Bermuda Getaway

It was late August and we hadn't really found a beach up to Australian standards anywhere within a day trip of NYC so we started looking at the Caribbean as it really is only a hop, skip and a jump away from NY.  Even closer, we discovered, is Bermuda, and as a little surprise for my birthday, Ash booked us a weekend away.

I think the photos will tell the story - it is beautiful!



After a quick 2 hour flight we landed at an airport that is situated in a Bay surrounded by crystal blue water. Walking into customs to the sound of Ash's favourite Bon Jovi song and we knew we were going to  have a great time.  The immigration guy actually spent 5 mins explaining where the best beaches on the island were to us and wished us an enjoyable time.  Then our taxi driver also doubled as a tour guide, without prompting, he provided us with a history and commentary of the island as we made our way to the hotel.  Maybe we are getting used to the brash (rude?) way of NYC but this was a friendly place!!

We were staying at the largest hotel on the island - the Southampton Princess - which has its own private beach on the 'pink sand' of the island.  There was a hurricane off the coast (it was hurricane season and I think that's why our hotel was on special) and everyone was keeping a close eye on the weather. The water was very rough with big waves and rip tides on the beaches that were upsetting most tourists.  It wasn't the calm seas of the pictures but the waves weren't enough to stop us enjoying the water, and the weather itself was warm, humid and blue skies.

We ate very well, between room service and the traditional all you can eat Bermudan Sunday brunch, the hotel food was delicious.  We also went to a French restaurant for dinner that was recommended by a work colleague that turned out to be candlelit fine dining.  We sat down and looked at the menu, if we were already there we may as well enjoy it!

On our last morning, we were flying out at 3, we decided to make the most of the beach and were comfortable on our beach chairs by 9.30am, the hurricane had past by and the weather and water were perfect.

We can definitely see ourselves back here.

NY Beaches

Throughout the summer we spent our weekends exploring,  taking recommendations from anyone who would give them, and the internet, to find beaches within a day trip of NY.

Our first visit was to Long Beach, Long Island, NY.  A one hour train journey from Penn Station and 10 min walk later and we were on the boardwalk that is 2 and 1/4 mile long.  It was a busy weekend and there were people everywhere.  It costs $12 to leave the boardwalk and enter the sand and another $15 if you want to hire an umbrella.  This was actually a saving grace for us and we wouldn't have lasted long without one as it was a really hot day!  Total cost for the 2 of us, including train was about $80. The beach was packed,  I think more than a million people is not exaggerating, and we were entertained as they all were fighting with the tumultuous surf on the day that was being affected by hurricanes off the coast.  The waves were crashing on the shore, not unlike Tamarama, and going in the water was not a calming experience.  Another favourite game, for Ash at least, was count the fake boobs!!!

Our second beach experience was to Sandy Hook Beach, in New Jersey, only a 45 min ferry ride from Wall St, Manhattan.  It was a $45 round trip each, we were learning there is no free beaches here in NY :)  It was another warm sunny day and we couldn't wait for a swim but when we both looked at the water we had the same thought - "Do I really want to put my head under that?"  It had a lovely brown tinge and some small things floating that you couldn't quite discern where they came from.   We didn't stay on the sand for long but headed back to explore the area as there was some cool military history there, including a battery for weapons testing in WW1 and the oldest lighthouse in USA dating back to 1764.

For our third beach, we decided to head further afield and chose Fire Island which many people had recommended.  It took nearly 3 hours each way, by subway, train, bus and ferry, but it was worth the trip. (~$30 each).  Fire Island is off Long Island in NY and is a real summer retreat and has a small holiday town vibe.  Most of the island is holiday houses ranging from the old beach shack to the modern day mansion and the mode of transport is by golf cart.  The beach itself is lovely (except for the random very old guy who is hanging out at the open beach shower) and the water was the best we had experienced so far.  This is the beach and lighthouse that is often used in movies - remember Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher at the end of "What happens in Vegas"?  I think there is even a Village People Song - see Wiki.

We had a fun time watching everyone shift back because of the incoming tide and then - oops - I got caught too!  Everything we had was soaked by a huge wave and I was in a slight compromising position, sans bikini top, as I was currently wrapped in my sarong cleaning out the sand from a recent dumping in the waves!

We finished the afternoon with a drink over the harbour before taking our sunset ferry home.