Fire Island in the offseason: Fall getaway with fewer crowds, better deals

On Fire Island, Labor Day doesn’t mark the season’s end.

For Long Islanders looking for a last-minute summer escape, September and October in hot spots like Ocean Beach, Seaview and Ocean Bay Park are a hidden gem: fewer people, warmer water and lower prices.

"The water is much warmer than Memorial Day," said Joe Bonocore, a Dix Hills resident and one of the owners of The Palms Hotel, CJ’s Restaurant & Bar, and Ocean Beach Trading. "The weather also tends to be warmer than on the mainland because the Great South Bay holds the heat. The crowds are gone, but it’s not desolate."

Bonocore said the mix of locals and visitors keeps dining and shopping open. "Up through Columbus Day, almost every restaurant and shop is open on weekends at a minimum. There’s still plenty to do, with weddings