Sebago Cabins, Harriman State Park

*Sorry, no pictures.

Located on the shore of Lake Sebago in Harriman State Park, Sebago Cabins is another great introduction to single mom camping. These are cabins so there is no need for a tent so you can start your camping adventures with minimal investment in gear. Also being very close to NYC means you can get back home pretty quickly should things go awry. The cabins require a 7 day stay (Saturday thru Saturday) from the end of June through the end of August but if you want to have a shorter stay, try booking for early to mid June or September where you can book nightly and try it for a weekend.


The campground has 40 cabins which are relatively close together with little forest cover in between however the entire area is well shaded. Two of the cabins (B005 & B007) are full service cabins, with real beds, well equipped kitchen and bathroom. Needless to say these tend to book up very quickly. The remaining cabins are very rustic, but each does have a refrigerator and a hot plate, as well as cots in each bedroom. One warning is that these cots are not very comfortable. Luckily when I went I brought air mattresses (one full, one queen) and was able to move the two twin size cots next to each other and placed the mattresses on top for a better sleep. Some cabins have porches, some are even screened in.  Each cabin site contains an outdoor picnic table, grill and fire ring.


The cabins are arranged in three clusters - A, B & C. The C cabins are the prime ones in terms of location as they are close to the lake. The A cabins are clustered along two circular roads and the B cabins are tucked into the woods along more rocky ground so these are not advisable for if you have young children. Restrooms are available in the main ranger area and the A camping area with flush toilets, sinks and showers however they are not very well maintained and were a bit cruddy so bring water shoes/flip flops if you plan to shower. There is also a laundry room but I didn't use it while I was there and cannot speak to it's functionality. The terrain around the campsite is hilly and rocky so be wise about getting supplies (ice, firewood) and bathroom trips as the road to the comfort stations and ranger stations are pretty steep. You may want to consider bringing a wagon or cart to help haul gear to and from your cabin.


An important note on the cabins - while they are rustic and charming, they may not always be clean. Bringing a broom (for clearing cobwebs) and some cleaning wipes (for the refrigerator and table) are highly recommended. As is often the case when camping, sometimes you get there and the previous campers left it spotless, sometimes the previous campers were slobs - you never know what you'll get. Because of the close proximity of the cabins to each other, don't expect much in terms of privacy or quiet. When we were there, we had some very loud campers one night, who didn't respect the quiet hours and quite frankly, the rangers didn't seem to be doing much to enforce it but the second night was much quieter.


However, the campground and surrounding park offer so much to do and the kids are guaranteed to have fun. There is a basic playground area and you can ask the rangers for soccer ball or basketball to play in the field. There is also a recreation room with ping pong and other limited games for kids if it rains. They also offer movies on rainy days and Saturday night there is a bonfire. On the campsite is a small beach area, and the day use area with larger beach is a short distance away. You can also rent boats here to go out on the lake, which is great to explore. We had a few deer come by to visit, and the kids got a real kick out of that.


One of my favorite hiking trails, Almost Perpendicular, is a short drive from the campsite. This trail is just under a mile, and would take about 35-45 minutes with children. It does contain some steep inclines, with areas that level off to give a break and a few minor rock scrambles and a creek or two along the way. The following link will describe the full trail in detail: Almost Perpendicular. However with children, I only follow the trail to the top of Almost Perpendicular (the end of the second paragraph in the description section on the website), a great spot for a picnic lunch, before heading back down the way I came. This trail does take you to the top of a cliff so keep a very careful eye on your little ones. Because of the steep inclines, I would take caution not to attempt this hike if there has been recent rain in the area because the mud will make this hike much more difficult and dangerous. But if the stars align and you can tackle this trail, you will be greatly rewarded with a spectacular view (and sense of accomplishment) at the top. 


All in all, Sebago cabins offer a nice experience provided you set your expectations accordingly. They are very close to NYC

Reserve Sebago Cabins

Distance: 1-1.5 hours

Age: Infant+

Partner: N

Comfort: The Works

Privacy: None

Swimming: Y

Boating: Y

LGBT Friendly Camping

Enjoying the camping experience should be available to all. But sadly, if you are a member of the LGBT community, there are other factors that need to take into consideration when embarking on a camping trip. I have many gay and lesbian friends who enjoy the outdoors. I have also heard some sad tales of homophobia ruining the outdoor experience (and in one case, damaging physical property). So, I recently came across this article and thought I'd share some resources for those LGBT singles, couples and families who are interested in the camping experience. Camp Gay USA also lists campgrounds by state which are either exclusively gay/lesbian or gay friendly. You can also read my post on Watch Hill, Fire Island which is very friendly to all and you will often see a mix of singles, couples and families, both straight and gay, and in every color of the rainbow. Hopefully one day all campgrounds can be enjoyed freely and without fear by everyone. Until then, I hope this information helps and happy camping!

