Top Long Island “Staycation” Spots
If you live on Long Island, you already know how beautiful it is – especially during the warmer months. Millions of tourists visit the Island each year to spend time enjoying the white sand and spectacular surf of the island’s many north or south shore beaches, and soon find that Long Island has become their favorite vacation spot! It is hard not to love Long Island with the array of activities and attractions from which to choose. Swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking are popular activities for many whether you like the ocean or prefer calmer waters. And if you opt to stay on land, you can surely find the perfect setting to hike, camp, dine, or get a little island culture at one of the plentiful state parks, local wineries, museums and lighthouses. There’s so much to do on Long Island that locals feel like they are on vacation, even when they’re home.
If you live on Long Island and plan to take advantage of the local flair this summer, remember to plan early. Many visitors and residents alike will be looking to enjoy the island’s hotspots this summer and reservations, especially on weekends, will book early! Even if you live only a short drive (or boat ride) away, you will need to start planning now. Camping and lodging accommodations are known to sell out way before winter is through. Get a jump-start on the summer fun and check out where to spend your summer staycation!
Fire Island – With over 20 waterfront communities, there is something for everyone on Fire Island. For lazy summer days where a stroll on the beach is all that is needed, family and friends may prefer a house rental in Davis Park or Robin’s Rest. For those who are looking for a little more by the way of entertainment (dining, shopping, bars, etc.), you may opt for a rental in a community like Ocean Beach where you will find an array of restaurants, boutiques and late-night bars from which to choose, as well as a “movie theater”, arcade, and family friendly activities. Most communities are well equipped to accommodate boaters, but there are a few communities that geared towards the boating enthusiast and offer very little by the way of home rentals, such as Atlantique and Watch Hill. Fire Island is also well known for communities that cater to the LGBT crowd where you can have tons of fun or just a little R&R in Cherry Grove and the Pines. There truly is something for everyone!
The Hamptons – The South Fork of Long Island is the home of the Hamptons. There are quite a few hamlets and towns that make up all of the Hamptons such as Hampton Bays, Southampton, East Hampton, West Hampton, and Bridge Hampton, and all offer a vibe that differs from the others. All offer fabulous beaches and an array of summer fun, but they vary in population, lodging, activities, and affluence. For the young and restless, Hampton Bays is well known to the twenty-something crowd looking to party the night away and recover on the beaches of Dune Road the next day. For the star-gazer and boutique shopper in you, East Hampton offers plenty of activities to keep you busy…Bridgehampton is a little more low-key and can offer the perfect balance between work and play, and is home to the Hampton Classic Horse Show. Depending on how expensive or budget friendly are your plans, you can find a perfect spot in the Hamptons to accommodate your lifestyle.
Sag Harbor – Located in both the towns of Southampton and East Hampton, Sag Harbor offers a family friendly stay with lots to do. An original whaling port and writer’s colony, this incorporated village is full of Long Island’s rich history. You can spend the day at the Whaling Museum, Sag Harbor State Golf Course, visiting the community of Eastville. or heading out to sea at one of the yacht clubs at the Bay Street marina complex. You will feel like you’ve gone back in time when visiting Sag Harbor.
Greenport – If you are a lover of the grape, heading out to Greenport can feel like a little piece of heaven. Located at the east of the North Fork (just before Orient Point), you will travel through wine country, home to about 30 local wineries where you can stop in for a tasting or even a tour. Greenport and the rest of the North Fork also offer relaxing beaches, marinas, local museums, fishing, fine and casual dining, and plenty of fresh produce at the local farm stands. This old-time whaling port offers quaint B&B’s, shopping, festivals and a feel of the past merging with the present.
Montauk – Known as “The End” because of its location at the most eastern part of the South Fork. Montauk offers 5,000 acres of public beaches and parks, where you will find visitors swimming, surfing, fishing, boating, golfing, hiking, camping, and horseback riding on an every-day basis! Since the area is surrounded by water on three sides, most activities revolve around the surf. Montauk is home to the largest commercial and recreational fishing fleet in NY and offers plenty of charter boats from which to choose for your next big catch. Landlubbers will enjoy a trip to the first lighthouse built in NY (the 4th oldest active lighthouse in the country) when visiting Montauk. You will have your pick of eclectic dining spots if you are looking for the fresh fare of the day and a little late-night cocktail.
If you are lucky enough to call Long Island “home”, make sure to visit the places that make the Island so special. And don’t forget to check out what’s NewOnLongIsland on our Event’s Calendar and What’s New Page!
