Gay Guide to Fire Island
Fire Island is one of the most storied gay summer destinations in the United States, a car-free barrier island off Long Island split between two gay hamlets. Cherry Grove is the older, come-as-you-are community, home to the legendary Ice Palace at the Grove Hotel, while The Pines is the sleeker scene anchored by the Pavilion, Sip-n-Twirl, and the tea-dance tradition at the Blue Whale. The summer runs on events like the July 4th Invasion of the Pines. Beaches, boardwalks, and share houses define a season that peaks from Memorial Day through Labor Day.