Camping with Toddlers

Many of the camping with kids resources I've found will have advice on camping with babies or camping with older children but there are very few out there that focus on camping with toddlers - that age between 2-5 where they are too big for baby carriers and portable cribs but not quite big enough for extended hikes and sleeping in cots.

Taking toddlers camping is possible provided you prepare carefully and keep your schedule flexible and your expectations reasonable. Wilderness camping is probably a bad idea at this age, at least not for their first camping experience. It is something you can build up to if you're determined to go wild but to start I would suggest finding a structured campground with some  amenities. Even KOA or Jellystone might be a good start, though it may be far from your idea of real camping. Cabin camping would also be a great option. Wherever you go, try to keep it relatively close to home so you can have an escape if anything goes wrong. I once had to cut a trip short because one of my twins developed a fever that wouldn't go down with acetaminophen but luckily I was only an hour and a half drive from home. You should also try to keep your first camping trip relatively short, no more than 3-4 days at most. If your toddler really enjoys the experience, then you can move on to longer and longer trips in more remote locations. In terms of gear, unless you plan on popping out babies every two years, I would advise against investing too much on baby or toddler specific camping gear.

Here are a few major items to take into consideration:
Sleeping
If your toddler is still small enough to comfortably fit in a pack & play, then by all means bring it along. Otherwise, I would advise taking an inflatable mattress. If your child sleeps in a crib or toddler bed, I would suggest introducing them to the idea of sleeping on an air mattress on the floor at home one or two nights a week for a few weeks before your trip. Also, be sure to bring along a patch kit for your mattress. I personally have experienced a busted mattress from jumping children. You will also need a child sized sleeping bag. Provided you only plan on camping with your child in the warmer months of late Spring, Summer and early Fall, you can find very inexpensive sleeping bags. Do be sure that they are true camping sleeping bags however and not the ones with printed characters that are only suitable for sleepovers. A decent child sleeping bag should last your toddler through to their pre-teen years.

Clothing
It may be your first instinct to pack everything but the kitchen sink however I found with toddlers you should look at the quality rather than quantity. Sturdy jeans that can take a beating and multiple wears before washing. Shirts which dry fast so you can hand wash and hang to dry. Stay away from white unless you don't mind stains. Board shorts are good for boys and girls because they dry fast. Whether your toddler is fully potty trained or not, it would be wise to bring some pull-ups. If you're child is in pull-ups, bring twice as many as you think you'd need. I have had to hand wash a sleeping bag in a tiny bathroom sink and pray for it to dry by bedtime so take precautions at night. If you have a few waterproof sheets you can bring them and place inside their sleeping bag.
Your child should also have a very comfortable pair of sneakers and if you plan on hiking, an extra sturdy pair of boots or sneakers that you don't mind getting ruined.

Food
Camping with toddlers is not the time to experiment with food. Of course, introducing your child to campfire s'mores for the first time would make a lasting impression. Make sure that you have some of your child's favorite meals in your food plan. Mac and cheese is a great option and I always keep a box or two in my chuck box as a backup even though I no longer have toddlers. Cold cuts and bread are essential as they enable you to make a quick meal if you find you cannot always cook. Also be sure to have lots of fruit and snacks on hand
 If you want to have campfire chili while camping, make sure you try it a few times at home so your little one can be accustomed to the taste. Using paprika and cinnamon can give your chili a delicious savory flavor without the heat of typical chili. Another fun and safe meal is grilled pizza. Bring some frozen pizza dough, sauce and toppings. Your little one can make their own pizza, stretching out the dough and topping the pie to their liking. Of course you will need to supervise but it's a great way to get them engaged in one of the great parts of camping which is camp cooking.

