Fun Things to Do on Long Island

Bayard Cutting Arboretum

Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park is a 691-acre state park located in the hamlet of Great River, New York, on Long Island. The park includes an arboretum designed by Frederick Law Olmsted for William Bayard Cutting in 1886, as well as a mansion designed by Charles C. Haight.

Dr. Dave's Tip:  Beautiful scenery and great hikes!
Website: https://bayardcuttingarboretum.com/
Address: 440 Montauk Hwy, Great River, NY 11739

Elizabeth A Morton Wildlife Refuge

Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge protects 187 acres on the north shore of Long Island’s south fork in the town of Southampton. The refuge is located near Sag Harbor, and includes a peninsula one and a half miles long, locally known as Jessup’s Neck, which separates Little Peconic Bay from Noyack Bay.

Website: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/elizabeth_a_morton/
Dr. Dave's Tip: The chickadees have been tamed over time and will land on your hand if you have seeds!
Address: 2595 Noyack Rd, Sag Harbor, NY 11963

Seal Watching at Montauk Point

Experience seals in their natural environment! Montauk Point State Park will host a series of hikes to observe wintering seals. Beginning in November and continuing through April 2022, a State Park naturalist will lead visitors on a scenic beach walk to an area where up to four species of seals can be observed.

Website: https://liparks.com/longislandseals/_39159/

Sunken Forest - Fire Island

In the heart of the Sunken Forest, it's hard to imagine you're so close to the  Atlantic Ocean on a narrow barrier island, where growing conditions are harsh at best. This special forest is comprised of a rare assemblage of plants and is yours to explore. 

Website: https://www.nps.gov/fiis/planyourvisit/sunken-forest.htm

Watch Hill - Fire Island

Discover Fire Island's most extensive salt marsh, the beauty of the barrier island's beaches and dunes, and the solitude of a seaside wilderness at this National Park Service site.

Website: https://www.nps.gov/fiis/planyourvisit/watchhill.htm

Caumsett State Park

Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, situated on a scenic peninsula extending into Long Island Sound, offers miles of bridle paths, walking, jogging, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and nature trails over acres of woodland, meadows, rock shoreline and salt marsh.

Website: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/23/details.aspx
Address: 25 Lloyd Harbor Rd, Lloyd Harbor, NY 11743

Deep Hollow Ranch

Located in Montauk, New York amidst thousands of preserved acres of spectacular coastal land, Deep Hollow Ranch welcomes visitors from all over the world, from the experienced cowhand to the beginner. Here one can step back in time and catch a glimpse of America’s rich history.

Dr. Dave's Tip:  A great place to go horseback riding!
Website: http://www.deephollowranch.org/
Address: 8 Old Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY 11954

Montauk State Park

On the eastern tip of the South Shore of Long Island, Montauk Point State offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean where it meets the Block Island Sound. The view is unique because, when the water is calm, visitors can clearly see the "race" of converging tides from the Atlantic and Block Island Sound.

Dr. Dave's Tip: It's a "different world" out there!
Website: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/montaukpoint/details.aspx
Be sure not to miss: Montauk Point Lighthouse

Canoe or Kayak the Nissequogue River

Paddle along 5.5 miles of incredible unspoiled nature at its finest!  Launch from the Smithtown Bull or Kings Park Bluff depending on the tides.

Dr. Dave's Tip: Check the tide chart to see where and when to launch each day.
Website: http://www.canoerentals.com/

Peconic Paddler

Enjoy an amazing adventure kayaking, canoeing, or paddle boarding on the beautiful Peconic River.
Website: https://www.thepeconicpaddler.com/
Address: 89 Peconic Ave, Riverhead, NY 11901

Whale Watching

Did you know that you can see beautiful whales on Long Island? Long Island Whale Watching is an excellent activity for anyone, young to old.

Website: https://liwhaleandsealwatching.com/
Address: 31 Woodcleft Ave, Freeport, NY 11520

Suffolk County Farm

The Suffolk County Farm provides inclusive educational opportunities based in the 4-H Positive Youth Development framework for over 50,000 school children and families each year, to increase understanding of agriculture, nutrition, history, and environmental issues.  The farm has cows, horses, goats, pigs, chickens, and more!

