Fire Island, the gayest island in New York

Sept. 22 2014

by Marc Dedonder

If you've never been to Fire Island, located in the suburbs of New York, you've probably never heard of this very gay friendly island.

This small white sand island is located off the south coast of Long Island in New York and is a gay paradise in the United States, a unique island with 17 communities living on a 31 mile long territory.

New York's stars and gays gather there all summer long to party and enjoy the beach. It is impossible not to see a pretty boy walking on the sand with his best swimsuit or a celebrity of gay New York come to put in the green in his villa near the sea. It is the most social island in the whole state of New York.

There is no road access. You will have to take the ferry to get there. Take a cab or bus to the ferries in Bay Shore, Patchogue or Sayville, the only towns serving Fire Island, for a short half-hour cruise.

Two resorts stand out on the island and are separated by a strip of forest: on one side is Fire Island Pines, filled with gay partygoers, and on the other is Cherry Grove, more diverse.

Fire Island Pines has recently been renovated with new buildings and new festivals. It is advisable to book your hotels early, especially during the hot season, because of the large number of visitors. The Fire Island Hotel and Resort is the reference. It has a pool and a bar.

Same thing on the Cherry Grove side, which had to undergo a major renovation after the Grove Hotel fire in 2015. Restaurants and stores have recently opened.

Among the nightclubs, Slip-n-Twirl, Pavilion and Ice Palace Nightclub are worth remembering. The former hosts local DJs, the latter international DJs and the latter special events including the Miss Fire Island contest.

Fire Island, the hottest island in New York, is also an island that is close to nature, where man has respected the local ecosystem.

Forget your car. The only cars allowed on Fire Island are emergency and service vehicles. Bicycles are the recommended and economical way to get around, but there's nothing better than walking to enjoy the atmosphere and breathe the clean air of Fire Island.

If glamour appeals to you, if you like pretty boys, if the beach is your favorite sport, if you like gay beaches and nightclubs, then Fire Island in New York State is the destination for you. And after all, there's no reason why you can't find love on Fire Island.