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When New York City gets unbearably hot, many gays and lesbians head to Fire Island. Why? First, it’s only about 60 miles away to this beautiful stretch of coastline, sandy beaches and nature. It’s a federally protected area, and it’s official name is the Fire Island National Seashore. It’s full of sand dunes, hiking trails, great hotels, restaurants and bars, nude beaches and camping spots.

Gay Resorts on Fire Island

Fire Island became famous for the two gay resorts that started it all. The Pines and Cherry Grove were the place to hang out if you were gay and lesbian, and things haven’t changed. So, which one should you try if you’re thinking about a Fire Island gay or lesbian getaway?

Fire Island: Cherry Grove or The Pines?

The Pines caters to the buffed and moneyed Manhattan guys, while Cherry Grove is quite an eclectic mix: gay retirees, gay families, and most of the lesbian crow. It’s the more affordable of the two, and the people are really friendly and laid back. The Pines can be a bit snooty, the bars modern and filled with affluent males looking to get away from their fast-paced city lives.

If you do want to spend some time at Fire Island in the summer, book early. There are only a few hundred hotel rooms (and you’ll spend at least $200 nightly). You will likely find many seasonal Fire Island travelers who spend a few weeks or months there, so it can feel like you’re seeing the same faces wherever you go. Oh, and from October to April, Fire Island is dead, dead, dead. It doesn’t start to pick up until the weather warms up.

You can get frisky in the middle forest area between both gay resorts – an area called the Meat Rack. Both The Pines and The Cherry Grove are accessible only by boat, and the streets have no cars – making Fire Island the place to get away from civilization. Heck, leave your cell phone and laptop computer at home too!

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