Episode 004:
Fire Island Pines
Fire Island, NY
While we were in the area, we decided to make the trek from Cherry Grove to Fire Island Pines. It's funny that two places so close together can have such different vibes. In our fourth video, we give you our impression of Fire Island Pines.
Where is this place...
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Fire Island Pines 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. The directions are the as those to Cherry Grove, except you get on the Fire Island Pines ferry instead. The ferry ride takes about 45 minutes and drops you right in the middle of Fire Island Pines. Make sure you check which ferry you are boarding so you don't end up on the wrong side of Fire Island!
To get there from Cherry Grove, you can either walk, which will take you about half an hour of hiking through the woods, or you can take the water taxi. The water taxi will run you around $15-$20 per person round-trip, and will only make the trip for 2 people or more. We would suggest that if you have fancy clothes on (suit or dress) to spend the money on the water taxi.
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...
Fire Island Pines is named for the scrub pine trees located all through the area. According to legend, the pines originated from an 19th century ship carrying Christmas Trees and holly that foundered off the coast.
Like Cherry Grove, there are beaches in Fire Island Pines, but most of them are privately owned. We assume that walking along the shoreline is okay, but don't set down any towels or umbrellas, as you might be shooed away by the locals. Beyond Fire Island Pines to the East is Barrett Beach and the communities of Water Island and Davis Park. All are relatively long walks away (~1 hour).
Overall though, Fire Island Pines is much more residential. You'll probably run into a lot more locals and their guests out here. That does provide some benefits, as there is a little bit more development. If you are in need of some wine or emergency liquor, the Pines Liquor Shop on Bay Walk is a must. Even tough we recommend bringing your own liquor, a nice bottle of wine can never hurt, especially when enjoyed at sunset on the beach! Just keep an eye out for the posted restrictions in Fire Island Pines. Play safe!
The marina provides a nice setting for people-watching in the center of town. You'll see all the residents and visitors arriving and leaving on the ferry. You'll also see plenty of short-shorts. When we recorded our video, we were enjoying the "view" from one of the covered benches on the south side of the water.
Other than the marina, Hotel Ciel, which was renamed Botel in 2013, dominates the center of town. In the afternoon, the hotel hosts a pool-side tea party. There is also a small sandwich shop on the side of the hotel, in case you want to grab a bite. In our case, the party was fun, but a bit difficult to get into after the long walk. Moreover, some of the people at the party could be a bit intimidating to those of us who are less fit... Still, we didn't let them ruin our fun and sipped a cocktail by the pool.
Private house parties are also big in Fire Island Pines. After watching people disembark the ferries, we could tell that most were headed to a friend's house for a private beach party. Some people do open their homes to the public. We saw an advertisement for an underwear party at someone's house in the Pines. Unfortunately, we couldn't make it since we were already back in Cherry Grove when we found out and didn't want to make that trek back to the Pines at night. So, check the telephone poles and bulletin boards as you walk around both Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines for fliers advertizing any parties happening while you are there. Not to mention, you might even be able to find something on Craigslist... Or, find a friend who owns a house on the island and crash their party!
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 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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