Gay Fire Island

Flaming Fire Island is the top LGBT resort destination in New York.  A thin barrier island off the coast of Long Island, gay and lesbian travelers flock here in droves every year for respite from the hustle and bustle of NYC. Though a mere 2 hours away from the city it feels like a world away. The two main gay areas are Cherry Grove which is most popular with lesbians, and Fire Island Pines for gay guys. Both communities are close to one another so it is easy to get around town by foot and really get a feel for the town!

Fire Island Gay Scene

There are two main areas for the gay scene on Fire Island. The first is Fire Island Pines, which is extremely popular with the boys. Fire Island Pines’ gay scene is about 90% gay professionals. Many have timeshares during the summer and a few select own beautiful homes that dot the coastline. The Pines draws the Chelsea crowd. The other is Cherry Grove, whose gay scene is extremely popular with the girls as well as more bohemian gay men. Cherry Grove is truly the “sister” hamlet to the male dominated Fire Island Pines.

Gay-Friendly Dining

The Out

This gay-friendly restaurant offers a full selection of classic dishes, but the great stuff is the seafood. On weekdays, lookout for the rotating seafood specials and on the weekend The Out features live bands and DJs. Owned and operated by a Cornell graduate who chose the life of a “beach bum,” The Out is completely free of pretense.

CJ's

The only bar and restaurant open year round, CJ’s is a great place to mingle with locals. CJ’s offers mostly bar food, but on weekdays be on the lookout for their lobster special. This place fills up fast though, so get to this gay-friendly restaurant early.

Local Tips and Tricks

Summer is without a doubt the ideal time to visit Fire Island, when the temperature is usually in the 70s. The warmest month is July and the coldest is January. During the winter months temperatures dip into the 30s. Fire Island is separated from Long Island by a series of interconnected bays and automobiles are only permitted on the east and west ends. You can get anywhere you need to go by boat, sea plane or ferry (either Bay Shore or Sayville). While hundreds of thousands of tourists frequent this quaint haven in the summer, Fire Island has a permanent population of just about 500 people.  Crime is virtually non-existent, however emergency services are readily available to residents and tourists.

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