Things to Do in Long Island, NY
Long Island, NY, outshines the vast attractions in New York! Are you wondering, how? Well, the stunning beaches and peaceful atmosphere is the reason. If you are thinking about planning a vacation. You’ll find plenty of things to do in Long Island NY, making it a perfect holiday spot!
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We know discovering a number of places and things in a short span can be frustrating. So, put your apprehensions aside as we bring you the best activities to do and places to visit. To enjoy in Long Island, age doesn’t matter! Be it a solo trip or a vacation with your family, partner, or friends, this place has something for everyone, from sandy beaches to historic lighthouses, vineyards, parks, museums, shopping, and great seafood nearby.
Explore the Flushing Meadows Corona Park
The simple and old days are gone! Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens is an updated yet expansive history-filled playground. At this place, the two global fairs (1939 and 1964) were organized. There are still some real icons in this park, making it a must-visit place in things to do in Long Island NY. You simply cannot leave without taking a picture with the giant Unisphere, the giant stainless-steel globe that has become the icon of this park. It is an excellent place to walk or have a bike ride and get to see a big chunk of New York history right in the center of Queens.
However, the park is not all about history! It’s one of those places where you can enjoy sports and discover the deep-rooted culture. Whether you’re planning to visit the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (where the US Open is hosted) or a Mets game at Citi Field, there is always something going. And also, make sure to visit the Queens Museum! It’s home to the famous Panorama of the City of New York; a room-sized scale reproduction of all 5 boroughs! It is the ideal place to go all day round and find something that everyone will love.
Visit Long Island Children's Museum
Visiting Long Island, NY, with family and friends can be fun! If you’re on a vacation with your kids and need something a little more hands-on and no-boring stuff, we’ve got something for your ‘things to do in Long Island’ list! You must visit the Long Island Children Museum (LICM) of the Garden City. This is an award-winning spot, located in a former airplane hangar, stimulating the children’s imagination and interest, regardless of their age. Will your little one be able to walk in a massive bubble, become a TV news anchor, or a skyscraper with thousands of KEVA planks? You’ll get to know all of it!
We know that telling your kids to slow down or stick around after every 2 minutes can be frustrating! So, just for your information, it’s a place where “Don’t touch!” is changed by “Go Explore!” The museum is remarkable in relating play for the real-world learning. When the children are busy building cities, fishing on Sandy Island, and playing in the TotSpot village, they are learning science, engineering and art without even noticing! LICM is a local treasure, proving that learning does not need to be a boring task. Instead, it can be an exciting, chaotic and fun process!
Check Out Jones Beach State Park
If you are likely to think about a dreamy, endless sand beach when it comes to Long Island that is what the Jones Beach State Park offers! It is a legendary park that has 6.5 miles of pure white sand along the Atlantic Ocean. A huge beach resort, with its boardwalk, has a tower of water and legendary Jones beach theater, worth adding to the things to do in Long Island NY! So, fill your cooler, apply the sunscreen, and get ready to have a prototypical beach day!
Jones beach has a lot more than sun-bathing and swimming. You may have a picturesque walk or use a bike ride on the well-known two-mile boardwalk. Also, you can visit the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center to have an interactive time along with some educational gains. It is also a high quality destination that has room to accommodate all types of beach users, like a person who may want to surf or one who may simply want to experience the sea air.
Discover Long Island Aquarium
Coming to attractions in Long Island, the Long Island Aquarium is one of them! Be prepared to explore the marvels of the sea in the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead! It is not just a regular fish tank experience as it has a mind-boggling number of marine creatures. You can stroll through the beautiful coral reefs, be amazed by the playing seals and the sea lions, and even approach the sharks. So, you should not miss out on this in things to do in Long Island NY!
It is an attention-grabbing, informative and comprehensively captivating experience to everyone who visits it. Something to really remember? The aquarium has got some excellent interactive ventures. You may ride out on the local Peconic River in a boat. Just in case, if you are looking forward to daring and fun things to do in Long Island, opting for a shark dive in their 120,000-gallon tank would be perfect! Not in a diving mood? That’s okay! You can have lots of opportunities to touch stingrays and horseshoe crabs. It is an ideal outing that will keep you in full immersion with the marine biology.
Fun Things to Do in Long Island
There is so much more to add to the things to do in Long Island NY, other than the beach! For a real and special experience, go to the North Fork Wine Trail. You’ll see dozens of vineyards around the beautiful scenery, allowing you to spend a gorgeous afternoon trying the local vintages. Also, it has a pleasantly casual and picturesque setting in this busy city, with beautiful farm stands and attractive seaside villages.
Being a history lover or more into culture can be a plus point with this place on your list of places to go in Long Island! Spend a day and see one of the grand mansions in the Gold Coast, such as Oheka Castle or Old Westbury Gardens. These lavish estates provide a preview of the extravagant Jazz Age that The Great Gatsby was based on! Nevertheless, if you are visiting with family, go whale watching in the South Shore. It is an experience that everyone will love!
