Top 5 Beach Locales for Summer BBQ Foolery

Labor Day. The perfect excuse to host a BBQ with friends or escape the city in search of the beach.  Or Both. At once.  Yes, though our credit rating is low (err, as a nation) your fiscal duty demands a party.  Pick a locale and import friends.  For Labor Day 2011 throw a group house-party somewhere everyone wants to go anyway and make your own fun. Call it socialite-ism: shared costs for the party community.

1.  Martha’s Vineyard, MA – a tiny island with a big personality- -several actually. With its 7 distinct towns, Martha’s Vineyard boasts a spectrum of beaches, bars, and nightlife.  If you’re going to visit for Labor Day it makes sense to rent a house (http://www.weneedavacation.com/Cape/Marthas-Vineyard-Vacation-Rentals.htm) for the week.  Not only are weekend-only accommodations rare, they’re also pricey.  Expect to pay a premium for the luxury of a weekend-only stay.  Not to mention that the Vineyard community is small and entrenched –meaning small intimate gatherings are not only ideal but exclusive.  Which means you should just bring your own party.  Stay “Down Island” (Oak Bluffs (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g41750-Oak_Bluffs_Martha_s_Vineyard_Massachusetts-Vacations.html) or Vineyard Haven http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g41875-Vineyard_Haven_Martha_s_Vineyard_Massachusetts-Vacations.html) for the most choices in nightlife and a youthful crowd.  Planes, trains, and automobiles (by way of Ferry) will get you to the island. http://www.sandpiperrealty.com/pages/ferry-to-marthas-vineyard.html.  New Yorkers: take Seastreak www.seastreak.com/marthas.aspx from midtown Manhattan to chill & drink all the way to the Vineyard.

2. Cape May, NJ – No, this isn’t the Jersey Shore of Snooki and ’em, this is the historically diverse beach hamlet offering sandy beaches, luxe food, and -non-fist pumping- fun.  Beach properties are notorious for their 7-night minimum stay requirements that can stymie even a resourceful chica (eh, em).  But where there are six or more friends, there’s a way. Tip: Since not everyone is on the same schedule, why not split the cost of a house among yourselves with a per-night rate?  Then choose one night for everyone to stay at the house together and have a house party!  Invite your non-house-dwelling crew too. If they live in NYC, NJ, PA, or DE they might be into traveling up/down for your all-night house-party. http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/new-jersey/southern-shore/cape-may. You won’t regret a reservation at Tisha’s www.tishasfinedining.com and Louisa’s http://www.yelp.com/biz/louisas-cape-may two must-try BYOBs ripe for your crew to take over for late dinner.

3.  East Hampton, NY – Contrary to popular belief, the Hamptons can be a moderately-priced getaway.  Ok, moderate by New Yorkers’ standard but hey here’s the key: you *make* it moderate by offering the experience (and shared-expense) to some equally industrious cohorts.  Unlike other beach towns, savvy Hampton leasors offer nightly rates http://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationRentals-g47629-Reviews-East_Hampton_Long_Island_New_York-Vacation_Rentals.html. Rentals for Labor Day weekend are still available. Trust; a well placed:  “Y’all wanna split this?” email will likely result in a “Hamptons Labor Day House-Party Crew 2011” subject line.  You’ll have a full house and a party starting on the Jitney hamptonjitney.com before you can pick out your white-on-white swimwear.  Next-day party debriefing at Main Beach www.easthamptonvillage.org/beaches.htm next hit Nick & Toni’s www.nickandtonis.com/.Who’s down?

4.  Bermuda via Baltimore – Never thought I’d be a cruiser (pause) but with cruise ships practically leaving from my backyard (if I had a backyard and it was on Baltimore’s port) taking advantage of a quick jaunt to Bermuda without the hassle of the airport gets a – Land Ho! (pause again).  Royal Caribbean http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/cruiseDetails/itinerary.do?hasSenior=&hasMilitary=&hasFireandPolice=&cruiseType=CO&state=&packageCode=EN05B039&date=201108 has several staterooms available for a party of as many as 8 (two staterooms of four).  And for less than $300 per person you (+7) are yelling “so-long suckers!” to the poor schleps left behind.  Gobsmacked by your dumb luck, patron margaritas in hand, you’re headed to pink-sand beaches and crystal clear waters.  Can I be down?

5. Brooklyn, NY – Our final pick isn’t really a beach destination but BK offers plenty of warm-weather foolery. You and your crew discreetly pack a few pomegranate margaritas in your stainless steel water bottles, hop on Amtrak, and get the party started en-route. Where to stay? Vacation rentals in BK are plentiful (http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/Brooklyn-New-York.html) since less sophisticated visitors will sell a spleen for an overnight stay at a “posh” Manhattan hotel. Where to party? Brusque-as-charm New Yorkers are suckers for educating newbies, so stop the nearest asymmetrical-cut-in-a-mini and ask her what’s what.  Then listen up.  But if edgy-dressers intimidate you (-NYC isn’t for you anyway-), the NYTimes http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/travel/13hours-brooklyn.html) offers a full 36-hour itinerary to tackle. Either way, the Mexican (err, Cuban?) corn-on-the-cob at Havana Outpost (http://www.cafehabana.com/locations/location/habana-outpost), is a can’t miss and Brooklyn Flea http://newyork.metromix.com/events/shopping_event/brooklyn-flea-fort-greene/1091017/content offers the place to cozy up with Brooklyn’s ‘nistas of food, fashion, and edgy kitsch.  Alas, if Labor Day sans sand is just crazy-talk, there’s always Coney Island! http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/coneyisland. Now get to booking!  Eyeball-roll-yawn combo to the first friend lamenting another stay(-on-the-couch-)-cation. –Tracy A.