ORIENT
BEACH STATE PARK Go back in time Here is a way to go back in time. Not the science fiction way, but by Route 495 on the Long Island Expressway. You can do it alone, but it is best to come in SUV loads of children and adults who need to let off steam. Sorry, you must find a sitter for your dog! The Orient Beach State Park is a delicacy of Long Island that with minimal changes, continues to be in year 5 thousand BC! Maritime forests are rare, because most plants that have evolved to grow on land, do not like heavily salted water. They mostly need very deep tap root systems to locate highly isolated fresh water aquifers that may exist close to the ocean bed. Cactus has the gel to handle this kind of environment, where the sun may beat down all day, drawing away almost every molecule of water. The Orient Beach State Park has some timeless species of cacti, direct descendants of the earliest forms of life on Long Island. The tree cover of the Orient Beach State Park matches the bewildering array of cacti in genetic expression. One wonders from where their seeds must have been dispersed. Or what became of their predecessors, as not all have the girth to denote kinship with the earlier species underfoot. Nature seems to have taken a day off to play with a broad canvass, as the gaze falls on a visual treat of stately oak trees with splashes of red cedar here and there. Deep introspection in the midst of the very still peace is shattered only by joyful cries of free birds, and one wishes that we could join in their celebration and animated conversation. It is tempting to stay in this real world for ever and a sense of guilt and loss washes over as you walk back towards the giant pavilion, showers and food stalls. Gardiner's Bay is easier to digest, for its calm and very blue waters seem to be a familiar link between pre-historical times and the current century. The enveloping dimensions of ocean views from the Orient Beach State Park bear no resemblance to the fury for which the Atlantic is so feared, and the occasional signs of fishing and boating keep you comfortably rooted to your own kind. The 45 thousand feet of beach combine well with the distance from Manhattan to provide sets where the plebian may stroll and lie like glitterati in their private isles. You can close your eyes and dream or even pretend to be a Wimbledon champion many times over or European Royalty for that matter! Park authorities are acutely aware of the potential visitor segment of fitness freaks and those who must work up a sweat outdoors. There is much for such breeds to try out and show off as well, at the Orient Beach State Park . The trails seem to have been especially designed for hikers with calves of iron, but the exceptional views can be used as valid excuse to make frequent stops for rest, by the elevator-types from downtown Manhattan! Playing fields are ready and waiting for Pentathlon types who want to work on cross-training! Attractions: Directions: Seasons/Hours: Pets:
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