Entertainment
This was my biggest fear the first time I went camping. "What if they get bored?" It turns out to be completely unfounded after my toddler twins spent nearly 3 hours digging up rocks our first day camping. Chances are, your toddler will be fascinated with this new environment and exploring will take the place of Sesame Street and video games. Still, in the event of rain you should have a game plan to keep your little one occupied. If they love stories, bring a new book to read to them. Building block sets are also great. And nothing beats good old crayons and coloring books. It is not a bad idea to invest in a new small toy that will keep your toddler fascinated, along with a favorite toy from home to give them comfort. And don't forget their teddy!


Hiking
There are a few factors when it comes to hiking with toddlers. If the toddler will be walking with you, obviously you'd have to keep the hikes relatively short and easy. You will also have to consider the safety of the hike. Easy hikes that run along any ledges or swift rivers mean you need to supervise your toddler closely.
If you want to go on longer or moderate to advanced hikes, you will need to invest in a framed child carrier. These look like backpacking packs but they allow you to carry your child on your back. The downside to these are that there are size and weight limits so they are best for smaller toddlers. Also because the child takes up much of the space in the back, there isn't much room for gear so unless you have another adult with you, extended trips will be challenging. The basic carriers allow you to carry your child and diaper bag gear. The more fancy ones have rain covers and sun shades to protect your little ones from the elements. The carriers range in price from $160 - $300+. 
One nice advantage to the carriers is, if you're a city mom, they are useful for day to day use. It's much easier to push a shopping cart full on laundry to the laundromat or go to the supermarket without the addition of a stroller. Just strap your little one to your back and go. You can even use them to take a picnic in your local park. The packs are designed to distribute the weight of your toddler evenly across your shoulders, back and hips so they are pretty comfortable to carry a lot of weight for a good amount of time. They also stand up on their own so it's easy to get your child in and out of them.

Safety
There are some dangers when camping. Fire is a concern. As are poisonous plants (both poison ivy and edible poison). Animals are also a concern. Typically there isn't too much to worry about in the immediate campsite except for fire. When you light a fire at night, be sure to keep a close eye on little ones. As a child my younger sister suffered second degree burns on her hands during a camping trip so this is a real concern. Of course, this was in a time when seat belts were optional. One suggestion is to make a ring of rocks around the fire pit and let your toddler know that inside the ring is strictly off limits. They might actually listen. You want to ring to be large enough to that if they trip on the rocks they won't fall into the fire, but not so large that you are not able to feel the warmth of the fire at night.
Let your children know to respect plants. This is a great time to teach them that plants are living things and they should be gentle. This will also hopefully prevent them from traipsing through a patch of poison ivy or eating berries of questionable origin. Many of the critters your toddler will encounter should be harmless, again stress the importance that all animals are living creatures as well and should be left alone. One great way to keep your children looking and not touching is to get them a child friendly camera or a disposable camera if the are old enough to understand this. Even a toy camera would work. Instruct them that every time they see a critter, take it's picture so mommy can see. It becomes a game for them and keeps them from provoking any animals they meet. My twins used to love playing "pretend fishing" where I tied string to a stick and attached a small pebble to the end. They would put their "line" in the lake and laugh as all the fish and frogs were scared away. There are lots of clever ways you can introduce your child to nature through play while keeping them safe.

First Aid
Be sure to pack an extensive first aid kit with the basics like band-aids and antibiotic ointment. Also include infant/child medicines in addition to adult medicines. ibuprofen and acetaminophen are a must for both mommy and child. Antihistamines and allergy medications are also essential for both. Benadryl is great for allergies and for motion sickness. Dimetapp however will make your little ones sleepy, which can help at night if they have trouble sleeping in the woods. I'm typically not an advocate of drugging children however if you're in the woods and your child is screaming at 10pm because they are restless and unable to sleep, it is respectful to your camping neighbors to calm your toddler by any means necessary.


Camping with toddlers is possible and fun. It's also a great feeling to know that you're exposing your child to nature and proving yourself as a role model to your child by being able to "rough it".

Planning a Group Trip

In the cold months I always start thinking about my trips for the following year. Bonding with the family is always wonderful but camping is also a great way to connect with friends and extended family.

Planning a group trip has its rewards and challenges. On one hand, it's great to have extra helpers when camping. Also by dividing the overall costs, it can make for a very inexpensive vacation. It's a huge plus if the other members of your group have children around the same age. On the other hand, there can be logistical challenges, personality clashes, and if a member of the group cancels last minute it can pose a problem for all involved - all of which I have experienced. For those reasons, it is important that you choose your camping mates wisely.

