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Thought I'd share a rather long list of things to do on Long Island given to me from a dear friend back when I was once a Plebe parent. Keep in mind that this list won't be of much use to your kid until after Recognition as they've not much free time. Posting this up so folks who are going to Parent's Weekend not familiar with LI, might glean some ideas. Its a crazy long list & I personally found that we never seemed to find time enough to run around just for fun during the entire four years at KP. The boy came home more than we went up for visits. Anyhow...... Here we go virtual travelers:
There are TONS of neat things to see right here on Long Island- and perfect for an overnight get-away~ especially now that the weather is getting nice!
will list my top 5 to get you started!
1. Montaulk Point: will take about 2 hours to get there, but well worth the ride! While there, take the 1/2 day whalewatching boatride- and yes, you'll see lots of them! Honest to God- we had one come up and rub it's belly on the keel of the boat! If you are in dire need of R&R while you are there, go to Gurney's Inn and Spa- a little pricy, but you will come out a new man! (or woman!)
2. Riverhead: the aquarium is fantastic- and you can rent kayaks and go up and down the potanic waterways- just beautiful- and it empties into montaulk bay- and when you are done with that, there is Tanger Outlet- not just 1 of them, but 2 areas with every store you can possibly imagine! Shop till you drop- and the sales taxes have been dropped for the rest of this year for items under $110!!!
3. When the weather gets nice: Fire Island is a MUST!!! Catch a ferry from the south shore (bayshore) and pick from several little towns on fire island- each with their own distinct flavor! No cars allowed- and it is only 4 blocks wide, with the great south bay on one side, and the entire atlantic on the other! Everyone walks around carting their stuff in little red wagons- which you can rent for $1 / day....very casual (shorts, flip flops)- lots and lots of seafood resturants- and you can stay for the day, rent a place for overnight, the weekend, the week or the month! There is no place like it in the world! (ps- watch out for deer- they love to come up to you and steal your picnic right from under you!!)
4. Again, when you get some nice beach weather- a trip to the Hamptons is a must too- best beaches anywhere! Will need a day to get out there and back- better when spending overnight (can be pricey, but there are some inexpensive motels from the 1950's that are clean and reasonable)....if you only have a short time to spend, tell Jamz to head down to Jones Beach (30 minutes from KP)- field 4-5 are the main fields, but if you get there early enough, field 6 is the best!!!
5. Sunken Meadow State Park- about a 45 minute drive from KP, there is a beautiful golf course open to the public- and you can't beat the views of the LI sound and connecticut from most of the holes! If you are tired of golfing, you can stretch out on the beach (but bring shoes- the beaches on the north shore are very rocky and light years away from the soft sand that stretches for over 100 miles on the south shore!!)
6. Only a few hours to spend? 20 minutes from KP is Cold Spring Harbor- home of the world-famous CSH Lab and DNA center (located at each end of town- which is only 3 blocks long, so very walkable!) You can take a stroll through the acres of the Cold Spring Harbor Lab, take a hands-on tour of the DNA center (at the far end of town)- or just spend a quiet afternoon at the park or in the shops, or explore the whaling museum (and stop in by me for some chocolate!!) Don't forget the half-and-halfs at the CSH deli...best thing on LI!!! And there are lots of cute shops- make sure to visit "vineyard vines," "the beauty tree," "my favorite place" and "the faded rose".....oh, and don't overlook the shop with all the latest "Vera Bradley" stuff.....if Jamz has a date, the girls love the town for shopping! Picnic in the park along the harbor- it is the most beautiful harbor anywhere!!
If you are not in the mood to shop but would rather take a short hike, you can follow the hiking trails along rte 108 and St. John's Pond, up Lawrence Hill Road to the nature conservancy, and then cross the street and continue on the cliff overlooking CSH....beautiful! Want to spend the night? There is a small B&B run by an english couple called the "Swan View Inn" right in town across from the harbor...a throw-back to the motels of old, but nicely kept!
More hiking at Caumset State park- located in Lloyd Neck, just north of CSH....the views of the sound are spectacular- and you can picnic right on the cliffs overlooking the water!
