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New York Post
30-07-2025
- New York Post
‘Secret' beach just a short ride from NYC named third best in US — and swimsuits are optional
Sun's out, buns out. New Yorkers looking to beat the heat — and get naked — needn't look much farther than the Big Apple. BoatBooker, an international boat activity service, has named the most underrated beaches in the country — and a Garden State entry made the list. Advertisement Gunnison Beach, located in Sandy Hook, came in third place thanks to its sprawling shores and top-tier views of New York City, located just across the water. However, the skyline sights are far from the only spectacle this seaside destination offers. Gunnison is also the only clothing-optional beach in Jersey, making it a popular place for people with a particular penchant for naturalism. Advertisement 3 Gunnison Beach was the only Northeast spot to snag a top ranking on the list. Scenic Corner – Gunnison Beach has been a favorite of naked New Jerseyans since the '70s. However, the National Park Service advises that beach bums keep a close eye on posted signs to ensure they're not caught wandering au naturel out of bounds, as they could be slapped with a disorderly conduct charge. 3 The sandy stretch has plenty of signs about the clothing-optional culture. Steven Hirsch Advertisement 3 Sandy Hook also has plenty of other beaches for the clothing-inclined, but they may be swarmed by summer crowds. John McAdorey – Not only is it clothing-optional, it's also a close commute for New Yorkers and Jerseyites alike. During the summer months, beachgoers can hop on a ferry from lower Manhattan to get to Sandy Hook in an hour or so. New York has its own highly-ranked beaches to be sure, but this season, the most sought-after spots in the Hamptons have become costlier and more crowded than ever before. Advertisement A simple weekend getaway can cost thousands of dollars, plus hours on the highways in traffic. Aside from the New Jersey beach that took bronze, sandy spots in South Carolina and California fared favorably. In fact, aside from Gunnison, literally no other beaches beat out the top-tier Palmetto and Golden State shores. While these hidden gem spots may boast sprawling, crowd-free sands, many listed areas — Gunnison Beach included — do not have lifeguards on duty. Top underrated beaches in the U.S. in 2025 Vereen Memorial Park, South Carolina Driftwood Beach, South Carolina Gunnison Beach, New Jersey Morris Island, South Carolina Torrey Pines City Beach, California Caswell Beach, North Carolina Dana Strands Beach, California Pirates Cove Beach, California Station 22 – Public Beach Access, South Carolina Edisto Beach State Park Campground, South Carolina Amid a wave of high-profile drownings as a result of coastal rip currents, experts advise beachgoers to monitor weather and wave conditions closely. Kaitlin Krause, the founder of the NYC-based rip current education non-profit Rising Tide Effect, previously told The Post that 'untrained rescuers often become victims themselves,' and advised onlookers to call 911 immediately, and said that 'if you must assist, throw something that floats, like a life ring, buoy or cooler.'
New York Post
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Malcolm-Jamal Warner's shocking death raises new swimming safety fears — here's how experts say to avoid drowning in a rip current
The accidental death of 'The Cosby Show' actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner has saddened the world — and raised new fears over swimming safety. The beloved TV legend's passing comes amid a record number of drownings on NYC's beaches, where the same type of rip current that claimed Warner in Costa Rica can threaten swimmers just as quickly. However, according to local water education non-profit Rising Tide Effect, a whopping 95% of all such fatalities are preventable — given the proper instruction. 4 New Yorkers enjoy the water at Coney Island — where rip currents can threaten at any time, experts say. Getty Images In the event you're caught in a rip current, the best thing to do is stay calm, swim parallel to the shore out of the current, and wait for rescue or approach the shore, the experts warn. Rip currents do not pull swimmers under — they just draw people out further from the sand, they said. Exerting too much energy kicking or swimming against the current can, in many cases, be fatal. A similar fate to Warner's befell MLB prospect-turned cop Chase Childers while vacationing with his family on Pawleys Island, S.C., earlier this month. The trouble began when a woman asked the dad of three to help save her brood of five, all caught in a current. After heroically saving the swimmers with the help of another nearby man, Childers disappeared into the water — until his body was recovered 90 minutes later by first responders. Authorities suspect that the ballplayer's admirable rescue efforts left him without the strength to make it back to shore. Drownings only take up to a minute to occur, so swimming close to a lifeguard when possible can often be the difference between life and death. In Warner's case, there was no lifeguard present at the time of his death, but signs advising the presence of potential rip currents were reportedly posted on the beach. 4 Chase Childers, 38, drowned just weeks ago during a beach vacation with his family in South Carolina. GoFundMe 4 Warner passed away at age 54 on July 20 during a trip to Costa Rica. Getty Images The actor was enjoying a family vacation in Playa Grande, and was reportedly swept out into a high current between 2 and 2:30 p.m. local time. Of the incident, Costa Rican National Police previously told The Post that he was pulled to the shore by nearby beachgoers, allowing the Costa Rica Red Cross to attempt resuscitation. Per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), rip currents are especially common at low tide, so be sure to keep an eye on the water, and practice advanced caution by checking beach conditions and wave forecast before arriving. 4 Prevention is as important as protection when it comes to rip currents, Krause says. Getty Images Last year, NYC saw a record seven drownings, and six of them occurred while a lifeguard was not on duty. Per city data, only 34% of NYC residents live within a 15-minute transit ride to a NYC swimming facility, whether it be beach or pool, meaning a majority of New Yorkers make a trek to swim — and many go without swimming lessons or regular experience in water at all, leaving them at a higher risk. In the wake of increased drownings, more shark sightings, and rising temperatures, inexperienced New York swimmers looking to beat the heat this summer are advised to stick close to the shore, build up their confidence and skills with swimming lessons or opt for pools, officials and experts warn.
