
A few weeks ago one of my amazing subscribers asked me to recommend a family friendly beach that was near NYC and I rattled off a few. Then I thought it would make a great blog post to share so here it is! I am pleased to say I have visited almost all of these (or have had friends who have & gave good reports on them). These beaches are Busy Bee Approved!! What about you? What does your Summer Beach Bucket List look like? How many of these beaches have you bummed on? Comment below! Or add any beach I may of forgotten!
Long Beach is the closest Long Island beach to NYC’s border. The 3.5 mile stretch of white sand gives kiddos lots of space for sandcastles and wave jumping. Plus, the 2.2-mile oceanfront boardwalk offers plenty of shopping and dining for you. Don’t feel like leaving the beach for lunch? No problem! Most local restaurants will deliver right to the beach. There’s also a food truck scene on Riverside Blvd. between the train station and the beach and a large Waldbaum’s supermarket adjacent to the train station. If you need a break from the sand? Long Beach offers 8 playgrounds – check out Magnolia Park or Pacific Park located beachside.
Long Branch, Nj is a clean family-friendly beach town with trendy shopping and inviting restaurants along the 2 mile boardwalk on Ocean Avenue between Seaview Avenue to the north and Brighton Avenue to the south.
Pier 4 Beach - Brooklyn Bridge Park is the place to be, closest to home to get sand between your toes, where visitors can travel down to the water’s edge and launch non-motorized boats. Or simply admire the natural tidal pools that showcase the diversity of marine and plant life that call the park home.
Robert Moses State Park has five miles of pristine coastline, an 18-hole pitch-and-putt golf course, grilling and picnic areas, bathhouses, umbrella and chair rentals, playgrounds, surfing and fewer crowds.
Rockaway Beach has over three miles of white sand waiting for you at this family-friendly Queens beach and boardwalk. Seven playgrounds keep kids happy, along with fishing, skating, volleyball, sunning and, of course, swimming.
Rye Town Park and Beach in Westchester County (next to Rye Playland, a kid-size amusement park offering rides, boardwalk, pool and access to the same beach) where you’ll find a 1,200-foot long white sand beach located adjacent to a 62-acre park preserve (including a duck pond). Lifeguards are on duty 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the beach is open for swimming weather permitting. You’ll love that the Sound is low on waves, so it’s a perfect beach setting for small children.
Sandy Hook is located at the Northern tip of the Jersey Shore, contains over 7 miles of ocean beaches, a biking/walking trail, a maritime forest and Historic Fort Hancock and Lighthouse. There are designated grilling spots and picnic tables in the park, and new this summer – a variety of food trucks will service different areas along the beach.