within walking distance of ocean beaches are available in your price range.
Galilee features a large fishing fleet and might remind you of your hometown.
Compared to the East End, this area of Rhode Island has more of a middle-class, year-round living community feel. Traffic is nonexistent.
The Rhode Island coastline is more varied than the Long Island coastline, making it popular for painters. I have a replica of this one hanging above my fireplace.
Cruithne, would you consider Rhode Island, specifically the coastal stretch from Westerly to Narragansett?
The travel time between Westchester and this part of Rhode Island is similar to the travel to time between Westchester and Long Island's East End.
Homes within walking distance of ocean beaches are available in your price range.
Galilee features a large fishing fleet and might remind you of your hometown.
Compared to the East End, this area of Rhode Island has more of a middle-class, year-round living community feel. Traffic is nonexistent.
The Rhode Island coastline is more varied than the Long Island coastline, making it popular for painters. I have a replica of this one hanging above my fireplace.
That's lovely. Interesting, No I hadn't thought about it actually because I thought the travel time would be too long since my husband is still working.
Definitely, you have got me interested. I will do some investigation. Thanks for this.
Any place you can recommend around there with a nice downtown area?
I'm familiar with Newport of course. Visited many times but no other towns around that area.
1) Downtown Westerly - Located on a river, late 1800s and early 1900s buildings
2) Wickford - Further up the coast on the bay, late 1700s to early 1900s buildings
Downtown Westerly and Wickford are historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Neither gets many visitors from out of town.
3) Narragansett Pier - On the ocean, seasonal, not a traditional downtown but a collection of small shopping centers.
These three areas are villages with smaller commercial districts than Newport and even Greenport and Sag Harbor.
Feel free to ask if you have other questions about the area.
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I was like - Nope! Definitely pays to explore areas around places before you decide.
