Episode 003:
Cherry Grove
Fire Island, NY
Learning about exotic travel destinations is one of the exiting thing about Gays at Play! We plan to tell you all about our adventures in the Caribbean, Mexico, Miami, Canada and lots of other fun spots we've visited... eventually. But we wanted to save the good stuff for just a little bit later. So, for our first video outside of Connecticut, we decided to visit somewhere quintessentially gay... Fire Island. We hope that you find our video informative and fun.
Where is this place...
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Cherry Grove is located in the middle of Fire Island, which is a barrier island on the southern side of Long Island. To get there, you will to take the ferry from Sayville, NY. Do not listen to Google Maps, which says that you can drive onto Fire Island, right up to Cherry Grove. There are no roads across the island, only small boardwalks. In order to drive on the island, you would need drive on the beach with an ATV and of course the proper permits.
If you are coming from New York City, you can take the Long Island Railroad to Sayville and then catch a taxi the rest of the way.
If you are driving, take I-495 East to Exit 59, Route 93 / Ocean Avenue. Head South on Route 93 until you get to the center of Sayville, just past the train station. turn left onto Route 65 / Middle Road and then right onto Forest Road. Follow the signs (and other cars) to the parking lot. Parking is about $12 per car. The ferry ride takes about half an hour and drops you right in the middle of Cherry Grove. Make sure you check which ferry you are boarding so you don't end up on the wrong side of Fire Island!
The Basics...
Hours:
Ferries run year round, with varying schedules.
Ferry Ride Cost:
Adult - $16.00 per person round-trip during summer months
(Credit Cards accepted only for purchases over $24)
More information about the ferry can be found on their website.
The Details...
Water Rating: No (Jon) / Awesome (David)
Sand Quality - 8.5 to 9
The Fire Island Beach is one of the main attractions of the island, offering beautiful open beaches stretching for miles. The beaches are on the south side of the island, which is open directly to the Atlantic Ocean. The sand is clean and very fine, similar to that of many Caribbean beaches. The water is cool and refreshing, with nice sized waves. However, if you plan to go to the club later in the evening, you might want to think twice about going into the water. If you do plan to take a dip, make sure to bring towels, a bottle of fresh water to rinse off with and some body spray so that you can freshen up.
We brought a small tent with us to provide shade from the sun and some privacy. Many people had umbrellas. Don't forget your suntan lotion!
As we said, supplies on the island are expensive, so bring your own food and liquor. We stopped at the market located on East Walk and spent $40 on just water, cheese, hummus and a small veggie plate. Moreover, we did not find a liquor store in Cherry Grove.
When you add it all up: Food, Water, Liquor, Chang of Clothes, Tent/Umbrella, etc... you may find that you feel more like you are going camping than spending a day at the beach. We needed two backpacks and a side bag just to carry everything. But, trust us when we say that it is worth the effort to avoid the high prices of the island and to be able to look fresh and fierce for your late night adventures!
The beach itself is clothing optional and predominantly gay. Many people were walking around nude, but most were wearing short-shorts or bikinis. There were some children, so please use your discretion. The crowd ranges from late-20's and up.
The beach is closed at night, with cops stationed at all the major boardwalks leading up to the beach. And don't even think of trying to sneak onto the beach from one of the side boardwalks, because the beach is heavily patrolled by the cops. Play safe!
Back in town, the gay fun continues! You'll probably find a lot of people walking around in beachwear and other very "casual" attire. And don't mess with the drag queens... Never mess with the drag queens!
Cherry's Bar is one of the main bars in town, located on the main boardwalk. At night, you can hear the music bumping from outside, with the usual Britney, GaGa, Gay club mix. There is a cover and usually a drink special. Our opinion was that the main attraction of this bar was that it was located in Cherry Grove. But, the music and drink specials were nothing special.
Tides Cozy Bar, located on the Ocean Walk Boardwalk, holds cabaret and piano shows in their small theater area. They also serve drinks and cocktails.
Cherry Grove Pizza is located in the heart of Cherry Grove next to the Grove Hotel. We ordered a whole cheese pizza for $30. It came with eight slices and was just e nough for the two of us. Add two cans of soda and some garlic bread and the total came to $45 with tax and tip. So, while it might be nice to get some hot, fresh New York-style pizza while on the island, be prepared to pay for it.
The Grove Hotel and Ice Palace is another spot in town that's hard to miss. They usually host afternoon pool parties and drag shows. The hotel also hosts the annual "Miss Fire Island" drag contest.
Another hotel in Cherry Grove is the Belvedere Fire Island Guesthouse. This gated and private hotel is a men's guest house, with basic rooms starting at $269 during the summer! Suffice it to say, we only got a peek at the place through the gates and over the fence... A number of other bed and breakfasts and men's guesthouses are also available in Cherry Grove, but will probably also cost you a pretty penny.
Another thing Fire Island is know for is it's parties. Check the telephone poles and bulletin boards as you walk around town for fliers advertizing any parties happening while you are there. Or, find a friend who owns a house on the island and crash their party!
Lastly, there's the Meat Rack, which is the infamous cruising area located in the wooded area between Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines. There are a number of paths through the woods, including the main path connecting the two communities. Off of the paths are a number of secluded areas where men usually "meet"... Jon and I did run across a number of men waiting in the woods. If you are not cruising, make sure to walk with a friend and watch for deer ticks, which are common on Fire Island. If you are cruising, always be safe and use protection. We would not recommend walking through the meat rack at night.
Overall, Cherry Grove is a great experience either as a day-trip or a weekend getaway. The best times to come are in the summer, or course, but also the early fall (September) when it is a lot less buggy.
Flaming!!
In this spot, not only is there no problem with being gay, but it hard not to be! Just be yourself and enjoy the rainbows and unicorns, honey, because haters are not welcome here!
Recommended for: Gay Couples, Gay Friends
That's all for now. Thanks for watching and reading! Don't forget to like us, leave a comment and share us with your friends if you enjoy the video!
Peace and Love,
Jon and David
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