Cherry Grove (just "the Grove" for short) and Fire Island Pines (just "the Pines" for short) are small twin vacation communities that are located approximately in the middle of Fire Island. Accessible only by passenger ferry, these communities have been gay havens at least since the 60's. They remain populated and visited overwhelmingly by gay men, although the Grove (the westernmost of the two) has a small lesbian following. Many make much ado over the differences in character of these two communities, sometimes giving the unfamiliar the impression that a choice is to be made over which one to visit. The reality is that the entirety of both communities covers a stretch of just over two miles east to west and about a quarter mile north to south, with a coastal forest just one-third mile in length separating them. Water taxi service connects the two communities with one another and with other Fire Island communities.

As you might expect in such a gay place, conventions of beach attire are flexible. Skimpy swimwear is abundant. In theory, you might get away with slipping off your trunks and sunbathing nude anywhere on the beach. In practice, there is little nudity on the beach that abuts the developed parts of either the Grove or the Pines. Nudity is general considered okay on the remote stretches of beach west of the Grove and east of the Pines, but the place that attracts the most nude bathers is the stretch of beach between the Grove and the Pines. This wild stretch of beach abuts the previously mentioned coastal forest. Nudity also occurs quite openly in the forest, which has several nicknames, including the "Meat Rack," the "Enchanted Forest" and the "Petting Zoo." You can infer from these names what goes on here. Because the Grove and the Pines have basically been left alone to be self-governing gay entities, it seem that anything goes, certainly with regards to nudity in the undeveloped areas, and probably with regards to everything else.

If you choose not to stay overnight on the island, you can do a day trip here if you time it carefully. If you do stay overnight, be advised that most lodging here is private houses rented to small groups. There are just a few hotels. The website below is a good jumping off point for learning more.

Fire Island Men (informative unofficial website)

VISUAL RESOURCES

GPS: 40.6605, -73.0795

city, county, state, country  Cherry Grove/Fire Island Pines (Sayville), Suffolk, New York, U.S.A.

classification  1 (freely nude)

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