When planning a group camping trip there are many items to consider:

• When is the best time to plan? 
• Where should we go?
• How will we get there?
• How many sites will we need?
• What gear do we need/have?
• How will we feed everyone?

Here are a few tips when planning a group trip:

Who - The first step is to determine exactly how many people will be joining in the group trip. Put some feelers out to your friends and family regarding a group trip. Be careful with whom you choose to join the trip. While seasoned campers can be helpful, don't exclude any novices either. A group camping trip is a great way to introduce newbies to the joys of camping. As a general rule, you should include people who are comfortable with the outdoors and have a common respect for nature.

What - What type of gear does each member of the group have? What is the capacity of the tents & trailers you have available? I have heard of some camping groups who have chipped in and purchased large tents and tables to accommodate the entire group. In many cases though, you may need to have individuals borrow or purchase their own gear. If using tents and/or trailers, keep in mind that some campsites have a limit on how much equipment you can bring to the site.

Where - If all members of the group live in the same general vicinity, then it is only a question of how far everyone is willing to travel. Not every member of the group may have a car, in which case you will need to coordinate carpooling. If the members of your group live far apart, try finding a central camping location which will be easy for all parties to drive to.

When - Many people have different work situations regarding vacation time. Put some feelers out, find the person with the most restrictive schedule and try to work around that. I refer to this as the "herding cats" phase as it can be very difficult. Be prepared for the possibility that not everyone may be able to join.

Who's in Charge?

There are different ways to manage the planning of a trip. Since managing projects is part of my job, I tend to take the reigns as leader when it comes to planning the trip. For some it might be easier to split responsibilities among several people or form committees - one group in charge of food planning, one in charge of gear planning, etc. If you will have multiple campsites, you may want to just let each site group manage their own planning or you may still want to have a group approach to planning. Find whatever method works best for the people in your particular group.

Designating a single leader to plan the trip does not mean one person is doing all the work. When planning a trip, I am typically the gatherer of all information, and I set the menu based on feedback from the group. But then the lists of everything that needs to be bought and packed gets divided up among the group.

If you take the group committee approach, be sure that you all touch base from time to time to make sure everyone is on the same page. Communication is key, no matter which approach you take.

Feed Me!

Food is the biggest challenge when planning a group trip. More people means more mouths to feed. If you will have multiple campsites, you need to decide if each site will be responsible for their own meals or if you will all eat the same meals as a group. I personally find it easier to take the group approach as this means less redundancy of gear. If you take the individual site approach, each site will need their own camp kitchen setup. However, if each site is holding a single family unit, then it may be easier to just let each site do their own cooking. Discuss with the group and come to a consensus to what would work best.

If you take the communal meal approach, be sure to talk with your group about food allergies and preferences before creating a meal plan for the group. Often for logistical reasons, I only plan on bringing enough food for part of the trip, and then schedule a supermarket run during the camping trip to purchase the remaining items.

Money Matters

It can be uncomfortable discussing money matters but it is even more uncomfortable if you are not clear, early on, regarding division of expenses and a member of your group misunderstands what they are expected to pay for. It is best to clarify the financial arrangements before finalizing the trip and get agreement from everyone. You may want to appoint one person as "treasurer" for the trip to simplify the process. Here are some guidelines to managing camping group finances:

BEFORE THE TRIP: 

1.   Create a food plan and estimate the amount of the groceries which would need to be purchased for the trip.

2.   Estimate round trip gas & tolls. If the driver(s) have EZ-Pass, be sure you calculate the actual cost of tolls beforehand as this will not be provided when on the road.

3.   Find out the total fee for the site rental plus estimate the cost of ice, firewood and other on-site supplies you may need.

4.   Add up the cost of each of the above items to get your total trip estimate. 

5.   Figure out how many people will be in your entire group, including children.

6.   Divide the trip estimate by the number in your group and that is your per-person cost.

7.   Multiply the per person cost by the number of people in each group. For instance, the Jones' have 4 people, the Gonzalez' have 3, the Johnson's have 2, etc. 

o    This is what I provide to the group so they can budget accordingly for the trip. Advise everyone to bring adequate cash as ATM's may be hard to find if camping in a remote area.

8.   A few weeks before the trip, divide the shopping lists among the groups. You can try and divide it so each group will spend roughly the same amount. Instruct everyone to save their receipts or keep a record of all expenses.

