Ocean Bay Park offers something rare on Fire Island – a hotel with a swimming pool.
The community also has two bayside restaurants – Flynn’s and The Schooner Inn. Ferries run from Bay Shore to Ocean Bay Park, the little sister of nearby Ocean Beach. You can walk from one community to the other, passing through Seaview, where the Fire Island Synagogue is located.
There are no lifeguards or public restrooms at Ocean Bay Park.
EAT
Nick Bell of Centereach dances at Flynn’s in Ocean Bay Park. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
Flynn’s has been in Ocean Bay Park since 1937, says co-owner Tim Flynn, 77, who is the third generation to operate the restaurant and bar. “When my family came here, there was nothing here,” he says. Now Flynn’s is a busy restaurant with outdoor seating on the bay that serves salmon, tuna, oysters, clams and lobster. Visitors can take the Moonchaser ferry from Captree State Park to enjoy the lobster buffet on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. They pay $17 round-trip and $55 for the lobster buffet (plus tax). Flynn’s also offers live music and special events. “Weekends are a party here. A lot of people come to us for the whole day,” he says. Flynn’s used to be a night spot — “we were open until 4 a.m.,” he says — but now people mostly come in at noon and leave by 8 p.m. You can also come by boat and dock in the 50-slip marina. 1 Cayuga St., 631-583-5000, flynnsfireislandny.com.
The Schooner Inn is a restaurant and bar with a private beach on the bay. Look up as you enter to see the giant sailing ship hanging from the ceiling; walk past the giant aquarium on the way to the outdoor bar and seating area. There are also picnic tables on the sand. The family-friendly, relaxed atmosphere includes crab races for kids on the beach on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. “I have palm trees everywhere, so you feel like you’re in the Caribbean,” says owner Paul Mohring. Schooner’s also has an adjacent Schooner Pizza and Ice Cream Shop for quicker eats. 57 Bayview Ave., 631-583-8498, schoonerinnfireisland.com.
Enjoy a lobster roll or shrimp tacos at Fire Island Beach House this summer. Photo credit: Fire Island Beach House/dideollc
Canes at Fire Island Beach House is located on the grounds of the Fire Island Beach House hotel. It focuses on breakfast and lunch, serving breakfast items such as bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches and lunch items such as cheeseburger sliders, shrimp tacos and lobster rolls. 25 Cayuga Way, 631-583-8000, thefibh.com.
WHERE TO SLEEP
Fire Island Beach House offers rooms arranged in a horseshoe shape around an in-ground pool. Located on the ocean side of the barrier island, the hotel has direct beach access via a path and stairs over the dunes. The hotel was formerly a Coast Guard station, but has been completely renovated and offers 38 air-conditioned rooms, ranging from traditional to eight-person cottages. The pool is for hotel guests only and open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; there is no lifeguard, and children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult to swim. The hotel’s restaurant, Canes (short for Hurricanes, says general manager Jonathan Kipling), serves mostly breakfast and lunch. “If you’re lounging by the pool, we have servers to take your food and drink order,” says Kipling. A grassy area offers picnic tables, Adirondack chairs and lawn games like cornhole. The hotel is open May through September; rates range from $375 to $1,500 a night in high season. There’s also a $50-a-night resort fee. 25 Cayuga Way, 631-583-8000.
Ocean Bay Park is accessible by ferry. Photo credit: Lauren Chenault
The Seashore Condo Hotel is managed by Brett Brubaker and Jeffrey Clukey, who live on the property. “We’re special because they’re privately owned condos; the owners rent them out through my company, Red Umbrella Properties,” Brubaker says. Each condo feels more like a hotel room, with a queen bed, some with kitchenettes, all with private bathrooms. They come with free beach chairs, towels and umbrellas. The hotel also has a patio with chairs, a grill and a shelf full of books to borrow. Rooms range from $299 to $409; there’s a two-night minimum stay. The hotel is open from late April to mid-October. “We host the community’s Halloween party,” Brubaker says. 78 Bayview Ave., 631-583-5860, seashorecondohotel.com.
WHERE TO SHOP
Island Pantry offers groceries, a deli counter and smoothies. Basic toiletries, umbrellas, beach chairs, sunglasses and more are for sale. 2 Cayuga St., 631-583-6300, islandpantryobp.com.
Kenny Goodman’s Jewelry is a studio featuring sterling silver and wood sculptures by Kenny Goodman, who previously had a location in Ocean Beach. Items include starfish anklets, surfboards and more. 47 Bay Walk, 917-353-8813, theartofkennygoodman.com.
The bike shop across from the ferry dock rents bikes for $35 for 24 hours (adult bikes) and $25 (child bikes). 631-583-5111, obpbikes.com.
Beth Whitehouse writes about families, parenting, and fun things to do with kids on Long Island. She was a contributing editor at Newsday and shared the 1997 Pulitzer Prize with the Newsday staff for their coverage of the crash of TWA Flight 800.