Or from CSH, travel another 5 minutes east on 25A and you hit Huntington- which is a great little town for shopping and walking and lattes and resturants....and on the weekends (which start Thursday night) there are people strolling about till 2am! Fantastic resturants- when you are ready, let me know and I would be happy to recommend a dozen of them!!
7. for a total day of fun...."Splish Splash" is about an hour out on the LIE (rte 495) at then end- just as you get to riverhead- a huge waterpark that caters to every age group- and boasts the highest waterslide in the country! (kowabunga)....one of several! As for me, I get a tube and stay on the lazy river all day- just my speed!
8. More golf- this time at Eisenhower Park (20 min from KP)- the black course hosted the PGA 2 years ago and will challenge the best of them!
9. Malls: Roosevelt Field is the largest- about 20 min from KP and good, especially on a rainy day when you just want to get inside!
10. Back to Manhattan- but this time, to South Street Seaport- or take the ferry from the wall street area to the Statue of Liberty (just amazing) or take a different ferry to Ellis Island- it will bring tears to your eyes! Ellis Island has undergone a huge restoration, and it is a piece of history well worth seeing! Catch the ferry's from the south ferry terminal, located at the south-east tip of Manhattan....and when you get back, go to Chinatown- Peking Duck House- and feast away for little $$$ !!!
So my top 5 turned into my top 10, but when Jamz exhausts that list, let me know- there is the Hayden Planatarium in Manhattan, the Vanderbuilt museum in Centerport, LI, the NY Botanical Garden and the Bronx Zoo (both free on Wednesday's) in the bronx- and just a short drive over the throgs neck bridge.....and back to Manhattan to the Museums....Modern Art, Guggenhiem, Lincoln center, Rockafeller center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Radio city music hall- and BROADWAY.....the shows!!! Phantom!!! The Producers!!!!
Then back to Long island- from Orient point, take the ferry over to shelter island- perfect for an overnight get away- or better yet, the ferry to block island....stay the night- rent a bike and explore! You can also catch a ferry to Ct, and from there, another one to Martha's vineyard or quainter still, Nantucket (my favorites)....plan on a weekend visit for those- and reservations are a must..... or get a tent and "rough it" at Heather Hills- just before Montauld Point on the south shore- the campsites are right on the dunes overlooking the ocean! And there is another campground out there on the bay side- will have to research the name of that one for you- but beautiful quite beach, and good kayaking- or have him stop by our house- he can use the Thorpedo's kayak and explore Cold Spring Harbor and Oyster Bay! During the summer, you can rent a boat for 1/2 day and go wakeboarding- with instructors to boot! The kids out here love it! (can get you more info on any of the above if you need it- just let me know!).....
you will run out of time and money before you ever run out of things to do I'm afraid!!!!
oh- coldstones ice cream in Huntington- the Miracle Mile in Manhasset- the Ice shop in Oyster bay- the clam bar in centerport- the outdoor concerts in Hecksher park in Huntington, or the band concerts in Northport- (that is an adorable town too!)...Oheka castle in Cold Spring Hills.....the outdoor salt water pools at Jones Beach-Field 5.....the BOARDWALK- how could I forget the boardwalk!!! 6 miles of boardwalk at Jones Beach! and West End....the largest fields at Jones Beach (located at the western end)- it's a good 1/2 mile hike over the sand just to get to the water!!! Fishing boats out of Captree State Park- or out of Oyster Bay- or the Nautical Mile down in Freeport (30 minutes from KP on the south shore)- great resturants, (dare i say) bars, night life....be prepared for crowds during the summer weekends- even the USNA 44's pull in over the summer!
I am not thinking of tons of other places- but there is lots of stuff on the internet that can steer you to other places.....enough to fill in any spare time he gets, promise!!!!
oh- and I forgot Robert Moses State Park- the only part of fire island you can drive onto- about 45 min from KP- great beaches- and drive along Ocean Parkway- stop at gilgo beach for great surfing......and on the north shore, Port jefferson....brunch at D....(darn it, can't remember the name- but you can't miss it- ???danskers???....anyway, right on the water outside of the ferry terminal....brunch is fantastic!)....port jeff is a cute town too- catch the ferry to New London and visit Boss and the coasties at the USCGA!!! And their tall ship!!!!!
