Long Beach (New York)

Long Beach is a suburban community set on a barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean (not surprisingly, called Long Beach Barrier Island), across from Long Island. It can be visited as a day trip from New York City, which is about 50 minutes away via the Long Island Rail Road; for those who prefer to stay longer, there are hotels near the beach. There are plenty of restaurants and bars in town, but for visitors, it's mostly really about the long sand beaches.
This small city was founded in the 1880s and started out as a vacation community where visitors crowded for some sea and surf. Through the 1940s, Long Beach was a glamorous resort town that attracted celebrities and other wealthy visitors, but a decline that began with the advent of affordable air travel led to the city developing a reputation for crime and decay by the 1970s. In the 21st century, however, Long Beach is once again a desirable destination. Long Island residents returned first, followed by Manhattanites looking for a quick, easy and affordable beach getaway, and now, for the first time in decades, hotels have begun to operate within the city limits.
In 2012 the area was devastated by Hurricane Sandy, with many homes and businesses flooded and the city's beloved boardwalk destroyed. Long Beach proved to have both the will and the resources to rebuild, and today the city is emerging even better than before the storm, with few obvious signs remaining of such a terrible event so recently in the past. In October 2013, just a year after Sandy, workers laid the last plank on the reconstructed boardwalk. Today homes are being repaired and rebuilt and shops, restaurants and bars continue to reopen; many new businesses, often catering to a younger, more-cosmopolitan clientele, are replacing those that unfortunately could not return.

By plane

• Twenty minutes from John F. Kennedy International Airport, JFK Access Road New York, NY 10010-3672, (718) 244-4444

By train

• — located at W. Park Ave. and Rev. J.J. Evans Blvd. The beach is a short walk from the station.

By car

• Take the Long Island Expressway from the Meadowbrook Parkway South to Exit M-10 (Lido-Long Beach Loop Parkway), OR take the Belt Parkway East to Nassau Expressway towards Long Beach.

By bus

• There is a local bus service and a county MSBA line (Schedules here.)

On foot

Long Beach is a great walking town; there are tons of restaurants and shops within walking distance of the beach and boardwalk.

By car

You can drive through Long Beach and there are various parking lots and parking meters located throughout town. Note: parking tends to be packed during the weekends and especially during the summertime so go early for a prime spot.

By bicycle

A great way to get around town. There are tons of bike shops where you can rent bikes hourly or for the day.
Local Cycles, 307 W Park Ave, Long Beach, (516) 390-7085
Long Beach Bicycle, 755 East Park Ave, (516)432-9632
Social Bikes Long Beach, sobilongbeach.com

By bus

Nassau Inter-county Express's Route 33 (Phone: +1 516-336-6600) runs between Far Rockaway and Long Beach LIRR stations via Beech Street and West Park Avenue.

• Long Beach Historical & Preservation Society Museum

  address: 226 West Penn Street
  This museum was founded in 1980 to "educate the public about Long Beach and to preserve and enhance the city's architectural and historical heritage." The museum has thousands of pictures, documents, and memorabilia which can be viewed by the public.

• Holocaust Memorial at Kennedy PlazaFinanced and designed by Holocaust survivor Dr. Stanley R. Robbin, M.D. in April of 1982, this giant granite memorial was erected in honor of those lost during the Holocaust. This impressive granite structure is something to see.

• 9/11 Memorial

  address: 1300 Lido Blvd
  To remember 9/11, a major day in our nation's history, a monument has been erected in Lido Beach.

• Park AvenueWalk down the main street of Long Beach and see tons of trendy shops and boutiques as well as awesome restaurants.

• The West EndRunning from Nevada Avenue at the city's western border to New York Avenue, a stretch where the island is only three blocks wide, the West End is Long Beach's younger, funkier, more-intimate side. You'll find a fun assortment of independent shops, restaurants and bars along walkable, two-lane West Beech Street.

• The Beach3.5 miles of soft sand, this beach plays host to sunbathers, boogie-boarders, surfers, boaters, and swimmers.

• The BoardwalkThis boardwalk stretches over 2 miles long and is a great place to ride your bike, roller-skate, run or walk and take in the breathtaking views of 3.5 miles of beautiful silky sand.

• Long Beach Cinema 4

  address: 179 E. Park Ave.
  This four-screen theater closed due to damage from Hurricane Sandy and remained shuttered for years, leading to concerns that it would never reopen. After a full restoration, though, it finally opened its doors in the spring of 2015.

• Arts & Crafts Fairevery summer there is an annual arts and crafts fair on the boardwalk and over 200 vendors participate and sell everything from food to hand-made jewelry.

• Restaurant WeekThis is definitely something you should check out if you are ever in Long Beach during October 8th-24th. There are fixed price menus of $19.99 or below offered at a ton of great restaurants in the city. Definitely check this out if you are in the area during October because some of these restaurants have a long waiting list.

• Long Beach Surf

  address: 70 W Park Ave
  This store carries a ton of surf gear and equipment. They also have a sale rack that they constantly add to so be on the lookout for some great deals.

