Long Beach, NY Road Trips

Long Beach is an urban 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 and housing developments 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, and gang culture took the most indigent areas around the 80s. 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. There are still notable places of poverty and crime in Long Beach, but they are easily avoidable. 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 the city emerged even better than before the storm.

1 Long Beach Historical & Preservation Society Museum, 226 West Penn Street (between Laurelton and Magnolia Blvds.). 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. 2 Holocaust Memorial at Kennedy Plaza. Financed 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, 1300 Lido Blvd (Town Park Point Lookout). To remember 9/11, a major day in American history, a monument has been erected in Lido Beach.

The Beach. Long Beach and the surrounding communities on Long Beach Island are well known for their, well, beaches. Beach Park at Long Beach. 3.5 miles of soft sand, this beach plays host to sunbathers, boogie-boarders, surfers, boaters, and swimmers. During the summer, daily or season admission is sold per person. (updated Jun 2021) Town of Hempstead beaches. To the east, Lido Beach and Point Lookout have several town beaches. These are quite pricey for non-residents. (updated Jun 2021) Nickerson Beach. This is a Nassau County beach in between the Hempstead ones. For 2021, it is only open to county residents. (updated Jun 2021) Atlantic Beach. The Village of Atlantic Beach's beach is only open to village residents. The beach in East Atlantic Beach is administered by the Town of Hempstead, but is only open to East Atlantic Beach residents. (updated Jun 2021) The Boardwalk. This 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. Park Avenue. Walk down the main street of Long Beach and see tons of trendy shops and boutiques as well as awesome restaurants. 1 The West End. Running 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. 2 Long Beach Cinema 4, 179 E. Park Ave, ☏ +1 516 431-2400.

There are many great restaurants in Long Beach. Since it is a laid-back beach community there are tons 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. 1 Sutton Place, 124 W. Park Ave, ☏ +1 516-431-3133. 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. 2 Grill Fire, 40 East Park Avenue, ☏ +1 516-432-2690. "an upscale seafood grill by the beach," this restaurant lives up to its 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, 641 1/2 E. Park Ave, ☏ +1 516-431-4411, [email protected]. 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 beef--this is a strictly kosher affair. Long Beach Inn, 943 West Beech St., ☏ +1 516-432-9220 ext 10.

1 The Beach House, 906 West Beech St, ☏ +1 516 208-8733. 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. 2 Jetty Bar and Grill, 832 W Beech St, ☏ +1 516 442-1338. Shines, 55 California St, ☏ +1 516 432-9248. 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, 032 W Beech St, ☏ +1 516 889-3279. Do you 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, 916 W Beech St, ☏ +1 516 432-9587. 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.

1 The Allegria Hotel, 80 West Broadway, ☏ +1 516 889-1300. Beach front hotel property with restaurant headed by chef Todd Jacobs that has been reviewed by New York critics. 2 Long Beach Hotel. A more historic style hotel. (updated Jun 2021)

Twenty minutes from John F. Kennedy International Airport MTA operates frequent LIRR trains from Penn station in Manhattan via Atlantcíc Terminal in Brooklyn. The beach is a short walk from the station. 1 Long Beach railway station, Park Ave. (updated Nov 2020) 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. There is a local bus service and a county MSBA line (Schedules here .)

Long Beach is a supplementary walking city around Park Avenue and Beech Street; there are tons of restaurants and shops within walking distance of the beach and boardwalk. Walking, however is not suggested in the North Park area of Long Beach due to it being a crime spot. 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. 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, ☏ +1 516-390-7085 Long Beach Bicycle, 755 East Park Ave, ☏ +1 516-432-9632 Social Bikes Long Beach, sobilongbeach.com Nassau Inter-county Express's Route 33 (☏ +1 516-336-6600) runs between Far Rockaway and Long Beach LIRR stations via Beech Street and West Park Avenue.

Long Beach, overall, is a very safe city – although crime does happen like in any other American city of its size and character (see "Crime" section). The City of Long Beach Police Department regularly patrols the city and will assist you in any way necessary should an issue arise. You can contact emergency services by dialing 911. You will not experience any issues if you use basic common sense. Like any city, Long Beach has good areas and bad ones. Overall, the only area of Long Beach which can be considered "bad" by some metrics is the area immediately west of the Long Island Rail Road tracks, behind City Hall. This area contains a housing project – the Channel Park Homes – and is one of the more impoverished areas of the city. Crime does take place here and there is a known gang presence in this area – along with drug trafficking operations. Drugs which have been problematic in this area include cocaine, crack, and MDMA – and gangs which are present include the Latin Kings, P Block Demons, and the MS-13-affiliated Long Beach Lokotes. However, the crimes which take place here are rarely (if ever) targeted at tourists, and are instead between rival gang members, drug-related, or otherwise between people who know each other. There is also nothing of interest for the average tourist in this area of the city, and the Long Beach Police Department's headquarters right in front of this section of the city (at City Hall). The LBPD is well aware of the issue – and as is stated above, it prides itself in keeping the city a great, safe place.