Natural Beauty

There are many things New York City has that one cannot find in the south. One thing the South does have in plenty is natural beauty. The beaches, mountains, swamp land, and marsh are just a few beautiful pictures in a very long list. Last weekend, in an effort to escape the heat, Maq and I took the Long Island Railroad to West Hampton. I have not spent much time on the coast here but it was beautiful and a much needed retreat. West Hampton had a more relaxed feel. We stayed the weekend at a small inn where the owner was helpful in recommending restaurants, providing transportation to and from the train station, and letting us borrow a few coveted beach chairs.

A few tips for you. When taking the LIRR to the Hamptons (West, South, and East), get on from the Hunters Point station. One can take the 7 to Hunters Point. Get off the subway here and walk less than a block to the LIRR station. This is where the train origniates and you are guarnteed a good seat and place to put your luggage. Otherwise, leaving from Penn, you will have to transfer at Jamica and fight the crowds for a spot. Several poor souls were forced to stand for the 1.5 hour train ride (though Maq did let several ladies sit in his seat for various portions of the ride). We took the Cannonball express train which leaves the Hunters Point station at 4:06 on Fridays. Being an express, West Hampton was the first stop after Jamica. A short ride (and they sell booze at the train station) started off what was a wonderful weekend. If you are looking to get out of the city, I would recommend West Hampton. An easy trip, and laid back, friendly atmosphere, Maq and I were ready to take on Monday the following week. Beach passes are $10/person. Thankfully, Maq has a very generous friend who owns a house out there and who put us on the beach guest list for free. $10 though does not seem bad  for a cool breeze and ocean view. Where do you like to vacation? Any good ideas for retreats within New York City?