3/7 UPDATE/CORRECTIONS:This is our annual,CHEAP,ALL-INCLUSIVEcost BEACH CAMPING&TOUR 4 OR UP TO 15 DAY EVENT(except bars,outside food,DANCING) BUT INCLUDING 2++MEALS a Day,drinks(incl.plenty of alcohol),camping fees,7total train rides,5different ferries(incl.VIEWStatueOfLiberty/EllisIs.&a 5stop,same boatNYC E.RiverFerryHarborTOUR ofManhattan,Brooklyn[Br!],LICity). FOOD(includes Vegan-we are looking for a"PT"cook that would go for $0?),CUSTOM(ordered enroute)DRINKS (incl.WorldDEBUT of our uniqueFIRE ISLAND[like"LI]ICE TEA"),Nat'lParkFees,activities. There are 4guided tourOPTIONS ToFireIs.+backToPhila,etc(or meet us elsewhere)&most equipt IS INCLUDED--for 1 LOW fee: $295 (ifJOINING us inPA),$240(NYS)-for 4+/-, up to 15DAYS-
--YOUR choice, CAMPING UNDER PINES ON da BEACH!!!!
We will ASSEMBLE FRI 8/11 BY 9-9:30amSHARP in SEPTA'sUPPER-LEVEL CONCOURSE section inAmtrak's30thStSta.Phila for correct elevator to be up&ready for9:44amTrentonTrain to take theSCENIC FUN TOUR TO CAMP!!!See details,other enroute times if U wish to meet UsENROUTE but@predetermined times&places exactly.TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO SLIGHT CHANGES DUE TO SUMMER ISSUED RRscheduals.CHECK BACK!
AFTER READING ALL,CALL to help reserve&w any SERIOUS inquiries OR Q's:215-892-6264-MUST PREPAY 4TRIP viaVENMO,PAYPAL,ZELLE Or cash!
TOUR/CAMPING isVeganFriendly(not exclusively but inclusively w 2 grills,etc.)&ALLby GreenTRANSIT(there is a car option)by multiple, narrated,INEXPENSIVE localTrains,NYCwalking&multiple Ferries TOUR aroundNewYorkHarbor positioning us for boarding aLongIslandRR EXPRESStrain IN its yard w our wagons,carts,rolling suitcases,back-packs BEFORE THE NYC CROWDS get on later--while we sip ourINCLUDEDcocktails&snacks IN SEATS w all OUR equipment to THE VERY BEST OCEAN BEACHFRONT CAMPING IN ENTIRE MID-ATLANTIC!!!
There are nice showers/bathrooms,runningH2O,rangers,extensive nature boardwalks¢er,book stores,canoes,bars&nearby beach town.
There will be many places besides 30thStSta.to meet OUR largerTour group enroute at PRECISEtimes&precise busyTrainCars on way--or you can even drive(But we don't recommend driving thru NYC&out traffic clogged L.I. toBEACHES)to the final REQUIRED Ferry intoFireIsland NationalSeashore fromWatchHillFerryTerminal in Patchogue,L.I.NY
THERE ARE NO CARS ON FIRE ISLAND.THERE ARE LOW BOARDWALKS EVERYWHERE TO/AT SPECIAL CAMP&ADACENT COMPLEXES THAT CARTS & WAGONS w your things CAN BE PULLED RIGHT TO the EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL NONPROFIT GROUP CAMPSITE that has electricity we run into places in camp! U will need to wheelYOURcart or carry a big backpack incl w ur sleeping bag/bedroll equivalent hung/strapped under on 3separate 30min NYC walking segments of TOUR trip up as well as between trains&close ferries.Don't forget UR important pillow,NEEDED SHEET,pad +/or inflatable mattress IF Uwish but Uhave to carry or wheel w U. We have some extra train/ferry friendly(not to wide to fit in narrow train aisles&turns)old style metal wagons for our heavier things available but you'll need to COORINATE AHEAD w us.Newer wider plastic wagons w 4 independently turning wheels dont fit/work in narrow trains.There are plugs on trains.There is public electric plugs 1 we will wire 400ft to our group campsite for a private power strip&charging sta @the 1 end of our special campsite.THERE definitely IS SOME CELLPHONE SERVICE in WH in the adjacent Marina.There is running water@OUR site&a dishwashing station in nearby regular campground we can use.We will be sleeping on sand.We advise U have a tarp or 2 for under&potentially more import,over UR tent in case of unpredictable really heavy rain!New large&smaller plastic bags rolled up tightly&ZIP lock baggies are handy for rain,sand&AMcondensation being by ocean.Extra rope&longer tent stakes are VERY helpful in sand&under our LARGE GROUP CAMPSITE'S UNIQUE PINE TREE SHADED SMALL GROVE. You pull your own small,well rolling cart or little red wagon(as negotiate well on trains,but loaded high,often w things like carrying loaded old milkcrates strapped onto to coolers by stable bungie cords)on&off several,level loading trains&1step ferries.There is only 1old wooden staircase down@HuntersPointLIRR Sta in LICity we are forced