Long Island, New York

Wave variety on the East Coast merits more attention and admiration than the surfing world gives it. Looking beyond Florida’s infrequent A-frames, Outer Bank dredgers and the Jersey Shore’s murky tubes, there lays other special surfing places on the right coast. One such place is New York and its 118-mile long, and aptly named, Long Island, home to more wave variety than all of the southeast’s state coastlines combined. It is as unique a surfing experience as I have ever found.  
In Rockaway, Lido Beach and Long Beach, tenement style brick buildings line the shore on which perfect waves peel with more frequency than one would expect.  Further to the east you will meander through Hampton mansions to find potential sand bars. And at the end of State Route 27 is Montauk where, after 1500 some miles of coastline, the shoreline is blessed with something other than a sand bottom and straight beach break.
The pristine natural setting of the Montauk area contrasts sharply with urban infused surfing experience of the western end of the island. There are some amazing reefs and points in the region. These spots are semi-secret and you’ll have to do a little bit of exploration to find them but they are there.
Long Island’s coastline can accommodate different wind directions as it faces south and has some bends.
Long Island offers an East Coast vibe mixed with some California wave variety that makes for a pleasurable and cultural surfing experience.  

Season: Fall into winter is best. It just depends on how cold you can go. Summertime is hit or miss but good hurricane swells can rock the LI coastline.

Accommodations: Staying in Montauk will take a bit out of your wallet with the cheapest hotel accommodation running at about $100 a night. There are several campgrounds in Suffolk County that will put you in close driving distance to Montauk. That is a good option in summer and early fall. Don’t even consider it in the winter unless you think you are Jack London. All sorts of hotel accommodations (from hourly room rentals to comfy Comfort Inns) are scattered along Long Island’s inland routes and there are some weird but affordable places to stay in Long Beach. Best bet if you want to stay coastal is ask around. They speak English there.

Transport: It’s advisable to rent a car so you can explore the island. Don’t go there without paying the Montauk area a visit. With or without swell it is a cool place to check out. If you’re heading into Manhattan from Long Island (don’t bother staying longer than a day unless your wallet is fully loaded or have a friend to stay with), take the train. Long Island has a pretty extensive train system that’ll get you into the city with ease.

What else? The Big Apple is minutes away. Need I say more?