Sag Harbor- greenport- bellport----great day trips!!!!
There are TONS of neat things to see right here on Long Island- and perfect for an overnight get-away~ especially now that the weather is getting nice!
will list my top 5 to get you started!
1. Montaulk Point: will take about 2 hours to get there, but well worth the ride! While there, take the 1/2 day whalewatching boatride- and yes, you'll see lots of them! Honest to God- we had one come up and rub it's belly on the keel of the boat! If you are in dire need of R&R while you are there, go to Gurney's Inn and Spa- a little pricy, but you will come out a new man! (or woman!)
2. Riverhead: the aquarium is fantastic- and you can rent kayaks and go up and down the potanic waterways- just beautiful- and it empties into montaulk bay- and when you are done with that, there is Tanger Outlet- not just 1 of them, but 2 areas with every store you can possibly imagine! Shop till you drop- and the sales taxes have been dropped for the rest of this year for items under $110!!!
3. When the weather gets nice: Fire Island is a MUST!!! Catch a ferry from the south shore (bayshore) and pick from several little towns on fire island- each with their own distinct flavor! No cars allowed- and it is only 4 blocks wide, with the great south bay on one side, and the entire atlantic on the other! Everyone walks around carting their stuff in little red wagons- which you can rent for $1 / day....very casual (shorts, flip flops)- lots and lots of seafood resturants- and you can stay for the day, rent a place for overnight, the weekend, the week or the month! There is no place like it in the world! (ps- watch out for deer- they love to come up to you and steal your picnic right from under you!!)
4. Again, when you get some nice beach weather- a trip to the Hamptons is a must too- best beaches anywhere! Will need a day to get out there and back- better when spending overnight (can be pricey, but there are some inexpensive motels from the 1950's that are clean and reasonable)....if you only have a short time to spend, tell Jamz to head down to Jones Beach (30 minutes from KP)- field 4-5 are the main fields, but if you get there early enough, field 6 is the best!!!
5. Sunken Meadow State Park- about a 45 minute drive from KP, there is a beautiful golf course open to the public- and you can't beat the views of the LI sound and connecticut from most of the holes! If you are tired of golfing, you can stretch out on the beach (but bring shoes- the beaches on the north shore are very rocky and light years away from the soft sand that stretches for over 100 miles on the south shore!!)
6. Only a few hours to spend? 20 minutes from KP is Cold Spring Harbor- home of the world-famous CSH Lab and DNA center (located at each end of town- which is only 3 blocks long, so very walkable!) You can take a stroll through the acres of the Cold Spring Harbor Lab, take a hands-on tour of the DNA center (at the far end of town)- or just spend a quiet afternoon at the park or in the shops, or explore the whaling museum (and stop in by me for some chocolate!!) Don't forget the half-and-halfs at the CSH deli...best thing on LI!!! And there are lots of cute shops- make sure to visit "vineyard vines," "the beauty tree," "my favorite place" and "the faded rose".....oh, and don't overlook the shop with all the latest "Vera Bradley" stuff.....if Jamz has a date, the girls love the town for shopping! Picnic in the park along the harbor- it is the most beautiful harbor anywhere!!
If you are not in the mood to shop but would rather take a short hike, you can follow the hiking trails along rte 108 and St. John's Pond, up Lawrence Hill Road to the nature conservancy, and then cross the street and continue on the cliff overlooking CSH....beautiful! Want to spend the night? There is a small B&B run by an english couple called the "Swan View Inn" right in town across from the harbor...a throw-back to the motels of old, but nicely kept!
More hiking at Caumset State park- located in Lloyd Neck, just north of CSH....the views of the sound are spectacular- and you can picnic right on the cliffs overlooking the water!
Or from CSH, travel another 5 minutes east on 25A and you hit Huntington- which is a great little town for shopping and walking and lattes and resturants....and on the weekends (which start Thursday night) there are people strolling about till 2am! Fantastic resturants- when you are ready, let me know and I would be happy to recommend a dozen of them!!