• Unsound Pro

  address: 359 E. Park Ave
  A surf/snow shop that prides itself on selling top name surfboards and wetsuits as well as snowboards and hot/cold climate clothes and accessories. Whether you are looking for a new snowboard or new surfboard, check out Unsound Pro.

• Ohh La La

  address: 167 E Park Ave # A
  a fun and girly clothing boutique that describes it's clientele as "vintage and modern, casual and dressy, sexy and feminine, edgy and classic." With tons of designer and brand names and an enthusiastic staff, this store is worth checking out.

• Rose & Eye

  address: 893 W Beech St # A
  The woman's clothing boutique located in the West End has tons of dresses, shoes, and accessories. If you think ahead and join the mailing list, you can get 20% off your purchase.

There are many great restaurants in Long Beach. Since it is a laid-back beach community there are ton of bars and grilles that offer everything from delicious home-caught seafood to typical American cuisine like burgers and steaks. What ever you crave, a restaurant in LB will play into your taste buds.

• Sutton Place

  address: 124 W. Park Ave
  This restaurant is known as the "great American bar and grille." The food is awesome, there are plenty of burgers and salads, foods to appease any appetite. It is also a very casual and relaxed environment, there are tables located inside as well as outdoors so diners can pick what kind of eating atmosphere they desire.

• Grill Fire

  address: 40 East Park Avenue
  "an upscale seafood grill by the beach," this restaurant lives up to it's claim. The food is fresh, the service is friendly and the ambiance is relaxing. If you are looking for a luxurious night out in Long Beach, throw on some classy duds and go to Grill Fire.

• Lido Kosher Deli

  address: 641 1/2 E. Park Ave
  Like many nearby communities on Long Island's South Shore, Long Beach has a large Jewish population, and this is its culinary temple. Owner Wally Goetz has been serving up jaw-straining deli sandwiches from this location near the city's eastern boundary for nearly 30 years; there's also a full menu of heimische classics such as goulash and stuffed cabbage. Just don't ask for Swiss cheese on your corned beefthis is a strictly kosher affair.

• Long Beach Inn

  address: 943 West Beech St.
  One of the best restaurants in Long Beach. Set up as a bar/grille type establishment, it is also Long Island's premier live music venue. Eat, drink and take in a set or two.

• Carnival Ice Cream ParlorOpen seasonally and located on the boardwalk, Carnival has the best flavors of ice cream that are a delicious treat after hot hours spent on the beach. They have tons of original flavors and fair prices.

• Gino's Restaurant & Pizzeria

  address: 16 W Park Ave
  If you are looking for great Italian food at a place that has been around forever Gino's is the place for you. Note: for every entree ordered you get complimentary salad and pasta, so bring your appetite.

• The Shoregasboard

  address: Riverside Blvd and Boardwalk
  The food-truck craze has hit Long Beach hard with this four-wheeled food court at the foot of the boardwalk. Eight vendors operate trucks surrounding a bank of tables, with cuisines ranging from seafood and smoothies to barbecue and Jewish deli. The Shoregasboard runs on the same schedule as the beach season, from late May to early September.

• The Beach House

  phone: +1 516 208-8733
  address: 906 West Beech St
  If you are looking for a casual bar for a laid back night, definitely stop by this bar. The bar is fully stocked, food is served, and there is indoor and outside seating.

• Jetty Bar and Grill

  phone: +1 516 442-1338
  address: 832 W Beech St

• Shines

  phone: +1 516 432-9248
  address: 55 California St
  With dark mood lighting and tons of locals, Shines is a fun place to come if you want to meet some neighborhood "characters." Fun fact about Shines- free drinks on your birthday!

• Speak Easy

  phone: +1 516 889-3279
  address: 032 W Beech St
  Do yo want to visit a small spot on the West End? A great local spot, with great food, especially on Monday Night: Fried Chicken Night. This bar has a great assortment of beers from all around the world!

• Whales Tale

  phone: +1 516 432-9587
  address: 916 W Beech St
  With a nautical atmosphere and loaded jukebox you will be in for a great time here. It is a great place to drink beer, eat seafood and gamble.

• The Allegria Hotel

  phone: +1 516 889-1300
  address: 80 West Broadway
  Beach front hotel property with restaurant headed by chef Todd Jacobs that has been reviewed by New York critics.

Like other towns on barrier islands, Long Beach is very susceptible to flooding from high surf and wind. During Hurricane Sandy, ocean waves rolled over Long Beach Island into the channel beyond, on their way to hitting Long Island, leaving severe damage in their wake. If there is a warning of a severe storm, reconsider visiting, and if the area has recently been hit hard by a storm, check conditions before coming.

• Long Island Rail Road station- located at W. Park Ave. and Park Pl. 1 Park Ave, Long Beach NY 11561
• Car- Via Long Island Expressway.
• Bus- There is a local bus service and a county MSBA line (Schedules)
• Plane- Twenty minutes from John F. Kennedy International Airport, JFK Access Road New York, NY 10010-3672, (718) 244-4444