DURING THE TRIP:

1.   Determine how you wish to handle gas, tolls and on-site expenses like firewood/ice during the trip. You may wish to have everyone contribute to a pool to cover these expenses. You could also have one person responsible for this expense and square everything up at the end.

2.   Payment of any excursions during the camping trip - rafting, theme parks, dining out, etc. - should be managed by each individual or family group.

3.   Keep all receipts and record all expenses.

AT THE END OF THE TRIP

1.   Add up all of the actual expenses.

2.   Divide the actual by the number in your group and that is your per-person cost.

3.   Multiply that number by the number of people in each group.

4.   Have each group provide their total contributions to the trip and subtract that from the trip total.

This is the method I use with one exception: because I provide most of the gear (tents, tables, stove, cookware, etc.), pay for the campsite months in advance, and use my minivan to drive everyone - my twins are excluded from the total person count. I call it my "travel agent fee". So far every group I've traveled with has deemed this as fair and there have been no gripes about the arrangement. You may want to offer some type of perk or discount to those who are providing the cars for carpooling or anyone who contributes more time or supplies to the effort.

Check out the Helpful Tools page for links to a handy spreadsheet that can help with dividing expenses among a group. Planning a group trip may have its challenges but it all seems worth it in the end when you're sitting around a roaring campfire with your friends and family.

Little Sand Point Campground, Adirondaks

Located on Piseco Lake in the central Adirondacks, Little Sand Point Campground is not exactly next door but the natural beauty of this location is well worth the 4.5 hour drive from NYC.

Beautiful Piseco Lake

Piseco lake is a 1 mile wide by 5 mile long lake which is pristine in it's beauty. Dotted with lakefront homes the area is far from being overdeveloped. On the western shore of the lake there are three separate state campgrounds, but Little Sand point is the best in my opinion since the sites are more secluded and wooded than at the other campgrounds.

Our ample campsite fit two tents, a screen house and room to spare

There is a sandy beach area that the family can enjoy, with a boat launch which seemed to be put to use more for diving than actually launching boats. The beauty of this campground is that nearly all sites are lake-front and many of the campers simply dock their boats at their campsite. Some sites even have a sandy beach, while others are rocky or muddy. There is no day use at this facility which means only the campers get to enjoy the beach and facilities. The comfort stations here are basic but clean with flush toilets and sinks. The trash/recycling center is across the road from the campsite and since this is black bear country, taking out the trash nightly is a must. There is also a bathhouse recently added which contains private hot showers with changing rooms and a nice dish washing station. 

Our site had a private beach, with a natural log bench

The ranger station is little more than a booth and there is no ice for sale here though they recently started selling firewood. Luckily, there is a well stocked general store about 10 miles away, there is also a liquor store at the same location. There are no boat rentals at the campground however there were a few signs along the road for rentals and the rangers can direct you to local boat rentals. Update: This campsite now offers boat rentals. Canoes and 1-2 person kayaks are available for rent.

Lovely creek feeds into the lake

The beach is pretty much the only recreation immediately on the campgrounds however just across the road is the start of the popular Echo Cliff trail, 3/4 mile up panther mountain which offer breathtaking views of Piseco lake. There are many other trails in the area within driving distance. We also went white water rafting on the Hudson river with Beaver Brook Outfitters, about an hour and ten minutes away from Piseco, children have to be 8 and older to participate in the summer (12+ in Spring).

White water rafting on the Indian & Hudson rivers

If you drive past the town of Speculator and then south towards the town of Wells, you can stop for a hike to Auger Falls, an amazing waterfall. There are some spots that are level and you can get a great view of the falls and there are some stretches of the path that are along a steep edge so be careful not to let little ones out of control when you get to these points. I'm a big fan of waterfalls. Other waterfall hikes in the area is the Falls on Buckhorn Lake, Christine Falls, Austin Falls and East Jimmy Creek Falls.

Breathtaking Auger Falls

Outside of Lake George/Lake Placid, the Adirondacks always offers rustic at it's very best. The nearest "large" town is charming Speculator, with a population hovering around 350. In Speculator you'll find a supermarket where you can refill on groceries. Also in Speculator is Charlie John's General Store where you can stock up on any supplies or gear you might need. There is a nice public park and beach on Lake Pleasant right on route 30 which has a floating dock that the kids can swim out to and dive from. There is a very charming parade every 4th of July in the town of Speculator which is fun, and there is also fireworks show on Piseco Lake which is visible from the campsite side of the lake.

