Gunnison and New York City hotels

Hello,
Thinking about next summer visiting New York City and Gunnison. Maybe a day at the beach, then the city, then the beach, then the city--you get my pattern. What is a good place between the two to stay? Staten Island? Near Gunnison and drive to the Staten Island Ferry? Is there transportation from some place nearby to the Staten Island Ferry, while we use the car to drive to the beach?

Stay in Atlantic Highlands, NJ or somewhere around Sandy Hook like Sea Bright...
there is a high speed ferry from Highlands, NJ to NYC (Wall St.)...
http://www.seastreak.com/nynjschedules.aspx

You could stay in NYC and take the ferry directly to Sandy Hook. http://seastreak.com/sandyhook.aspx and avoid the hassle of the commute by car.

Pauline

Thanks PECONIC and PASNYDER. Just looked at ferries. Is Belford any better/worse than Highlands ferry? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

Ya know, it's up to you...
you want to spend your vacation on the beach (or near the beach) or in NYC...
access to both are available...
Just have fun!!!

Ah, now I see Highlands closer to the beach==very good.

I probably shouldn't reveal this... but check out Bluebay Inn in Atlantic Highlands.

Thanks it already popped up on Google, that one, some others and a bed and breakfast. We love visiting NYC but never pay the price of staying in Manhattan........usually Queens or something and ride the rails......this will be a great way to go........shhhhh I won't tell anybody. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

There used to be a wonderful B & B, Sandy Hook Cottage, but that has closed. Blue Bay Inn has a great restaurant next door with a fantastic tequila bar, Copper Canyon. Don't miss it if you decide on Blue Bay.

There is an excellent sandwich shop on Rt.36 just outside Atlantic Highlands, and minutes from The Hook...
A whole sub will last for two meals... they are huge and the bread is fresh and so good...
Slaters Deli
Great for lunch at the beach!

The Seastreak Ferry from midtown or lower Manhattan is a real pleasure. There is a snack bar on board, and you can enjoy beer, wine or a mixed drink while you cruise. You get to Sandy Hook in about 45 minutes. However, the cost may seem a bit pricey to some: it's $45 (cash only) per person for a round-trip ticket.

If driving is the only realistic option for you, I'd avoid weekends and go during the week. Our experience is that on summer weekends, you can expect crowds of 2,000-2,500 at Gunnison, which means the parking lot fills up fast and you wind up walking a mile or so. And this is after a 1-1/2 hour drive from NYC.

On summer weekdays the crowds are smaller---in our experience, there are "only" about 500-600 people at Gunnison, which is large enough to get lost in the crowd, but small enough so that you'll have no trouble getting a parking place. Parking is "free," but it costs $15 per car to enter the National seashore area ($7.50 if you're 62+ and have a senior pass).

How far a walk is it from the ferry pier to the CO beach?

There is a shuttle bus from the ferry pier to the parking lot, then you walk out to the beach.

Thanks Kathleen

Even without the bus it's walkable, maybe a mile and a quarter or so to the ocean. Of course it may be a tough walk on a hot day with a cooler, etc. The bus is pretty dependable, drops you in Lot G and it's a half mile or so from there to the water.