Long Island Beaches - Where to Find Great Beaches on Long Island

By Linda Tagliaferro, About.com Guide

The name "Long Island" conjures up images of sun, sand and surf. With miles of sprawling sands, Long Island's beaches are legendary. From the powder-fine, white sands of Long Beach to the pounding surf of Montauk, Long Island has a variety of beautiful beaches on its north and south shores. It's no surprise that Stephen Leatherman, a.k.a. "Dr. Beach" has selected several Long Island beaches, year after year, for his annual list of America's Top 10 Beaches. Here's a sampling of some of the great beaches on this beautiful island.For your safety, please only swim in lifeguard-protected areas.

I'm going to start with my personal favorite. In my opinion, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world (if not THE most beautiful!), Long Beach stretches out for over three miles with soft sand that glistens in the sun. Originally a South Shore beach community in the 1880s, Long Beach went from being a summer resort to a residential area, blessed by cooling breezes in the summer. Listen to the sounds of the pounding surf and watch seagulls glide overhead. Sunbathe and catch up on your reading, take a dip in the refreshing ocean, or stroll or bicycle down the boardwalk which stretches out for more than two miles.

Want to see more? Then visit Long Beach, NY - Tour of the oceanfront.

Interested in Long Beach's storied past? Then see Long Beach Heritage Tour, a photo essay about a great history tour that I went on to learn about the fascinating evolution of this seaside city.

To learn about Long Beach season passes, surfing and more, please go to the official City of Long Beach website.