Dr. Dave's Tip: Don't miss the goats!
Website: https://ccesuffolk.org/suffolk-county-farm
Address: 350 Yaphank Ave, Yaphank, NY 11980

Quogue Wildlife Refuge

The Quogue Wildlife Refuge is a 305 acre non-profit nature preserve that was founded in 1934 and is home to diverse wildlife. Free of charge and open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset, you can enjoy walking seven miles of trails to explore diverse habitats including forests and ponds, as well as the ecologically rare Dwarf Pines in the Pine Barrens.

Website: https://quoguewildliferefuge.org/
Address: 3 Old Country Rd, Quogue, NY 11959

Holtsville Ecology Site

The Town of Brookhaven Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Preserve is located on a reclaimed landfill. Since 1974, when the landfill closed, the Town of Brookhaven Highway Department employees worked to revegetate the hills and build a modern recreational and educational facility.

Website: https://www.brookhavenny.gov/197/Holtsville-Ecology-Site
Address: 249 Buckley Road, Holtsville, NY 11742

Avalon Nature Preserve

Avalon Nature Preserve is located on Harbor Road in Stony Brook, NY.  Avalon is FREE and open to the public year round. Parking is available along Main Street, on Harbor Road, and in the shopping center just past the Preserve on Main Street.

Website: https://avalonnaturepreserve.org/
Address: 200 Harbor Road, Stony Brook, NY 11790

Old Bethpage Village Restoration

Old Bethpage Village Restoration showcases numerous historic homes, wonderful exhibits, the finest interpreters and tradespeople, farm animals, interactive activities and demonstrations.

Website: https://www.oldbethpagevillagerestoration.org/

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Sagamore Hill was the home of Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, from 1885 until his death in 1919. During Roosevelt's time in office, his "Summer White House" was the focus of international attention. Explore 83 acres of natural surroundings and historic buildings and become inspired by the legacy of one of America's most popular presidents.

Website: https://www.nps.gov/sahi/index.htm
Address: 20 Sagamore Hill Rd, Oyster Bay, NY 11771

The Big Duck

The Big Duck is a ferrocement building in the shape of a duck located in Flanders. It was originally built in 1931 by duck farmer Martin Maurer in nearby Riverhead, and used as a shop to sell ducks and duck eggs. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Website: https://bigduck.org/
Address: 1012 NY-24, Flanders, NY 11901

William Floyd Estate

William Floyd House, also known as Nicoll Floyd House and Old Mastic House, was a home of Founding Father William Floyd, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, in Mastic Beach, New York. It was his home from 1734 until 1803.

Website: https://www.nps.gov/fiis/planyourvisit/williamfloydestate.htm
Address: 245 Park Dr, Mastic Beach, NY 11951

Long Island Ducks - Baseball

The Long Island Ducks are an American professional minor-league baseball team based on Long Island in Central Islip, New York. The Ducks compete in the North Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent "partner league" of Major League Baseball.

Website: https://liducks.com/
Address: Fairfield Properties Ballpark, 3 Court House Dr, Central Islip, NY 11722

The Jazz Loft

The Jazz Loft's mission is Jazz preservation, education, and performance.  It has quickly become the premier destination for all things Jazz.

Website: https://www.thejazzloft.org/
Address: 275 Christian Avenue, Stony Brook, NY 11790

The Patchogue Theater

The Patchogue Theatre offers a variety of events including live performances, films, educational presentations, commercial productions, community forums, and more!

Website: http://www.patchoguetheatre.org/
Address: 71 E Main St, Patchogue, NY 11772

Theater Three

Theatre Three occupies Athena Hall in Port Jefferson, New York as a fully functioning, non-profit theatre company. Begun in the late 1960s, Theatre Three has become one of the premier theatre houses on Long Island.

