Often referred to as America’s first gay-friendly town, Fire Island Pines is a charming hamlet on Fire Island. It’s on the doorstep of beautiful beaches and native scrub pine protected within the Fire Island National Seashore and boasts a legendary nightlife at its discos.
Spend your days strolling along the wooden boardwalks that meander around Fire Island Pines, with locals using pull toy wagons to transport their groceries and goods. On the western edge of the hamlet is Carrington House, an early-19th-century bungalow that was constructed for Frederick Marquet and was later purchased by the renowned theatre director Frank Carrington.
Walk east from Fire Island Pines to relax on Great South Beach or continue along the trail that leads to Barrett Beach Park. At the far western end of Fire Island is Robert Moses State Park and the black-and-white-striped Fire Island Lighthouse, which has been guiding vessels through the waters of Great South Bay since 1858.
Getting there
Fire Island Pines is around 2.5 hours’ drive from Manhattan and just under two hours from John F. Kennedy International Airport. Ferries are the main means of accessing the hamlet, which is best explored on foot.