Traffic’s lighter and the crowds are gone. Just you and some tasty waves. It’s October and the best time to be at the beach. Say the surfers. And me.
Long Beach is the oft-forgotten suburban cousin of the Rockaways. Not as hip, not as many arepa stands but dedicated surfers abound and the free street parking is easier in the cooler months. Plus it’s very doable by LIRR. It’s a plucky Long Island town of twenty somethings, surfers, seniors and lots of characters who share a love of living on the ocean.
Pack the kids’ bikes or scooters and hit the 2.2 mile long boardwalk for a relaxing salt air ride. Bring a soccer ball and kick it around on the near empty dunes. I like to be near the beaches at Lincoln or Monroe Boulevards to watch the surfers do their thang.
Come early for breakfast or work up a post-boardwalk appetite and settle into the cozy and inviting Blacksmith’s Breads. Order off the “I can’t decide there are so many things I want to try” menu while watching them take freshly baked bread out of the oven. The homemade raisin jam pop tart and soft boiled egg tartine on red quinoa toast chased down with a perfect cortado were beyond good. Beyond.
Walk it off with some West Beech Street window shopping. Filled with cute bikinis and cool surf/skate gear galore, the Moku Surf Shop should be your first stop. For beautifully designed, easy breezy women’s clothing and accessories, Shade Amour is where you should head next. Then pop into Codfish Cowboy for punny onesies, beachy jewelry and home goods. For more OMG eats, super helpful Sarah from Moku highly recommends two spots for dinner: New American, rustic Lost & Found or its secret lil sister across the street aptly named Lost at Sea for cocktails and seafood-y tapas. Wrap up your day with the famous rainbow cookie from Baked by the Ocean. Great name, great sweet parting gift. Go on you deserve it!
PS – If you’ve got little ones who need kid friendly comfort food then Laurel Diner (300 West Park Ave) or The Bungalow West (945 W Beech) are for you.
Blacksmith’s Breads 870 W Beech; Moku Surf Shop 879 W Beech; Shade Amour 803 W Beech; Codfish Cowboy 891 W Beech; Lost and Found 951 W Beech; Baked by the Ocean 919 W Beech