Visit the Montauk Point Lighthouse Museum
As you go far to the South Fork of Long Island, you will discover the famous Montauk Point Lighthouse Museum. Don’t forget to add it to things to do in Long Island NY! This is the oldest lighthouse in New York State and a National Historic Landmark standing proudly since 1797. The scenery provided by the nearby cliffs is just amazing, with an impressive background of the Atlantic Ocean that can be easily viewed in the colder months with seals in it!
You can climb the winding stairs to the top of the lighthouse too! Are you wondering about the reward of climbing? It’s is a panoramic and unmatched view of the ocean! The shoreline and the surrounding state park adding to it. So, have you ever been up the hill? If not, you must go for it! Also, you should visit the museum on the ground floor to discover what happened to this very important maritime monument. It’ll be a great mix of history, engineering and a breathtaking coastal view.
Enjoy a Day at Adventure-land Amusement Park
Coming to other fun stuff to do in Long Island, you cannot miss out on visiting Adventure-land Amusement Park in Farmingdale. That too, without stopping, at least once! This is a long-standing, family-owned park that has been the hub of fun in the Long Island. It boasts an excellent combination of exciting rides that include roller coasters and spinning rides, and has numerous easy rides that are ideal for young visitors.
In addition to the thrill rides, Adventure-land has the traditional carnival games, arcades and tasty food to keep the entire family on a high energy. It is the ideal place where one spends the day and ends up having a good time with screams, laughter, and traditional amusement park memories. So, if you were thinking about skipping this place, don’t do it! Or else, you’ll regret it later.
End Your Day with Delicious Seafood at Red Crab Juicy Seafood
When in Long Island, you must visit Rockville Center, NY, to treat yourself well with some good and energizing food after a day of sightseeing! Starting from the Montauk to the roller coasters of Adventure-land, having strength is the most important. It’s possible by the means of good food. So, say goodbye to the fancy dining and go eat in a local favorite, such as Red Crab Juicy Seafood! Here, you’ll have hands on experience of dining. Moreover, comparing to other seafood places, this place focuses on the famous Cajun-style seafood boil by preparing fresh seafood into some amazing spices.
We know roaming all day around a new city to explore maximum number of things can be exhausting. So, if you visit Red Crab Juicy Seafood, you won’t require waiting in the long queues! The procedure would be rapid, food would be fresh, taste would be bold, and the experience would be worth it! In a nutshell, it’s all fun, flavor and a little messy, in the best way possible! The personalization level offered by this restaurant would also make your day after fulfilling your day of exceptional sightseeing.
frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Long Island, NY?
Talking about the best things to do in Long Island NY, you can go to explore the iconic Jones Beach State Park, get a glimpse of the nature of Montauk Point Lighthouse, and enjoy the Long Island Aquarium’s marine life. Coming to the fun things to do in Long Island, you can have the thrill rides at Adventure-land. But, don’t leave without visiting the renowned mansions on the Gold Coast! It’ll let you experience the royal treat discourse from the past!
What are fun things to do in Long Island this weekend?
To have fun over the weekend, a day at the scenic North Fork Wine Trail is a good choice because you will be able to taste and enjoy the views. When it is a good sunny day, get to one of the beaches, such as Robert Moses State Park! Or, you can go to a local farm during the season or to a local town, such as Port Jefferson, to shop and see the harbor.
Are there free things to do in Long Island?
Yes, absolutely! Many activities are free. Spend the day strolling the boardwalk in Jones Beach or view the gorgeous grounds of the Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park (a fee to park may apply). You can also hike the picturesqueness of the trails in the Avalon Nature Preserve. A walk through the numerous main streets in town is no less than a wonderful free event!
What are the top attractions in Long Island for families?
Among the top attractions in Long Island is one of the most popular family entertainment place; Adventure-land Amusement Park, where one can enjoy rides. You can also opt for the interactive entertainment in the Long Island Aquarium or pay a visit to the historic Montauk Point Lighthouse. Moreover, mostly children love Splish-Splash Water Park (seasonal), the expansive playgrounds, and nature at Eisenhower Park. So, you can consider visiting these places with your children.
Where can I eat after exploring Long Island?
There are varied restaurants in Long Island. In the case of fresh seafood, Cajun seafood boil at Red Crab Juicy Seafood, or a traditional clam bar is the best thing. The North Fork boasts of good farm-to-table restaurants and vineyards. But, to have a casual feel, you must go and get a slice of some original Long Island pizza in one of the local towns.
Conclusion
During a short period, exploring multiple places can become overwhelming. So, save this guide to help you keep track of the best things to do in Long Island NY! This way, there’ll be fewer chances of missing out on anything special and important. However, in the hustle and bustle of enjoying the fun activities and exploring the top attractions, don’t forget the best food spots, like the Red Crab Juicy Seafood!
This place will bring coastal vibes to your table with a rich taste. Besides, what can be better than getting a perfect portion of seafood made in your favorite spices? That too, at affordable rates! So, without further delay and searching for ‘seafood near me’, try the seafood boil in Rockville Centre NY at Red Crab. The place will offer you an exclusive seafood menu!