Water Taxi Beach is the ideal summer retreat from Manhattan. It's the other "The End" -- shorter ride than Montauk.

Take the train to Vernon/Jackson stop of the 7 -- the first stop in Queens. Then get out and walk towards the water. If you're in a taxi -- take the Midtown Tunnel and tell the driver you need the very first exit ("stay to the right!") and just turn right when you get off the highway. Or by Queensboro bridge you turn right and right (to retrace under the bridge up to the waterfront) and then head left to go south a bit.