Fire Island

Yesterday, a few friends and I drove out to Babylon, LI. One we got there, we had lunch and then we started getting ready to head to Fire Island. Fire Island, NY is pretty amazing. One can only get there by taking a ferry. There are no cars allowed on the island either--so you are either walking or biking it while you're there. It is filled with beautiful beaches, unique communities and walkways to explore...but don't try exploring at night because the pathways are pitch black!

We took a 7:10 ferry. It took us about 40 minutes, if that, but the time goes by pretty fast. By 8 pm, we arrived to fire island. When the ferry pulled up to dock and unload, there were tons of people waiting--all very sunburned and looking exhausted, but all in good spirits. I was really excited because I hadn't been to Fire Island since I was really young (which my mom had to remind me of because I didn't even remember!)

Our first destination was Flynn's, where we were meeting a friend from school. The main path was packed with people, along with tons of people riding their bikes. I actually ran into someone who I went to grammar school with as we were heading there--such a small world. The weather was perfect, so naturally, the island was crowded. After Flynn's we walked about 25 minutes to another community called Ocean Beach. Unlike Flynn's, which stood alone surrounded by houses, Ocean Beach was a street filled with bars, delis, restaurants, ice cream parlors and A LOT of people. Most of the bars and restaurants were right on the water so we were able to sit outside. Along with people, there were tons of boats docked too, carrying even more visitors.

The last ferry out of the island is at 1 am, so everyone who needs to head back waits to board the ferry. We were one of the first groups to get on (THANK GOD) because it was PACKED. The atmosphere even on the ferry makes you want to go back and visit. I had an awesome time--looking forward to my next visit!

Breezy Point

Since I was in diapers, I have been going to Breezy Point. It’s a small neighborhood located in Queens at the far western tip of the Rockaway Peninsula. You have to have a pass or be a resident of the area in order to get through the security booth, keeping the community private. It has the feel of an “equestrian event,” every few feet there is another gate to jump—each side street has its own gate.

There is one main road throughout the entire town, lined with American flags up and down each side on the lampposts. There is also ONE central shopping center—with one grocery store, one bank, a hardware store, a gift shop, a pub and a coffee shop—located close to the entrance/exit.

My uncle has had a house down there for as long as I can remember. It is located right on the bay. Surrounded by nothing but sand, it functions as the perfect beach house. When I was a baby, I would spend the entire summer down there with my mom, brother and cousins. We would refer to the houses as “bungalows” because there were rows of them situated close enough to each other, enough where you could touch your neighbors’ deck. Recently, friends I grew up with moved to their beach house in Breezy to live year-round. They turned their little bungalow with no air-conditioning into a winterized two-floor house.

Breezy Point looks a lot different than when I would visit as a child. Most of the homes are built up and a lot bigger than the standard one floor bungalow; mainly because a lot more people live there in the winter then 20 years ago. I have visited a few times this summer since it is close enough to make it a day trip. It has always been the closest beach to home.

Road Trip Down to Baltimore

My roommate, Kristine, and I went on quite an adventure down to Baltimore. From the city, we drove to her house in Saddle River. We had to pick up a huge van because we needed to get couches and other bulky things, such as rugs, pillows and comforters, down to Baltimore. Luckily, our friends are living in a big house off-campus next year and had the room to store our stuff. If they didn’t, we wouldn’t be able to fit THE REST of our personal belongings when we head down there at the end of the month. None of us are light packers, so we knew if we didn’t drive these things down beforehand, then there was NO chance of everything fitting.

To break-up the drive, we drove down south to Leigh’s house in Shrewsbury to spend Sunday night. Her dad actually found the couches for us and said he didn’t mind making the trip…and well, we STILL needed two big cars in order to get everything down. We had a barbeque Sunday night with Leigh’s family and then went to this amazing ice cream shop, where all the ice cream is homemade. It was delicious. But we were all tired from the long weekend, so we ending up going to bed early, so we could wake up early. We didn’t wake up early for no-reason of course. We had to make a pit stop at the outlets before we headed down to Maryland.

The large, ugly and very masculine van was packed and ready to go. We finally got on the road around 1:30. Kristine was a little nervous about driving the van, but as soon as she got used to it, we were fine. We followed Leigh and her dad down to Baltimore. It was really hot that day, perfect weather to be sitting on the beach. The best part about the ride was the strange looks we got as cars passed us. A lot of passengers were doing a double take to make sure they weren’t imagining two girls driving in this fully packed truck/van with only two windows and two captain seats. I don’t even know what to call it—attached is a picture of the truck/van, so you can get a visual and understand what I am talking about.

