Long Island
From beautiful parks and beaches to world-class museums and galleries to theaters, halls and arenas, Long Island offers a world of opportunities.
What do you like most about living on Long Island?
The diversity it has to offer. I can travel 30 minutes and experience something completely different in terms of culture, activities or lifestyles!
Long Island is home to an extensive collection of beautiful parks and beaches, many of which are open year-round.
Sunset over boardwalk and bathhouse at historic Jones Beach State Park. This Long Island landmark commissioned by Robert Moses opened to the public in 1929.
Eisenhower Park
A combination of open space and recreational facilities, Eisenhower Park is an impressive 930-acres, larger than Manhattan’s Central Park. Eisenhower Park features a multitude of amenities, including tennis courts, ice skating rinks, athletic fields, fitness trails, golf courses and the world-class Nassau County Aquatic Center.
Hempstead Lake
A New York State Park, Hempstead Lake offers tennis courts, basketball courts and trails for horseback riding, biking and hiking. On the more leisurely side, Hempstead Lake also features shaded picnic areas and a hand-carved wooden carousel.
Jones Beach
Known for its boardwalk, iconic water tower and, of course, six miles of beaches on the Atlantic Ocean, Jones Beach is a hugely popular summer destination. But it also hosts plenty of fun events year round. During the winter months, the Holiday Lights Spectacular at Jones Beach takes over, featuring about 2.5 miles of more than 150 light displays. In late May, the New York Air Show’s military planes take center stage. You can take part in charity walks, fishing and outdoor concerts throughout the entire year.
Museums, Galleries and Living Museums
For those interested in art, history or wildlife, Long Island offers many different spaces where you can fully immerse yourself in your passions. View a comprehensive list of Long Island museums and galleries.
Cradle of Aviation Museum
Over 75 air and space craft in 8 exhibit galleries, chronicling 100 years of aviation from hot air balloons to an actual lunar module. The museum is also home to the Historic Nunley’s Carousel. You can enjoy a series of different exhibits throughout the year, as well as a planetarium and digital dome theater. Located on Museum Row in Nassau County.
Long Island Aquarium
Located in Riverhead, the Long Island Aquarium is home to one of the largest all-living coral reef displays in the Western Hemisphere. You can explore a series of indoor and outdoor exhibits and see many different animals, ranging from sharks to penguins.
Long Island Children’s Museum
A hands-on museum for kids and adults to play, learn and have fun together. Located on Museum Row in Nassau County.
The Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center
An interactive experience where visitors can experience the proud history of firefighting in Nassau County. Featuring hands-on exhibits with both antique and contemporary fire apparatus and gear. Located on Museum Row in Nassau County.
Old Bethpage Village
This 209-acre restoration village features homes, farms and businesses dating back to the 19th Century, as well as additional exhibits. Old Bethpage Village is home to the Long Island Fair, the only New York State-sanctioned county fair.
Historic Mill Neck Manor house in Mill Neck, NY. This landmark Long Island Gold Coast estate, also known as The Sefton Estate, was designed in 1923 and is now a school for the deaf.
“Gatsby’s” Gold Coast
During the 1920s, wealthy Americans made Long Island their home. These Mansions are used as hotels, event venues, and have beautiful parks and gardens to tour.
Sagamore Hill
Sagamore Hill was the residence of former president Theodore Roosevelt from 1885–1919. Today you can tour the house, visit the museum or go on a ranger-guided walk on one of the,nature trails.
Vanderbilt Museum
Featuring a mansion, museum and planetarium, the Vanderbilt Museum offers tours, exhibits,and other events, including tribute concerts and theater productions.
Music, Movies and Theater
With its proximity to New York City, it’s no surprise that Long Island has its own exemplary entertainment scene. With so many different venues across the island, it’s easy to find something that appeals to you.
Jones Beach Theater
This outdoor amphitheater is most active during the summer months, hosting some of the biggest headliners in music.
The Paramount
Opened in 2011, this two-level concert hall with a nightclub vibe has a full schedule of concerts and comedy shows.
NYCB Theatre at Westbury
This venue seats up to 3,000 people and hosts a wide variety of events from concerts to comedy shows to theatrical productions.
Sports and Activities
New Yorkers are so passionate about sports that the state has at least two teams in every professional league. There’s no place better to watch a game than live and in person, and New York has some of the best venues for it!
Long Island Ducks – Bethpage Ballpark
Long Island’s favorite minor league baseball team.
Adventure Park
This forested recreation spot offers zip-lining and rope courses on aerial trails.
Waterfront Center at Oyster Bay
Learn to sail and become an active steward of the marine environment.
Stadiums
Long Island also has quick access to stadiums in Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan via the Long Island Rail Road.
Street view with pedestrians visible outside Madison Square Garden in New York City. This landmark multi-purpose indoor arena, located above Penn Station opened in February 1968.
Madison Square Garden
Known as the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden plays host to the New York Rangers (NHL), New York Knicks (NBA) and New York Liberty (WNBA). After undergoing a recent $1 billion renovation, the arena is more spacious and features more dining options. The architecture was also upgraded to include bridges that connect the two sides of the arena. Madison Square Garden is conveniently located right above Penn Station, so you can take a train directly to the arena from the Nassau Boulevard Long Island Rail Road stop.
Yankee Stadium
The new Yankee Stadium opened in 2009 and is home to the New York Yankees (MLB) and New York City FC (MLS). It also serves as host to the Pinstripe Bowl, an NCAA football bowl game held every December. The stadium features a Hard Rock Café and the New York Yankees Museum, as well as the famous Monument Park, featuring the team’s retired-numbers/jerseys.
Citi Field
Opened in 2009, Citi Field serves as the home field of the New York Mets (MLB). The stadium includes several great dining options, including Shake Shack and Blue Smoke BBQ. Citi Field also houses the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum.
Barclays Center
New York’s newest multipurpose indoor arena is located at the corner of Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues in Brooklyn, and is home to the New York Islanders (NHL) and Brooklyn Nets (NBA). The Barclays Center has several unique concessions, including Junior’s Cheesecake and Sugar Factory.
Wineries and Breweries
Vineyard on Long Island, NY.
Long Island is considered one of the Top 10 wine regions in the world, which is no surprise considering the number of brewery and winery options available across the island.
Duck Walk Vineyards
Since 1994 Duck Walk Vineyards has produced 35,000 cases of award-winning wine per year. The 140-acre vineyard provides tasting rooms and a wine shop and hosts various events during the year, including wine and cheese pairings.
Pindar Vineyards
Considered Long Island’s best-known wine producer, Pindar Vineyards grows 17 varieties of grapes over 500 acres, making them Long Island’s largest vineyard. Pindar also hosts special tasting events open to the public.
Blue Point Brewery
Located in Patchogue, Blue Point Brewery specializes in several varieties of beer and is the largest craft brewery on Long Island. Blue Point offers a tasting room that is open to the public on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, or you can attend concerts and other events in their brew yard.