Website: http://theaterthree.com/
Address: 412 Main St, Port Jefferson, NY 11777

Staller Center for the Arts

The Staller Center for the Arts is the main arts building at Stony Brook University. It opened in 1978 as the Stony Brook University Fine Arts Center before being renamed in October 1988 after a $1.8 million donation from the Staller family.

Website: https://www.stallercenter.com/
Address: 100 Nicolls Rd, Stony Brook, NY 11794

Alive after Five

Alive After Five is an outdoor summer street fair that takes place on Main Street in Patchogue.  Enjoy music, drinks, food, games, and more!

Website: https://aa5.patchogue.com/
Address: Main Street in Patchogue

Tilles Center

Located on the campus of LIU in Brookville, Tilles Center hosts more than 70 performances each season by world-renowned artists in music, theater, and dance.  Tilles Center was the first to bring the New York Philharmonic to Long Island and Bruce Springsteen’s legendary "Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town" was recorded onsite.

Website: https://tillescenter.org/
Address: 720 Northern Blvd, Brookville, NY 11548

Jones Beach Theater

Jones Beach Theater is an outdoor amphitheatre at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh.  It hosts big names in the entertainment industry with a beautiful view of Zach's bay.

Website: https://www.livenation.com/venue/KovZpZAE6eAA/northwell-health-at-jones-beach-theater-events
Address: 895 Bay Pkwy, Wantagh, NY 11793

Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium

William K. Vanderbilt II's will provided for donation of his property to the county, with provision that the mansion and grounds be used for a museum for his marine, natural history, and ethnographic collections; the natural history institution was established during 1950. Developing a museum that interprets Vanderbilt's life, times, and collections, the county constructed a planetarium on the grounds during 1970.

Website: https://www.vanderbiltmuseum.org/

The Long Island Museum

The Long Island Museum is dedicated to inspiring people of all ages with an understanding and enjoyment of American art & history. The carriage museum is particularly unique!  The museum has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1973 for excellence in exhibitions, programs and collection care. In 2006 the museum joined a small group of institutions nationwide as a Smithsonian Affiliate.

Website: https://longislandmuseum.org/
Be sure not to miss:  The Carriage Museum

Cradle of Aviation Museum

Explore over 150,000 square feet featuring 75 air and spacecraft from a hot air balloon to an actual Apollo Lunar Module and learn about Long Island's pivetal role in aviation history.

Website: https://www.cradleofaviation.org/
Address: Charles Lindbergh Blvd, Garden City, NY 11530

Long Island Aquarium Riverhead

Explore over 150,000 square feet featuring 75 air and spacecraft from a hot air balloon to an actual Apollo Lunar Module and learn about Long Island's pivotal role in aviation history.

What to know: Competitive baseball, Between-inning gimmicks are goofy and entertaining - especially for kids
Website: https://www.longislandaquarium.com/
Address: Charles Lindbergh Blvd, Garden City, NY 11530

Tesla Science Center

The Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe is a nonprofit organization established to develop a regional science and technology center, museum and makerspace at the site of Nikola Tesla's former Wardenclyffe laboratory on Long Island, New York.

Website:  http://www.teslasciencecenter.org/
Address: 5 Randall Rd, Shoreham, NY 11786

Brookhaven Labs - Summer Sundays

Primarily supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science, Brookhaven Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries, 37 R&D 100 Awards, and more than 70 years of pioneering research.

Dr. Dave's Tip:  A must for science lovers, especially young aspiring scientist!
Website: https://www.bnl.gov/sundays/
Address: 98 Rochester St, Upton, NY 11973

Many Long Island wineries feature gorgeous tasting rooms, special events with live music, and perfect picnic spots. Vineyards have dotted the north and south forks since 1973, when Louisa and Alex Hargrave founded their winery, which later became Castello di Borghese.  Today, the region is home to large producers as well as promising upstarts that make excellent wines in small quantities.

Dr. Dave's Favorite is Paumanok Vineyard (No relation!)

All of the attractions on this list are mapped out below.  Take a look and start exploring!

Color Codes: Wildlife and Nature, Local History, Music, Art, & Culture, Museums and More, Vineyards