66 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • JULY 2019
PRESS BUZZ: DESTINATIONS OCEAN BEACH:
BY BRENDAN MANLEY
The 30-mile-long, half-mile wide
stretch of Long Island barrier beach
known as Fire Island is divided into
some 17 communities, many with
their own unique identities, and
Ocean Beach — Fire Island’s largest
year-round village — is no exception.
For many, Ocean Beach is the heart
of Fire Island, a bayfront paradise
where sun and surf offer endless
relaxation. A sizeable assortment
of restaurants, bars and boutiques
give visitors a great reason to reach
for their wallets.
The incorporated Village of Ocean
Beach was first formed in 1921, when
the John A. Wilbur tract merged with
Stay-A-While Estates. Previously,
in 1918, Ocean Beach had already
become home to Fire Island’s first
elementary school, and the village
seems to have grown, while retaining
its character and charm, ever since.
Over the years, numerous celebrities,
including Fanny Brice, Carl Reiner,
and Mel Brooks, have made Ocean
Beach their vacation haven of choice,
while a good number of locals still remain
all year. You can hardly blame
them.
Whether you’re a Fire Island “noob”
or veteran, time at Ocean Beach is always
time well spent. Here are some
crucial ingredients for an Ocean
Beach getaway across the bay:
GETTING THERE
To reach Ocean Beach, you’ll likely
need to zip across Great South Bay
on a private boat or water taxi, or hop
on one of the ferries that make daily
30-minute trips back and forth from
the Bay Shore ferry terminal (99
Maple Ave., Bay Shore, 631-665-3600,
fireislandferries.com/schedules/
ocean-beach). It’s a quick cab ride
from the Bay Shore Long Island Rail
Road train station if you’re arriving
by rail; for drivers, there’s daily,
overnight and long-term parking at
the terminal, as well as additional
parking at the end of Maple Avenue.
SUN & SAND
Of course, the main draw at Ocean
Beach is the beach. You’ll find perfect
oceanfront scenery wherever
you roam at the village’s namesake
Ocean Beach (Ocean View Walk),
where paths, boardwalks, docks
and a glorious stretch of sand await.
Many of the local restaurants, bars
and shops line the border on the bay
side, providing the ideal respite from
working on your tan on the oceanfront.
Stroll along the boardwalk
promenade for a superb view of Great
South Bay, perhaps while taking in a
picturesque sunrise or sunset.
ON TAP
When not swimming and sunning,
Ocean Beachers can often be found at
one of the village’s popular watering
holes, which provide another classic
Fire Island diversion. A perennial favorite
among these decadent haunts
is CJ’s Restaurant & Bar (479 Bay
Walk, 631-583-9890, cjsfireisland.
com), where tight surroundings
make it all the easier to make new
friends. CJ’s has become legendary
thanks to its house drink, a frozen
concoction known as the Rocket Fuel,
which is essentially a piña colada
with additional shots of amaretto and
overproof rum, like Bacardi 151. The
beverage is so popular it’s also made
elsewhere and is considered Fire
Island’s signature drink.
Another always-booming hangout is
Housers Bar (785 Evergreen Walk,
631-583-7805, housershotel.com),
which offers a comfy surf-shack vibe
you can enjoy even when the place is
bursting at the seams. The key here
is that they do the basics right, from
the finely curated summer music
selection to its backyard “beach”
hideaway, where you can step outside
and relax. There’s also some killer
food for hungry patrons, including
a 1 ¼-pound lobster special. Although
not as famous as the Rocket Fuel,
their special drink is the refreshing
Zippy Cooler. Housers is also the only
bayfront bar in Ocean Beach with a
sandy beach out back.
You may also crave a “locals” night
Downtown Ocean Beach offers small-town charm a short walk from the shore. (Photo by Lauren Chenault)
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/housershotel.com