to use due to a Schedule change.We will do relays here to help each other but bigger carts w luggage must be able to be easily disassembled&put back together if necessary to carry cart down...All help will be provided/expected&we will provide many shared items incl.much minimal equipment,3total wagon mounted rolling coolers,as we will supply food,both Vegan&non-Vegan&drink,both alcohol&non-alcoholic,incl our weeks supply custom ordered enroute.You can bring special food&drink items subject to space limitations if they need our coolers w pre trip discussion&coordination&before small regular Supermarket(but no liquor store)STOP we make just before final WatchHillFerry.A personal smaller soft sided cooler w ice(packs are better-best is frozen food thawing)will get some fresh perishable things there w U too for more ice@FI. There will be 1-2 big shared 1&4rm tents but please if U have 1,bring your own.Other individuals generally graciously share THEIR tents usually too though.
We have reserved a 2nd,actual fully IN WILDERNESS campsite a half mile"upBeach"in what is really NYState'sONLY Federally Designated Wilderness,Sat&Sun night,our peaks,for those who want to get even"wilder"(this is FireIsland w a history of18thCentury pirates,19thCenturyShipwreckers,20thCenturyRumRunners that all used the WatchHill by our group site you can easily take a NatureWalk over&60s-90s,2000sFreeLove&"less clothing",Sunbathing&Swimming! with w/d $ options for more)!
But we are directly by 1 NationalPark LifeguardedBeach here&also equipped w all rustic luxuries like bathrooms w extensive showers (changing areas big enough to pitch tents in for severe storm shelter),group campsite large(triple)charcoal grill,running freshH2O &nearby,very small campstore,RangerStationS,extensive nature walkS, canoes&bookstores w materials all about nature surrounding us!We are also by a luxury boat Marina combined w FerryTerminal we&LI Day Trippers use.There is a MarinaTikiBar,SnackBar&VendorTruck.A mile away in other direction away from Wilderness by both beach&more connecting small,low boardwalk is a quiet suburban,car-free beach town of DavisPark w it'sBEAUTIFULbeach homes,MarinaBOARDWALKfocus,at least 2restaurants&small liquor store&a bigger small/regular beach store we will DEFINETLY tour on our way to go dancing at aBEACHfrontBar SatNight@possibly back for Karaoke Sun!There isRangerLedClamming(digging in shallow bay behind Marina-you'll need"WaterShoes"of some kind to catch that dinner!)activites&Canoeing@Wilderness edge of GreatSouthBay.There's lots of"BeachTime"but there will be a wilderness beach hike.There is also a delightful main LongIsland downtown,Patchogue we will ALL have an opportunity to spend a few hours in,before 1st group escorted return trip back(others back to FI) to/through NYC PennSta.,where,on both escorted full returns there will be a mini tour of spectacular newAmtrakNYC MoynihanTrainHall while awaiting trains home(& we have special knowledge how to avoid the current construction inPennSta we&NJT commuters use).
TOUR&any independent arrivals toFI MUST bePREPARED to expedite travel&arriveWatchHillFerryTerminal by3:30pm forLAST"RAIN/SHINE Ferry"on their day of arrival InCaseOfRain!:(631-425-1665 DavisParkFerry Co WatchHillTerminal,to double check if FI rain on day of traveling independently for confiming schedules&RAIN/SHINE FerryTHATday)--otherwise boats run throughout day;9:30am(R/S),11:30am,1:15pm, 3:30pm(R/S)w last normal WatchHillFerry being5:15PM outbound. But there is a special 7PM FridayONLY WatchHillFireIslandFerry thatTOUR travel group will take from our LIRR ExpressTrain TWIN of the famous premium fare LIRR CannonballSpecial(to the ADJACENT HAMPTONS from Penn)but from a little known LICityRRyard Station we walk to from our earlier multi-stop single FerryNYC HarborTOUR
There are 2 ESCORTED ways up; 1)Thurs8/10 for quiet partial set up DAYTIME w PhilaHikingMeetUp leader Jed
OR 2) Friday 8/11 on the MAIN TRAIN,WALKING,NYC Harbor FERRIES,LI RR express TOUR w Guide/Historian Scott. There are ALSO 2 different ESCORTED trips back;Tues 8/15 morning/afternoon/evening w Jed or 2 weeksThurs 8/24 midday/nite w Scott. Or U can come&go independently or in groups as all guidance&alternatives will be supported.
