1. Jones Beach
Jones Beach State Park is a Long Island icon, one of the most famous and visited beaches in the world since its 1929 opening by master builder Robert Moses. The 6.5-mile beach accommodates millions of visitors annually yet never feels overcrowded thanks to its vast scale and eight distinct beach areas. The Art Deco architecture of the bathhouse and water tower give the park historic grandeur unique among American beaches. The Jones Beach Theater hosts major concerts throughout summer against a spectacular oceanfront backdrop. Beach Fields vary from busy family beaches to a surf beach and even a nude beach (Lighthouse Beach). The Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center offers educational programs about local wildlife. For New York City residents, Jones Beach represents the easiest beach escape with a classic boardwalk, umbrella rentals, and nostalgia-filled concession stands.
Best For: Day trips from NYC, Concerts, Swimming, Boardwalk
Best Time to Visit: June through August for swimming; summer for concerts; weekdays for fewer crowds
