Saltaire combines its island location on Fire Island with locally organized annual events. Two distinct points of reference are also relevant when planning your trip: a terminal in Bay Shore and the fact that Saltaire is within walking distance of Robert Moses State Park.

Island Location and Administrative Classification

Fire Island is one of the barrier islands off Long Island that separate the Atlantic Ocean from Great South Bay. Saltaire is located on this island and administratively belongs to the Town of Islip in Suffolk County. This makes it possible to distinguish three levels: the specific place of Saltaire, Fire Island, and the broader classification of the barrier islands as part of Long Island. This distinction is helpful when searching for a travel destination because it identifies the place precisely without equating Saltaire with the entire island.

Annual Festivals and Local Events

The Saltaire Citizens Association organizes an annual Jogathon, Sandcastle Contest, and Fall Festival. Bay Picnic and Artisan Fair are also part of the annual program; the Association also organizes the Bay Picnic & Artisan Fair. This gives you several possible reasons to plan a trip around an event. If a particular festival is central to your trip, check its date before booking.

Travel Reference Points

The Saltaire terminal is the second Fire Island Ferry Terminal, located on Maple Avenue in Bay Shore, just behind the Chowder Bar restaurant. It is outside Saltaire. Check the directions to the terminal before you travel. Robert Moses State Park is another useful reference point: Saltaire is within walking distance of the park. The two details therefore refer to different things: the terminal identifies a point of reference in Bay Shore, while the park information concerns access on foot.

Junior Lifeguard Program

The Junior Lifeguard Program is for very active 8- to 14-year-olds who want to run and swim in the ocean and feel confident swimming there. The course consists of two one-hour sessions per week on the oceanfront. Certified ocean lifeguards lead the course, with one supervisor for every six participants. The program teaches rescue techniques and general knowledge about ocean safety. If you are traveling with a child in this age group, you can consider both their interest in the ocean and their ability to swim confidently. Check in advance whether the course is offered during your travel dates.

Annual events and the course offering have different implications for choosing when to travel: for a festival, the specific event date matters; for the Junior Lifeguard Program, age and swimming requirements also apply, as does whether the course is offered during your stay. You can first decide whether an event or a suitable course opportunity is the main reason for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Coram, Water Mill, Sag Harbor, Fire Island, Aquebogue, Port Jefferson Station, Brentwood, Hampton Bays

For the broader travel overview: Suffolk.