Governor Alfred E. Smith/Sunken Meadow State Park

Governor Alfred E. Smith/Sunken Meadow State Park
Rte. 25A and Sunken Meadow Parkway (northern end of Sunken Meadow Parkway)
Kings Park, NY 11754
Phone: (631) 269-4333
Secondary Phone: (631) 269-5351
Vehicle Fees:
5/29 through 9/12 - $10
9/18 through 11/14 - $8
Unlimited access with Empire Pass



The ride north on the Sagtikos (however you say it) Parkway until the eventual flow into the Sunken Meadow Parkway is an ominous one but for no apparent reason. Once referred to as "Creepy Parkway" by a defensive driving instructor, there are quick glimpses of the ruins of Pilgrim Psych Center and the rusted signs that announce the exits to Pilgrim and Kings Park Hospitals. I guess if you spent time thinking...many people in the past may have realized at this point that thing were really going to suck for a while as they gazed from the passenger seats at these exit signs. But its true...the highways lend themselves to deep thought as you travel along mundane landscapes as the unpaved road underneath you hums a similar tune for miles. But like a beacon (or bacon) of hope, there is a glimpse of the magnificent Long Island Sound right before you get to a group of retro toll booths much unlike the wire shacks manned by angry college kids that "herald" the entrance to Jones Beach. It makes one think that way before the advent of I-Pads, wine-pairing dinners, and easy national and international travel via airplane, this was "the place to be" (if I may quote Frank Costanza).

I have always been a "South Shore" kind of guy. As I write that last sentence, I realize I have no idea what that means. I guess I refer to the beaches. But being overweight and pale, the beach oddly never appealed to me. However, I think that when one thinks of South Shore beaches, one thinks of miles of tree-less land, beautiful beaches, and slightly better parking than at Yankee Stadium. And this was the striking juxtaposition of the "North Shore" beach; lush greenery and forest, lush greenery and forest...BOOM...beach. And it really is just like that. You will drive amongst beautiful trees, park in the lot, and then be able to walk to a beach. For most of us South Shore people, this is quite odd. But this is where the "awesomeness" lies; you can hike for the day and then jump straight into a beautiful pool of water with no one else in sight. I will get into this more later.

You will drive not far from the entrance and see the picnic area to your right. Jess and I had lunch here one day. I actually had salami and provolone, a tribute to my ancestors came to America with a salami in one arm and a provolone (?) in the other. Either way, there are tons of picnic benches in a nice, shady wooded area. There are some concessions stands but they were not open so you should plan on bringing your own lunch just in case. I have to mention that the smells at this place would drive any foodie nuts. And if I had a big enough "set," I would have gone up to a ton of people to ask them what they were cooking. Jess and I were amazed by the mix of ethnicities here. People of all races and creeds were spending time relaxing with family and friends, taking advantage of the beauty of Long Island. It was, for a lack of a better word, "cool," since Long Island is so separate when it comes to neighborhoods. Some of the foods being grilled up were foreign to me but I would have loved to sample them. At many points, I was tempted to grab something from the grill and run away.

If you continue past the picnic area, you will cross a small bridge and be at the parking area for the beach. For our purposes, make a quick right into the picnic area and park there. Grab some lunch and then get ready to hike. Walk east past the picnic area and follow a path that gradually increases in grade until you reach a fence. This will take some navigating around a deep "hole" in the ground until you come around to the part of the trail where you walk way up above the Long Island Sound. It's a bit of a walk but eventually you will reach the area of Zen, seen below:
After a long hike, you will enter a clearing and will see this; a beautiful vista of the Sound. All of your hard work and sweat toiling through tight corners and dangerous, narrow corridors way above sea level will be worth it. Take a seat here; grab a Gatorade and eat an apple; ask yourself why people feel a need to leave Long Island for beautiful views and relaxation. Now, the best part; you will now head down a steep slope of soft dirt. If you have any sort of hockey skills, now is the time to use them. At the bottom, you will walk through the reeds to an inlet from the Sound and Nissequogue River. A shallow inlet of water separates you from the main beach. Jump in here - the water is warm, there is never more than a couple of people (and the occasional old dude with a Speedo), and the serenity is invigorating. You can float in the currents but be sure to wear flip-flops as the North Shore beaches are known for their rocky terrain beneath the water. I even floated in the warm water with a fellow explorer (Tony B's) in the midst of a storm, one that we found out that was much worse than we had thought and probably should not have been in the water.

You can traverse the inlet during low tide and walk along the beach until you reach the main beach. Or you can walk back along the inlet side to the parking area. There is some nice wildlife to be seen here. Eventually, you will find yourself on the other side of the beach. Walk along the left side of the parking lots and you will eventually see a bridge. Cross this bridge and you will be be back at the picnic area. You can eat again here - I probably would!

There is a list of quite a few other things that can be done at the park, including fishing and access to a golf course. I have to admit that this is one of those places that is an essential visit during the summer months. It lacks that burning sun/long lines/no space/coconut smell that permeates Jones Beach and Long Beach. It is a completely different experience. It is much more relaxed and, although at times can be crowded, it never seems like it is excessive. But I grew up in Queens and now live in a basement apartment. I appreciate things like this.

Notes:
- Visit the Governor Alfred E. Smith/Sunken Meadow State Park website for a list of all the activities that you can take part in here.
- Apparently, the Long Island Greenbelt Trail continues from Nissequogue Park along the beach to Sunken Meadow Park (not far from where you go from the trail to the water) but I have yet to find the connection. You can buy a map here but I am too cheap. I mean my dad had a marble notebook mapping out all the caves from the Nintendo game Ultima from years ago. The thrill is in the chase, the unknown.
- I would like to organize a group trip here next year for some grilling and chilling. Many people set up shop a few steps from the beach - It would please even the crabbiest of people. This would be the ultimate day-trip experience.
- All photos seen here were taken by Dan.