Accommodations

One of the few hotels on Fire Island [1] is the simple but comfortable Fire Island Hotel and Resort (25 Cayuga Park, Ocean Bay Park, 631/583-8000, www.fireislandhotel.com [2]), housed in converted U.S. Coast Guard buildings. The hotel caters primarily to families, but rooms go very fast—reserve well in advance. Rates in summer range from $225 midweek to $1,205 for a three-night weekend stay; rates drop 25–50 percent in June and September.

Another good choice for families is the comfortable, air-conditioned, 1940s-era Cleggs Hotel (478 Bayberry Walk, Ocean Beach, 631/583-5399, $165 midweek, $395 for the weekend).

The Grove Hotel (Ocean Walk, Cherry Grove, 631/597-6600, www.grovehotel.com [3]), also known as the Cherry Grove Beach Hotel, caters to the gay community. Summer rates for a clean, basic room are $75–160 midweek and $500–750 for a two-night weekend stay; rates drop significantly in the off-season.