Fire Island is my favorite place
Kidsday staff artist / Isabella Niola, Old Westbury Credit: Kidsday staff artist / Isabella Niola, Old Westbury
How Fire Island got its name is still not known to this day. Some think it’s because of the burning rash that people get from the island’s abundant poison ivy. Others say it’s from when whaling communities caught whales and then burned their carcasses on the beach. My favorite is that pirates would light fires on the beach to lure ships into shallow sandbars for rampaging and looting. Although these three stories make sense, no one is sure if they are true. Fire Island is great in the summer, but I think it is an even better place in the off-season. Here are my top reasons:
- It’s much less crowded, more laid back with less bikes, dogs/cats, people. When the weather gets chilly, the tourists are gone, which means more “you” time.
- In the off-season, the beaches and bay are much cleaner.
- In the winter time, when the bay freezes over, there is ice skating and ice sailing.
- Fall on Fire Island is extremely beautiful and something any eye will never forget. Especially in mid-November when the sun gets over the ocean instead of the bay!
- The deer and foxes are more open. The seals come up on the beach and sun themselves.
- Most year-rounders know each other. It’s a very close community!