We ended up making it to Baltimore in about 2 hours or so. We unloaded the boxes and couches, checked out our friends’ new house and got back on the road. Coffee was a necessary component of this trip with all the driving we had to do. Unfortunately, Kristine and I weren’t able to split the driving time because I do not have my license…only my permit!

Weekend Trip To “Jerz”

I was never a frequent traveler on the New Jersey Transit lines, but that changed as soon as I came to Loyola. Two of my roommates, along with a lot of my friends, reside in NJ—one in North Jersey and the other in South Jersey, so I get to enjoy everything the state has to offer.

My friends from home always refer to New Jersey as “Dirty Jerz.” I used to think the name was fitting since I never really liked the state only because of the NJ Turnpike (the long exits, the constant traffic, etc.) and Jersey City. That quickly changed when I visited my roommates at their homes for the first time freshmen year.

I noticed the north part of the state is covered with large grasslands, while the south is filled with beaches. I always enjoy getting a tour of each of their towns, even though I already had “the tour” when I first visited. South Jersey, also referred to as “the shore,” is filled with tourists throughout the summer with packed beaches and bumper-to-bumper traffic. In North Jersey, I got the sense that the atmosphere was more relaxed.

Nonetheless, both parts of the state are very enjoyable, even in the wintertime! Luckily both my roommates live extremely close to very large shopping centers, so the snow doesn’t stop me from traveling to see them…

Heading out East

Every summer, I find most of my weekends spent out in West Hampton, Long Island. If I am lucky, I can get a ride with my friend on Friday after work before rush hour. But, if those traveling plans fall through, it is a simple train ride away on the LIRR.

Living in NYC my entire life has sharpened my public transportation skills. My sense of direction and getting from one destination to another has never been an issue. HOWEVER, taking the LIRR on a Friday during rush hour in the summer can be nightmare, along with the traffic you will encounter on the L.I.E. Despite the delays though, it is worth every hour spent traveling.

I always enjoy my weekends spent out there by the pool or on the beach. It is a very relaxing atmosphere. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to get out there as much due to the horrible weather the entire month of June. But I love getting out of the muggy, humid city and relaxing in the sun until dark.

Going on the boat, I would say, is my favorite thing to do. It is always a lot cooler on the water and even at the hottest times of the day, and even on the most humid days, there is still a breeze…and the water is at a perfect temperature to jump right in. Occasionally we will go tubing and even wake boarding (although I have yet to successfully stand on the board for more than 2 minutes.) However, some of my friends are really good at wake boarding and it’s entertaining to watch.

At the end of the day, it is nice to head back to the house and take a dip in the pool right before we start barbequing. Can’t go wrong barbequing anything, and it is something I look forward to since we don’t have the luxury of firing up a grill in our apartment.

My Head on a “Swivel”

While I enjoy traveling, I am fortunate enough to live in such a diverse city where I have the opportunity to experience new things each and every day.

I have lived in New York City my entire life. To be more specific, I have lived in Stuyvesant Town on the Lower East Side. Stuyvesant Town is an apartment complex, much like a college campus. It serves as a nice little bubble for me amidst all the chaos in New York—both unique and humble. However, the chaos and excitement of the city is what I love most about it.

After 20 years of living here, some may think there is nothing left to experience. But that is far from accurate. Believe it or not, I find myself STILL stumbling upon new scenery. The accessible public transportation, the energetic atmosphere and the culture of New Yorkers generate the charisma of the city.

From funky boutiques to quaint cafes and chic lounges, Stuyvesant Town is the front door to it all. It is conveniently bordered by the East Village and the Lower East Side, the Flatiron District and Union Square, the East River and Gramercy Park. Each individual neighborhood is equally both riveting and spirited.

I have been all over the city having gone to high school in the Meatpacking District located on the West Side, and having family spread throughout the island—from the Upper East Side to my favorite, Little Italy. Little Italy is filled with some of the best Italian restaurants in Manhattan, along with some of the city’s oldest architectural walk up buildings. Broadway, only a few streets away, is where I enjoy going shopping. It reminds me of a street fair with every store you can possibly imagine. I usually find myself wandering all over the area, to the point where I have to ask for directions sometimes. It is not easy remembering each and every street name, since majority of the city follows a numbered grid system. However, the vibe of the area brings me back, no matter how badly I get lost.

New York City can seem overwhelming periodically, but solely being here and soaking up the atmosphere is what make it so distinguished.

Welcome to my blog :)

Hey everyone. Over the summer I am taking a Travel Reporting class. This blog will help you keep up with my adventures.

Enjoy...