Top Things To Do In Long Island
You can find a wide variety of attractions and activities on Long Island, making it a top tourist destination.
It’s where you’ll find some of New York’s most lauded neighbourhoods, including the Hamptons, along with many eateries and tourist traps of every imaginable kind.
However, there’s more to Long Island than what you might have heard or seen in the news. Along with the urban development, for instance, there are countless recreational areas, such as parks and beaches.
Museums are as common as retail centres. Houses from the 1800s, colonial lighthouses, and manors that have been lovingly maintained all breathe history into the present day.
In addition, there is a plethora of glitz for those who seek it. You may enjoy the finer things in life, from world-class wineries to award-winning aquariums.
This is the sort of environment where the phrase “treat yourself” is used as a daily mantra.
Montauk Point Lighthouse
There is a historic lighthouse in the little town of Montauk at the easternmost tip of Long Island. The oldest lighthouse in New York State was commissioned by George Washington and finished in 1797.
It served as a symbol of freedom and the first thing millions of immigrants saw as they made their way to the United States. In subsequent years, it was utilised by the military as a strategic fire control station throughout World War II.
Numerous visitors go to the lighthouse these days to soak in the breathtaking vistas of the Atlantic Ocean and see the seals that congregate nearby.
Trails wind around the buildings and down to a rocky beach on these pet-friendly grounds. Those interested in history and breathtaking vistas can visit the museum housed in the original Keepers’ home, which dates back to 1860 or go to the top of the lighthouse.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
Beyoncé and Jay Z are just two of the many prominent people who have had summer homes on Long Island in recent years. Before it was ever a tourist attraction, President Teddy Roosevelt spent his summers at the original Long Island retreat from 1885 until his death in 1919.
During his presidency, he often referred to Sagamore Hill as his “Summer White House.” Sagamore Hill, located on 83 acres in Oyster Bay, was a favourite of the Roosevelts because of its beautiful natural location, which has woods, farms, beaches, and salt marshes.
Access to the grounds is free, but a ranger-led tour of the estate costs $10 per adult (only $1 for children 16 and under).
Old Orchard, another property on the grounds, was the home of President Roosevelt’s son Theodore Roosevelt Jr. and his wife (also Eleanor) from 1938 until their deaths in 1944 and 1960, respectively.
Hamptons
The Hamptons are a popular tourist destination in New York State and may be found along the eastern coast of Long Island.
The Hamptons are known for being extravagant because of the many famous people who choose to spend their summers there. This is evident in the area’s high-end shops, restaurants, and even the eccentric buildings that dot the region’s beautiful beaches.
However, the Hamptons also have a number of tourist attractions—from stores and cafés to museums and beaches—that are open to the general public.
To enjoy the sights and sounds of the neighbourhood, you need not have a lot of money.
The Hamptons are one of New York’s most famous destinations, yet you can visit there as easily as any member of the Kardashian family.
The next time you’re on Long Island, be sure to stop by this must-see landmark.
Jones Beach State Park
Jones Beach, stretching for 6.5 miles along Long Island, is known as one of the island’s most picturesque beaches because of its powdery sand and cool surf. After a refreshing dip, you may take a stroll along the boardwalk, ride your bike, play some basketball or miniature golf, or just relax on a beach blanket.
At the remodelled Boardwalk Cafe, located just next to the Central Mall Concession, you can get tasty tacos, burgers, and rice bowls. If you want to avoid crowds, you should go early in the morning or late in the evening.
Don’t miss the U.S. Navy Blue Angels’ stunning spectacle over the sea during the state park’s greatest exhibition, the Bethpage Air Show, held annually on Memorial Day. Fans of live music have the option of attending free performances in the bandshell or paying to see major touring artists at the Northwell Health outdoor arena.
Vanderbilt Museum, Mansion, and Planetarium
The Vanderbilts were one of the wealthiest and most influential families in American history. This was evident in the extreme opulence and global fame of their summer mansions like The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island, and Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina.
The Eagle’s Nest house and museum in Suffolk County is one example of the Vanderbilts’ opulence on exhibit on Long Island. Until 1936, it served as the vacation home of William K. Vanderbilt II, a descendant of Cornelius Vanderbilt, who had it constructed in 1910.
The Reichert Planetarium, open to the public since 1971 and not typical of these Jazz Age palaces, is located on the premises. Tens of thousands of items from his travels across the world are still stored there.
Costs for children, pensioners, and members of the armed forces are less than the full adult price of $10 for the tour. The planetarium’s performances are open to the general public every weekend of the year, and so is the observatory on the building’s roof on Friday evenings.
Lavender By The Bay
What about fantasising about strolling through fields of beautiful purple flowers, your fingertips trailing down the stems? How about a shopping trip for some much-needed self-care items like bath bombs, essential oils, and some dried lavender sprigs?
Experience this and more at Lavender By The Bay, the best lavender farm on Long Island. The fields there are like something out of a candy-coloured dream, all delicate petals and pastel hues.
You can only see them in full bloom around the beginning of summer, but that just adds to their allure. After you’ve had your fill of the farm’s views, you can pick up some unique keepsakes at the gift store.
Soaps, bath salts, body butter, and massage oils are just a few examples. The soft, lingering aroma of lavender permeates everything.
Long Island Aquarium
The Long Island Aquarium, which was designed after the lost city of Atlantis, has one of the greatest collections of live coral in the whole Western Hemisphere. This aquarium in Riverhead features a 20,000-gallon main tank, as well as several other exhibits showcasing marine and island life.
Children may get up and personal with animals via activities like feeding seals, taking pictures with sea lions, and meeting penguins. The aquarium has started providing online courses for pupils from kindergarten through high school.
Nassau County Museum of Art
The American businessman Henry Clay Frick commissioned the construction of the mansion that now houses the Nassau County Museum of Art (NSMA).
The museum gives Long Island’s Nassau County a wide range of artistic styles and media. Visitors to the NCMA can see impressionist works on canvas inspired by the supernatural, in addition to the permanent galleries.
Conclusion
Some of the best things to do on Long Island include the following.
New York is the place to come if you want to find luxurious hotels, odd roadside attractions, and pizza buffets.
