We are( middle-age) looking forward to relaxing on a beach and soaking our bones in salt water. We will be driving from the big apple, heading either to the jersey shore or long island, whereever nice. The jelly fish stories in the newspaper is a concern. Is that the norm everywhere or what?

Thanks

From what I have heard, it is more of a problem in the bay than at the beach. I can't tell you what it is like now because I haven't been since June. The water was cold so we didn't see any jellyfish. I am returning over Labor Day and can give you a report then.

Really depends on the tides more so than the beach. My mother lives down the shore (NJ) so we go often. On a saturday there might be a ton of JF and then on sunday after a storm there might be none.

Are you going on a weekend? There is massive traffic to/from NYC to both LI and NJ shore on Fridays/SUndays as everyone has the same idea.

I love Manhasset in LI and love Ortley or Island State Beach Park in NJ. How are you getting there? Car? Train? Bus? Depending on that will give more info on what beaches you should hit.

Not sure what you mean by soaking in salt water. I've never considered the Atlantic (either in NJ or Long Island) the place for soaking. Water temp doesn't get above about 72F, and the surf is ever present. Great for body surfing, but not for soaking.

For day trips I like Island Beach state park in NJ - very quiet, nice beaches. Just don't go on a Friday or weekend else you'll get stuck in traffic.

Another vote for Island Beach State Park in NJ, and recommend going early in theAM as possible if going on weekend.

Closer options include Jones beach in NY, however our last visit 2 weeks ago we did encounter 2 pink jellyfish, one in the ocean and one on the beach, interestingly no one seemed to be getting stung and kids found the one on the beach entertaining.

thankyou all.

We will be driving from the upper east side.

To avoid crowds, we will travel on midweek. Either next week or the week after next.

i just googled island state park in NJ, two hours+ driving is a bit too long. About one hour would be ok.

My husband does not really swim. He loves lying on the sand and cooling off in the shallow water. He also has arithritis in his knees and believes there is some healing property in salt water. I guess anytime a person can relax into nature is a good enough healing experience.

We are looking for peace and quiet and beautiful nature. Nice restaurant would be a plus but not esssential. We can always picnic. The last thing we want is kids streaming or beach valley ball parties going on around us.

Since you can go on a weekday are leaving from the East Side, I would expect the various fields (or lots) to choose from at Jones Beach (Long Isle) would be the least distance and suit your needs, however in our experience, if you continue a bit further on east on scenic Ocean Parkway, Robert Moses State Park will be even less crowded. We have not yet encountered jellyfish at Robert Moses ST.PK. but waves and sealife are unpredictable in hurricane season.

http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=45

thanks JohnD.
I will try out the Moses ST.PK.

You're welcome mohan.

Below is a Jones Beach map link for Field 5 which has a very calm beach (Zach Bay, next to theater-though may not be quiet) in case the waves etc are too much at Robert Moses.
http://jonesbeach.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=64&Itemi d=51

island state beach park does not take 2 hours to get to. esp not mid week. i would say long island depending can take up to an hour and a half given city traffic etc....

ISBP should be 80 miles south of NYC. Easily an hr and 15 min drive.