ALL TICKETS FOR ALL TRAVEL(7trains,&5ferriesTOTALmost onTOUR route take through NYHarbor!),NPScampingFEES,2++ prepared meals/day+snacks,other supplies/opportunities,PLUS custom ordered, enroute delivered drinks--as well as many other shared things is: $295:
=LESS then $20 A DAY if you stay ALL 15 DAYS. 4 DAYS IS $74 A DAY for example,etc. It is less if you travel up on your own to meet us enroute or drive&we don't pay for train tickets etc.
Compare this w ANY other luxury catered/provisioned beachfront stay&TRAVELanywhere,let aloneAN EXPERT GUIDED NEW YORK TOUR TO theVERY BEST&CLOSEST BEACH\CAMPING IN MIDATLANTIC US REGION!
Always check website for any last-minute updates!
Note:All CentralCity PhilaRR,NJTRR,PATHRR&LIRR,SEPTASubways/El& most#100NorristownHiSpeedLineSta.s areHighLevel,easy boarding for U &your small wagon or cart(but may have other Sta.stepLIMITS-please precheck ur exact local route if needed).Other connecting suburbanRR Phila area stations IF not hilevel may require riders to negotiate steep rail car steps carrying your cart unless they are listed as handicap accessible w a mini length-high level platform you use per line's SEPTA schedules."All"buses are 1step LowFloor,butTrolleys are not yet.
THU 8/10 Small SET UP DAY earlier Escorted Trip to F.I. w/Jed McKee: HELP IS REQUESTED for Extra quiet day inCampground/on beach(b4 MAIN tour arrives FriNite)to help prepare a meal,convey&preset 1group tent&screen room.PLEASE CALL 4DETAILS&ARRANGEMENTS. JedMcKee:267-243-3841
FRI 8/11/23 MAIN BEACH CAMPING TRIP/TOUR w TourGuide ScottMaits:
-MEET30thStSta.UpperLevel-by9-9:30amSHARP-from all connections: LV:944am UPPERlevel onSEPTATrentonLineTrain#709Last OPENcar (which is also same train fromEASTChestnutHillLineSta:9:02am, WayneJCT:9:23,TempleU RRSta:9:29,Jefferson/MarketE.Sta:9:35am)
-TrentonLineCornwellHts.Sta,(I-95-FREE long-term parking)LV:10:11am
-TrentonSta.SEPTA AR:10:36am(w connecting NJT RiverLine&fromAC which connects@PennsaukenTC).ALL change HERE to NYC NJT TRAIN
--Trenton Sta: Note:Connection here is by Elevators&as short as 5min(w only platform shop snackwindow for any who missed home or30thSt breakfast).We will eat our 1st fee paid for,packed food&snacks on NYC HarborFerry bout3pm&packedCocktails onLIRRtrain after530pm.Dinner w IceCream(W veganOPTIONS)will be ready at WHBeachCampground around 8pm right after arrival 1st to QUICKLY set our own tents@dusk.
