Fire Island has a long history as a bohemian summer retreat, and it is still a favorite of artists, writers, and actors. The LGBTQ community was welcome on Fire Island long before the watershed Stonewall Inn uprising and made the Pines and Cherry Grove their own. Vacationers of all stripes agree that the absence of cars and proximity to the water are the prime attractions. Secondarily, there are restaurants, clubs, shops and natural wonders to be enjoyed. Here is a guide to vacationing in these two iconic Fire Island communities.
Fire Island is easily accessible from New York City via the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) or by automobile. The next part of the journey is an exciting ferry ride departing from the Sayville Ferry Terminal.
This LGBTQ-centric community is also the island’s most architecturally distinguished, with an unparalleled collection of modernist beach architecture by the likes Horace Gifford, Andrew Geller and Don Page. A little quieter and more low-key than Cherry Grove, it still offers plenty of opportunities for socializing by the sea, including high, middle and low tea dances (a Pines ritual since 1966) every day of the week in season.
