LIRR kicks off busy getaway season with Long Beach promo

The sights of a Long Island summer greeted Penn Station train travelers Wednesday morning, as the LIRR kicked off its busy getaway season.

LIRR officials gathered with surf board-toting Long Beach lifeguards, New York Cosmos soccer club personnel and New York Mets baseball team mascot Mr. Met inside the Manhattan terminal to help promote the railroad's various summer travel deals.

The LIRR last year sold more than 50,000 Long Beach travel packages. The deal includes an off-peak round-trip ticket and an admission voucher to Long Beach, a block away from the train station, for $22 from Penn Station.

"We're the easiest, most convenient, least stressful way to get to that beach," LIRR president Patrick Nowakowski said.