As the heat index climbed to 100 this weekend, we knew it was time to head toward the beach and escape the city concrete. If you’re not part of the mass exodus to The Hamptons, the beach is your next best option. I’ve always favored Long Beach, a private beach accessible by the Long Island Railroad, but I’ve read good things about The Rockaways and the Riis Park Beach Bazaar, a public beach with an impressive lineup of food carts and live music. Note: It was re-built post-Hurricane Sandy.
We typically bring our own beach snacks but this time, we went to the beach to EAT so we left all provisions at home. There are a number of options from falafel to fish tacos, lobster rolls and BBQ and even kale and quinoa salad so it’s safe to say there’s something for everyone. Unlike at Long Beach, alcohol is allowed so there are plenty of food carts serving your choice of adult beverages too, including boozy shave ice.
The Rockaways are reachable by car, bus, ferry or subway, but we opted for the round-trip ferry ($30 pp) which also offers a full bar aboard. Once we arrived, it was a short walk to the beach. We decided on fish tacos from Wildfeast (choice of corn or flour tortillas, FTW) and fresh Young Thai coconuts from By the Beach Cocos which were so sweet and tasty on a hot afternoon (Tip: if you get a coconut, the wooden utensils won’t get the meat out so don’t waste it – take it home and scoop out the meat to snack on and use in smoothies).
We snagged a seat on the ferry’s front deck for the ride home and enjoyed a cocktail along the way.
I loved the vibe at Jacob Riis Beach – it’s a fun and laid back crowd, but also family-friendly. If you’re looking for a beach where you can kick back and imbibe, this is the beach for you! I can’t wait to go back.
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