I'm trying to find a beach to take a day trip to from NYC this coming weekend. (The trip is to celebrate a birthday, so I want to go even though the weather won't be fantastic.) I'm looking for a place with a great seafood restaurant nearby. I'll have a car, so the spot does not have to be near public transportation, but I'd like the drive to be picturesque. I've been trying to find something on Long Island, but am having trouble picking one spot. Any suggestions?

Hollis, I recommend a trip to Spring Lake, New Jersey which (IMO) is one of the nicest shore towns. It's a quiet and quaint area with a lovely Main Street that has shops and restaurants. You can take a walk on the boardwalk or sit on one of the covered benches and look at the ocean. As for restaurants, I like the restaurant in The Breakers Hotel which is right across the street from the ocean. I also like The Sandpiper in Spring Lake, Anthony's in Brielle, and La Nonna Piancone in Bradley Beach. All of them serve great seafood dishes. I have to admit that the drive down the Garden State Parkway is not picturesque, but you'll be there in under 2 hours and the town is picturesque.

I would suggest you go along the Connecticut shore, specifically Greenwich, Norwalk, Darien or Rowyaton. The drive would be about an hour. The beaches are very pretty and the seafood is great. Most of the beaches are for local residents only, but I don't think you will run into any problems this early in the season. Greenwich especially has some park areas along the beaches that are very pretty. You can also go to the beaches in Stanford of which most are public.

For excellent seafood in a charming town, go to Rowayton Seafood in Rowayton. They are right on the inlet/harbour with fishing boats all around. Great for lunch or dinner. Check their website at rowaytonseafood.com

If you do wind up coming down to the Jersey Shore, which as the previous review mentioned has some really nice towns like Spring Lake, you might consider a restaurant called the Crabs Claw in Lavallette. It's about 25 minutes South of Spring Lake on Route 35. It's one of the better seafood restaurants at the shore and worth the trip. (Try the buffalo shrimp).

Hollis,

I think these are both excellent suggestions. The drive to Long Island will be less than picturesque and I can't think of any really great seafood restaurants close enough to the city to make the trip worthwhile. Spring Lake IS a charming town with lots of Victorian homes. While the Connecticut beaches are on LI Sound rather than the ocean, there are some lovely areas.

If you wanted to forego the beach part of your request, you could head north of the city to the Hudson River towns of Croton, Tarrytown, Dobbs Ferry where there appears to be a lot going on this weekend including an artists' tour and the reopening of the Rockefeller estate for the season.
http://www.hudsonriver.com/halfmoonpress/calendar.htm
The Chart House in Dobbs Ferry has decent seafood and sits on the water.

Have a great birthday whatever you do!

If you are up for up for a 2 to 3 hour drive, a great restaurant with view can be found in Montauk at Gosman's Dock Restaurant and Clam Bar (www.peconic.net/gosmans). Suggest that you take LIE, or GCP to Ocean Parkway then Montauk Highway for most scenic drive.

John, Montauk is at least a 3 hour mostly non scenic drive. Hollis, it's at the extreme east end of Long Island. Not a one day trip I'd want to do on my birthday, although you could stay overnight.

Spring Lake should do it! A good seafood restaurant is about 10 miles north in Long Branch, Rooneys on Ocean Ave.. In Spring Lake itself, the best restaurant is Whispers in the Hewitt Wellington Hotel. Next town north (Belmar) has Matisse which is very good. A little further north in Asbury Park is Moonstruck which we also like.

Wow, thanks for all the great suggestions. I'm beginning to consider making this an overnight trip, does that change anyone's recommendations?

Reply to McLaurie: I believe the drive on Ocean Parkway is a very scenic drive if you like coastal ocean and bay views and is not clogged with traffic.

Reply to Hollis: If it happens not to be raining, Hither Hills State Park has a beautiful stretch of beach. Also after Hither Hills State Park, Gurney's Inn off Montauk Highway has good seafood with ocean view (have not visited personally). Good Luck!

Spend the night at The Breakers in Spring Lake. It's wonderful.

If you stay overnight in Spring Lake, try the Hewitt Wellington...really nice!

If you are going to make it an overnight trip, I would recommend Montauk on LI. The trip out is wonderful and there are great towns along the way, such as East Hampton & Amagansett. I would recommend taking the Southern State to the Ocean Parkway and then OP to 27 east to continue out to Montauk. (It's longer but more picturesque). If you like walking along the beach, the harbor seals may still be "vacationing" along the shores of Montauk.

Gurney's is supposed to be wonderful (I haven't personally stayed there) but they have a spa. The rates may also still be "off-season".

For dining recommendations, I suggest you check out www.chowhound.com (NY - outerboroughs page) and do a search for some restaurants in the area, or you could check out Zagats. Happy Birthday and enjoy your trip, wherever you may land!