Beach break in New York
New York is not renowned for comfortable August weather, but the Atlantic-hugging city actually has a crop of fne beaches that make for a great – and easy – escape from the high-summer fug of Manhattan. Rockaway Beach in Queens, for example, is just a train ride (or a scenic ferry) away – ‘It’s not hard, not far to reach’, as the Ramones sang in their ode – and is America’s largest urban beach, if not the best sandy stretch in the city, too. This local favourite has golden sand, good surfng and food from the likes of cult taco eatery Tacoway Beach. Set on a peninsula, the beach extends out to wilder areas like Fort Tilden, where an old artillery site stands amid dunes and grass, and to Jacob Riis Park, whose brand-new beach bazaar brings live music and artisan vendors to its unspoilt coast. Alternatively, hop on the train from Penn Station to Long Beach: five miles of pristine sand fanked by a buzzing strip of shops and eateries, with a boardwalk that’s perfect for a leisurely stroll or cycle. For an active day out, Jones Beach is a good choice, offering four miles of bike paths, a nature centre and two huge pools to wear yourself out in. Come evening, its open-air amphitheatre draws big names to perform under the stars.

New York’s Rockaway Beach gets waves that are suitable for beginners at surfng
PHOTOGRAPHS: DAVID GRIMBERT, MICHAEL MARQUAND/GETTY IMAGES, IMAGE COURTESY OF YORK MUSEUMS TRUST (YORK ART GALLERY)