Public park & beach at Lake Pleasant

So Piseco Lake may not be next door but if you really want to get away from it all and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature you really can't do much better for the price. Little Sand Point is pretty high up on my favorite campground list.

Reserve Little Sand Point Campground

Distance: 4 hours

Age: Child+

Partner: N

Comfort: The Works

Privacy: Moderate

Swimming: Y

Boating: Y

Watch Hill Campgrounds, Fire Island, Long Island

Want to camp but you don't have a car? No Problem! Located on Fire Island, Watch Hill Campground is only accessible by ferry. Luckily the LIRR Patchogue station is about one black away from the ferry terminal. If you have a car, there is a parking lot (free) at the ferry terminal. This is a relatively easy camping destination to get to, provided you have the strength to haul your gear, otherwise you may need at least one other adult. I have done it solo - you can too, if you have children old enough to carry a medium sized backpack with a large wagon/cart to wheel your gear.

*Again a special thanks to Noah for the beautiful photography....and dish washing....and heavy lifting....and beer delivery service.

The campsites are nestled between the sand dunes

There are two types of camping options available; back-country camping or organized campsites. 

For back-country camping, you must acquire a permit at the ranger's station. These are free but limited and issues on a first-come, first-served basis. With permit in hand you must walk about one mile out through the sandy beach and camp in the dunes. There are no facilities and you must pack everything in, like water, and out, including your waste.

The organized campsite offers 26 sites nestled between the dunes. You must reserve these early if you wish to go during any weekend in the summer months. Other than the ranger driven ATV's, there are no vehicles on this part of Fire Island so a red wagon, shopping cart or other type of gear transport is a must, in addition to a wheeled cooler and sturdy backpack. 

As another option, if you're lucky enough to own a boat, you can also rent a slip at the marina. This review is based solely on the organized campsites.

Boardwalks connect everything and protect the delicate vegetation on the dunes.

Whether going by car or LIRR, when you arrive at the Watch Hill ferry building you are not allowed to bring cargo into the building so park your wagon outside as you buy your ticket. You can get a round trip ticket which is good for the season.

The ferry does charge for cargo but the fee is nominal. Bring your gear around the ferry terminal and wait to board. The ferry workers were incredibly nice and helpful in getting everyone's gear on board and positioned with Tetris-like precision. 

You can choose to sit on the open air top but hold on to your hat since the ferry picks up speed pretty suddenly when you exit the marina. There is also seating below but there is a fair chance you will get wet. The total ferry ride time is about 30 minutes.

Breathtaking sunrises on the dunes - what more could you ask for?

When you arrive at the marina, head straight to the general store to get a tag for your campsite. You cannot reserve a specific site but rather you pick from whichever sites are available when you arrive (the sites which aren't tagged).

The campsites start about 1/4 mile from the marina but everything is connected via a boardwalk. Some of the sites require you to walk through other sites to access so there may be some minimal sand hauling. The process of picking a campsite is a bit chaotic as there will most likely be several campers getting off the ferry with you and the race begins to try and grab the "best site" before anyone else. Don't get me wrong - all of the sites are good, but some are better than others.

Site 10 is furthest from the boardwalk and most private but that involves a longer walk to the facilities. Site 2 is closer and private but there is quite a bit of brush so bugs may be a problem. Sites 23, 25 & 26 seems the most private without a lot of brush and pretty close to the restrooms though you do need to walk through sites 22/24 to get to them.

Most of the nature trail is shaded.

Once you set up camp and get settled you can choose to head to the beach, or there is a nature trail via a boardwalk though the salt marshes.

Back at the marina, there is the visitors’ center/ranger station with a few exhibits on display and there are nature books and coloring books for sale. On weekends they sometimes offer canoe rides through the marshes of guided tours through the nature trail so check to see what's available. They have a junior naturalist program which is fun for the little ones.

Also at the marina is a snack bar open for breakfast & lunch, the general store where you can pick up overpriced supplies (hey, it's a seasonal business), and a restaurant, The Pier, which is open for dinner and Sunday brunch. It is a bit pricey but the food is pretty good. I recommend planning and budgeting to eat a meal or two at the snack bar....you know you'll cave in anyway.

There is the Tiki bar and while kids are not allowed to sit at the bar, you will see kids running around the area. They serve all drinks in plastic cups and plenty of parents were taking their cocktails "to-go".