7. for a total day of fun...."Splish Splash" is about an hour out on the LIE (rte 495) at then end- just as you get to riverhead- a huge waterpark that caters to every age group- and boasts the highest waterslide in the country! (kowabunga)....one of several! As for me, I get a tube and stay on the lazy river all day- just my speed!
8. More golf- this time at Eisenhower Park (20 min from KP)- the black course hosted the PGA 2 years ago and will challenge the best of them!
9. Malls: Roosevelt Field is the largest- about 20 min from KP and good, especially on a rainy day when you just want to get inside!
10. Back to Manhattan- but this time, to South Street Seaport- or take the ferry from the wall street area to the Statue of Liberty (just amazing) or take a different ferry to Ellis Island- it will bring tears to your eyes! Ellis Island has undergone a huge restoration, and it is a piece of history well worth seeing! Catch the ferry's from the south ferry terminal, located at the south-east tip of Manhattan....and when you get back, go to Chinatown- Peking Duck House- and feast away for little $$$ !!!
So my top 5 turned into my top 10, but when Jamz exhausts that list, let me know- there is the Hayden Planatarium in Manhattan, the Vanderbuilt museum in Centerport, LI, the NY Botanical Garden and the Bronx Zoo (both free on Wednesday's) in the bronx- and just a short drive over the throgs neck bridge.....and back to Manhattan to the Museums....Modern Art, Guggenhiem, Lincoln center, Rockafeller center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Radio city music hall- and BROADWAY.....the shows!!! Phantom!!! The Producers!!!!
Then back to Long island- from Orient point, take the ferry over to shelter island- perfect for an overnight get away- or better yet, the ferry to block island....stay the night- rent a bike and explore! You can also catch a ferry to Ct, and from there, another one to Martha's vineyard or quainter still, Nantucket (my favorites)....plan on a weekend visit for those- and reservations are a must..... or get a tent and "rough it" at Heather Hills- just before Montauld Point on the south shore- the campsites are right on the dunes overlooking the ocean! And there is another campground out there on the bay side- will have to research the name of that one for you- but beautiful quite beach, and good kayaking- or have him stop by our house- he can use the Thorpedo's kayak and explore Cold Spring Harbor and Oyster Bay! During the summer, you can rent a boat for 1/2 day and go wakeboarding- with instructors to boot! The kids out here love it! (can get you more info on any of the above if you need it- just let me know!).....
you will run out of time and money before you ever run out of things to do I'm afraid!!!!
oh- coldstones ice cream in Huntington- the Miracle Mile in Manhasset- the Ice shop in Oyster bay- the clam bar in centerport- the outdoor concerts in Hecksher park in Huntington, or the band concerts in Northport- (that is an adorable town too!)...Oheka castle in Cold Spring Hills.....the outdoor salt water pools at Jones Beach-Field 5.....the BOARDWALK- how could I forget the boardwalk!!! 6 miles of boardwalk at Jones Beach! and West End....the largest fields at Jones Beach (located at the western end)- it's a good 1/2 mile hike over the sand just to get to the water!!! Fishing boats out of Captree State Park- or out of Oyster Bay- or the Nautical Mile down in Freeport (30 minutes from KP on the south shore)- great resturants, (dare i say) bars, night life....be prepared for crowds during the summer weekends- even the USNA 44's pull in over the summer!
I am not thinking of tons of other places- but there is lots of stuff on the internet that can steer you to other places.....enough to fill in any spare time he gets, promise!!!!
oh- and I forgot Robert Moses State Park- the only part of fire island you can drive onto- about 45 min from KP- great beaches- and drive along Ocean Parkway- stop at gilgo beach for great surfing......and on the north shore, Port jefferson....brunch at D....(darn it, can't remember the name- but you can't miss it- ???danskers???....anyway, right on the water outside of the ferry terminal....brunch is fantastic!)....port jeff is a cute town too- catch the ferry to New London and visit Boss and the coasties at the USCGA!!! And their tall ship!!!!!
Sag Harbor- greenport- bellport----great day trips!!!!
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