North Fork Beaches Are Not Just for Summer

As the weather cools and the days turn brisk, beaches around the North Fork are anything but isolated. The sand and sea form a back drop for walking, reading, and striped bass fishing. Local beaches are no longer reserved for summertime.

Many residents take advantage of the lighter parking restrictions during the off season using the cold weather months to visit beaches that are often off-limits during the summer without a parking permit.

At this time of the year, many park district commissioners take a relaxed attitude.

"We don't enforce it at all," said David Allison of the "A lot of people go down to the beach at the Nassau Point causeway."

In Southold, the Ken Reeves noted parking restrictions remain in effect all year.

"The signs are up and the regulations are in effect," Reeves said noting you need a town sticker to park at a town beach.

Jeff Smith, who serves as Chairperson of the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Parks District, said the newly completed boardwalk at the was constructed to enhance walking throughout the year

Smith attributes the increased off-season beach traffic to the area's growing year-round and steady weekend population.

The playground at the in Cutchogue draws mothers and children all year. This beach has a grassy playground shaded by trees and also offers a sugar sand beach for cold weather sandcastle building.

on Peconic Bay Boulevard in Mattituck is another year-round haunt favored by mothers and children who love the state-of-the-art playground and sandy beach. This beach attracts neighborhood walkers as well as town residents from afar who happen to be in Mattituck at lunchtime.

Parking lots at the beach are a lunchtime destination for working men and women who often grab a sandwich and head for their favorite beach to take a break. Cablevision vans and UPS trucks are a constant at lunchtime. Drivers love these beaches for the easy access parking as well as the view and the fresh air.

There are miles of unobstructed coastline to be explored along the shores of the Long Island Sound where the beaches are wide and uninterrupted by bulk heading or break waters. Dogs can roam the shores with their owners at this time of year without worry also.

The parking lot at the draws a large lunchtime crowd and is also a favorite destination for walkers. and are tucked away Sound-front beaches in Southold that attract neighborhood traffic and recreational walkers as well as some fisherman in the off season.

in Peconic is a legendary spot for striped bass fisherman who cast their lines at this beach during fishing season when the parking lot is full of pickup trucks and SUVs. Sound-front beaches attract sunset lovers all year round. In the cold weather months it is not unusual to see beachgoers drinking hot chocolate from large thermos bottles as they watch the sun set after an early evening walk along the shore.

If you want to be alone, the ultimate solitude can be found at where parking is free to all this time of year. The beach is virtually deserted. You will feel like you are the only person in the world on that beach — and that is a special occurrence anytime of the year.