Sports and the Outdoors
Smith Point County Park. The 2,295-acre park at the southern end of William Floyd Parkway includes a long stretch of ocean beach, a visitor center, hiking trails, and barbecue facilities. Lifeguards are on duty from late June through Labor Day. The Beach Hut snack bar and raw bar has live music several nights per week in season and tends to attract large crowds of all ages. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; swimming; walking. 1 William Floyd Pkwy., Mastic Beach, New York, 11967. 631/852–1313; www.co.suffolk.ny.us. Parking $15 nonresident (mid-May–mid-Sept., daily 8:30–5); $8 resident with Green Key. Daily 7 am–10 pm.
Sunken Forest. Protected by big dunes and stunted by the wind and the salt air, the Sunken Forest, accessible via Sailor's Haven ferry from Sayville, actually does look like it's sunken. Some of the trees here, which include sassafras and pine, are thought to be more than 200 years old. A 1½-mile boardwalk winds through flora, marsh, and swamp, offering viewing spots and benches at various points. Twisted trees form a canopy overhead. The area is protected, so you must stick to the marked trails. (Doing so also decreases your chances of encountering poison ivy and ticks.) Guided tours are an option in summer; call for tour times. Fire Island, New York, 11980. 631/597–6183. Free. Visitor center mid-May–mid-Oct., weekdays 10–5, weekends 9:30–6.
Watch Hill Beach. This beach area in the eastern section of the National Seashore, across the bay from Patchogue (and accessible by ferry from there), is perfect for daytrippers looking for a relatively quiet day on the sand. It's also a popular spot among boaters and campers, for its marina with a pump-out station, visitor center, nature trails, changing rooms, and Tiki bar. But once you're away from the marina and camping area, you can find a secluded spot. Lifeguards patrol the beach from late June through Labor Day. The mosquitos here can be fierce, so bring bug spray. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking. Fire Island, New York, 11772. 631/597–6455; www.nps.gov. Free. Visitor center mid-May–late Sept., daily 9–5.