-Trenton NJTransitTrain#3840 2nd Car of12Car train.TrentonLV: 10:41am
-Hamilton NJT Park($12aDAY)&Ride(I-295)LV:10:47am
-PrincetonJctNJTlv:10:28aNOTE:This is earlierNECTrainMUSTchange@NB)
NewBrunswick(RutgersMainRutgCamden ISviaRiverLINEor30thSt)Lv1109
-Newark Airport NJT Station(w dinky Airport monorail)LV: 11:48am
-Newark Penn(NECor/main)NJT AR: 11:55am
NewarkCHANGE(If"RAIN/S"FerryGOtoPENN-LI)toPATHsub/EL1stCarLV12N
-WorldTradeCtrPATH(PortAuth)OcculasStation/Mall AR: 12:22pm
-WALK TOURthroughGroundZeroMemorial viaLowerManhattanMultiUser Path to famous BatteryPark ARaprox12:45pm atStatenIslandFerryTerminal
-StatenIslandFerryLV1:00pm to viewStatueOfLiberty/Ellis Is&Return1:55 WALK:E.RiverPATH20min bySouthStSeaportToWallStFerryTermARby:2:20
WallSt.FerTerLV:2:30pm onE.RiverFerry along BrooklynWaterfront& under Booklyn&Manhatten Bridges ToHunterPointS.FerryTermAR:3:18
-WALK tour30mins throughLICity toHunterPt.LIRR Sta where there MAY still be?(checkBACK)a 1 flight DOWNSTAIRS carry/portage that carts&wagons MUST READY TO BE DISASSEMBLED&REASSEBLED WELL RELATIVLY QUICKLY IF THEY ARE TOO BIG TO CARRY DOWN LOADED.
--There is an option right here via nice new#7 Subway direct later from nrPenn &GrandCentralSta to ride directlyADJACENT toHunterspoint SUBWAY Sta(for sameRRsta.steps)for any1 coming late/from connections
-HuntersPointRRSta.LIRR Train #18 a Montauk limited stops EXPRESSTrain (toPatchogueStation)LV:4:30pm,LAST CAR.
-LIRR JamicaStation(EXSTREEMLY CHAOTIC@RushHour esp.w/luggage/cart but for all LIRRconnections including anyone independently running late direct from PennSta) JamicaArr:4:45Jamica:same trainLV:4:49pmLastCar-seats not guaranteed&difficult to maneuver any wagons/carts&even find any1 in3RDbusiestNYCRRsta@PEAK rushHOURS unless U already have group seats.
-But we will have INCLUDED snack&cocktail onLIRR LICity-MONTAUK EXP in our early boarding seats w our stuff! After POLLING,our Paid DRINKS will be DELIVERED ON THE TRAIN!-Patchogue Sta.LIRR ARR 5:57pm
-ThenOption1:Some WALKdirectly3blks toWatchHill Nat.PkFerryTerm
-Option2:SomeWALK 1bk to small supermarket to help w last minute bulky supplies we need to pick up there(ice,charcoal,milk[vegan too],corn,ice cream etc).We will need help w this enroute shopping trip back 5bks to FIWH FerryTerm.(our 2 rolling coolers w us will be dismounted&pulled here w 2nd hands across lots freeing their 2 wagons to carry more!)BY 6:55pm for last FriONLY FerryLV:7pm,forRELAXING ferryTOURofPatchogueHarbor&the salt spray of the ferry at SUNSET acrossGreatSouthBayToFireIsland!
-You will need easy access from ur luggage on ferry(so pack accordingly)to change into your lite but long sleeve hoodies,hats,light long pants for persistent night mosquitos&a light
ALL-NATURAL LEMON-EUCALYPTUS INSECT REPELLANT WORKS BETTER THEN standard CHEMICAL DEET SPRAYS PER CONSUMER REPORTS. WE WILL HAVE SOME SUPPLIES W US&WILL APPLY ON LAST FERRY IN. Please bring ur private supply too.
We must walk right away after Ferry arrives w carts&wagons while sun is setting.Marina walks,bathrooms etc. are lit but not campsites WHERE ITS BEST TO SET UP ASAP&HAVE YOUR OWN BUG FREE TENT w lantern& mosquito traps we provide that work well w ur lite.We will have 1 bigger but limited group tent already set up&2nd group tent is available.
We will have at least 1 screen rm set up w a picnic table too.Dinner will be WAITING FOR U including CornOnCob,Burgers(Vegan too),ect, IceCream(incl.Vegan we bring)&we pick up on way for1stnight.
Note:Generally persistent mosquitos are a problem but not on 1stdune's upper boardwalk/ocean dune steps hang out areas at night OR BEACH. Bathroom&Marina area behind 1st primary dune is OK during day &mostly@night w bug repellent.In camp we have a screen room w full picnic table inside&tents&for nites.Everyone should bring&wear light version of long pants&long sleave hoodie-tee shirts w effective Lemon-Eucalyptus BugRepellent,like SuntanLotion,needs 2b applied regularly. We will also hang out onBEACH@night at times&watch for frequent August ShootingStars through the STUNNINGLY CLEAR MILKY WAY