The Tiki Bar will gladly make virgin drinks as well.

You can access the beach easily from the campsite or marina by taking the boardwalk up to the top of the dune. Be prepared to have all your stress release from your body when you get to the top and see the pristine beach stretch for miles and miles. A few steps down to the beach and pick your perfect spot.

Be sure to pack plenty of strong sun block and bug spray.

On the beach is a volleyball court and when we went there was only one lifeguard station. Make sure you stay between the green flags as this entire coastline has notoriously strong rip tides. The waves at Watch Hill tend to break pretty close to shore which makes boogie boarding a bit tough unless you enjoy planting your face in the sand. Still there were lots of kids (and adults) trying anyway.

The currents can be strong here sometimes so check with the Rangers for the latest conditions. There are some pretty strong waves here so most kids stay close to the shore. Body surfing is popular with the little ones so if you own a board, bring it along. Most of the adults were just floating on their backs on the ocean. The sand here is perfect for sandcastle construction. Note that the band of seemingly "dirty" sand is not dirty but in face a different type of sand found on Fire Island which is purple and actually made up from tiny garnets.

Comfort stations offer uncomfortably cold showers.

Taking the boardwalk back towards the campsites you'll pass the comfort stations. The facilities were pretty clean though there is no hot water. The showers and changing stations are open with no doors or shower curtains though it seems some campers put up their own curtains. If you and/or your children are more modest, you may want to bring 1-2 cheap shower curtains with hooks. The hooks should be large in diameter since the poles are rather thick - rope works as well to hang the curtain. The showers have pull handles which you must hold to keep the flow of water going. Parents will most likely have to hold the water poles for their little ones as they are located rather high up. And beware that the showers are cold - really cold. It is not uncommon to hear screams from the bath house as a poor unsuspecting beach-goer is suddenly doused with ice cold water. Also at the comfort stations are two electrical outlets near the sinks though you will often see technology-addicts lounging around the toilets while their phones charge. 

As you venture back towards the campsites, there are potable water spigots throughout, though ironically these seemed to pump out lukewarm water. If you'd like a cold drink, the spigots by the bath house are your best option. There are also two trash stations, one right near site 1 and one further down. There is also a dish washing station further down the boardwalk.

A view of the path to the beach from the comfort stations.

The crowd at the beach, campsite and marina seems to be a good mix of singles, couples, families and groups of friends. There is that lazy, easy-going beach attitude which is just wonderful. I should also point out that Watch Hill is most definitely LGBT friendly and you will often see same-sex couples, singles and families staying and playing here.

We were lucky enough to have a full moon and a clear night.

You must be thinking this is too good to be true - affordable camping accessible via public transportation with a pristine beach (and Tiki bar) in Fire Island? Here's the draw - because this is federally protected land, they cannot spray for bugs and there are lots of mosquitoes - in fact there are so many that the general store sells tourist t-shirts with a picture of mosquitoes and the words "Bite Me! Fire Island, NY".

There are also deer and thus deer ticks so bring matches or a tick remover. Be sure to check on yourself and your children each day though to be safe. Back to the mosquitoes....while backpack camping typically means only the essentials, it is crucial that you bring a screen room tent. Not only will it provide a much needed respite from the bugs, but because there are no tall trees to put up a shade tarp, you will welcome a spot to escape the sun. You can also bring tent poles to set up a shade tarp, especially if you're sensitive to the sun.

Be sure to bring a DEET based insect repellent and re-apply it according to the directions. It really does keep them away if you're diligent about it. This goes against camping instinct, but try and pick a site that is away from trees and shrubbery and the bugs won't be as bad. Most people opt for the nice shaded sites and end up covered in welts and burning off ticks every night.

Watch Hill is fabulous in moderation.

My overall take on Watch Hill is that it is fabulous in moderation. Being on the beach is wonderful but if you burn easily, or if the mosquitoes are oppressive, you may want to limit the length of your trip. I would say 2-4 nights is the maximum any reasonable person can do.

Also because there is no playground, little children may get bored after a few days. If you want a great weekend getaway, I highly recommend Watch Hill. You can also come to Watch Hill for a day trip.

Watch Hill/Davis Park Ferry
LIRR Schedule
Reserve Watch Hill Campground

Distance: 1.5 - 2.5 hours

Age: Child+

Partner: Y

Comfort: The Works

Privacy: Some

Swimming: Y

Boating: BYOB