Beaches (beach, food, swimming)

[tango14]

We moved to westchester county 3 months ago from out of state. We have two kids ages 4 and 9. Summer is here and we are looking for ideas on which beaches would be the best , not too far away. We want the kids to have the usual beach fun. Any suggestions? What about parking in those places? Thank you.

[kellz14]

Any beach in Westchester would be on the Long Island sound - which is not your typical sandy beach, as it is not the ocean. If you want a true ocean beach, I recommend taking the trip to Long Island. Jones beach is about an hour from Westchester and is worth the trip. Jones Beach is a new york state park, so parking is only $8 and there is no entry fee for the beach itself. Get there early by 10 or 10:30AM on a weekend and you'll skip the traffic, and you can get a spot in Field 6, which is a very close walk to the beach from the parking lot and has some decent amenities like showers if needed. Avoid Field 4 if you don't want to sit on the beach with partying frat boys. All the other fields are very nice, though, especially field 6. The good thing or the bad thing about Jones Beach, depending on your perspective, is that because it's a state park, it's very non-commercialized. Good thing is it is a very non-expensive trip. Bad thing is the food options are limited to cafeteria-style hamburgers and fries. So definitely pack your own lunch in a cooler! Other than that, Jones Beach is great.

[jjinla]

The LI sound is not a beach. More like a filthy, stagnant, mud puddle. I truly do not get the allure one bit. Pretty to look at and great for boating, sure, but not much else.

I'd 2nd the drive to Jones Beach...or even the Jersey Shore, but you have to pay for all of theirs (and deal with people from the Jersey Shore)

[bg7]

The Sound beaches are fine for kids paddling. If you want a sea-breeze air beach with good waves, or for swimming, try Robert Moses state park. As close as Jones beach, but wilder and cleaner feeling without so many of the idiots.

[kletter1mann]

Originally Posted by kellz14

Any beach in Westchester would be on the Long Island sound - which is not your typical sandy beach, as it is not the ocean. If you want a true ocean beach, I recommend taking the trip to Long Island. Jones beach is about an hour from Westchester and is worth the trip. Jones Beach is a new york state park, so parking is only $8 and there is no entry fee for the beach itself. Get there early by 10 or 10:30AM on a weekend and you'll skip the traffic, and you can get a spot in Field 6, which is a very close walk to the beach from the parking lot and has some decent amenities like showers if needed. Avoid Field 4 if you don't want to sit on the beach with partying frat boys. All the other fields are very nice, though, especially field 6. The good thing or the bad thing about Jones Beach, depending on your perspective, is that because it's a state park, it's very non-commercialized. Good thing is it is a very non-expensive trip. Bad thing is the food options are limited to cafeteria-style hamburgers and fries. So definitely pack your own lunch in a cooler! Other than that, Jones Beach is great.

Jones is indeed worth the trip. parking went up, it's $10 this year.

[tango14]

Thanks everybody.