Though the idea of spending a summer in Charlottesville sounds super appealing, one thing I look forward to at the end of every school year is returning home to my beloved Long Island for the summer months. Long Island has plenty to do all year round, but it really comes alive during the summer, when its beaches are at their most crowded and NYC tourism is at its highest. From hanging out with my friends, to going on fun family outings, Long Island has so many summer activities to offer that sometimes it's hard to know where to begin.
1. Anywhere you go, there's probably a nice beach within 20 minutes of you
Long Islanders love to boast about how everyone on Long Island lives no further than 20 minutes from a beach, which is pretty much true whether you live in Brooklyn or way out on the East End of Long Island. Most of the popular beaches are concentrated on the South Shore, such as Jones Beach (more on that later), Fire Island, Long Beach, and Robert Moses State Park. However, even on the rockier North Shore where I live, many coastal towns such as mine still have small little beach areas where kids can frolic and adults can relax.
2. Outdoor concerts at Central Park, Jones Beach, and many other places
I have yet to attend a concert at the Jones Beach outdoor theater, pictured above, which has a high-profile list of summer concerts in an absolutely beautiful setting. However, I did go to a concert at Central Park's outdoor Summerstage series a few years ago, and that was a lot of fun. Outdoor concerts on Long Island and in NYC are a great way to take advantage of the warm New York summers and the many well-known musical acts that stop in New York while on their summer tours.
3. Everyone inevitably takes a summer trip to the Hamptons sometime between June and August
My family has vacationed in Montauk, which is at the very eastern tip of the Hamptons, almost every year since I was born. A lot of the Hamptons are known for being swanky celebrity hangouts in the summer, but Montauk is more laid back and family-friendly. That's not to say that there are no celebrity sightings; my family spotted Jerry Seinfeld and Andy Cohen in a local diner a few years ago. But casual, relaxed Montauk is what I think of most fondly when I look back upon my many summers spent on Long Island.
4. Watching beautiful sunsets by the water whenever you want, because there's water everywhere
I particularly adore spending time by my town dock and hanging out by the water, eating ice cream and enjoying the beautiful waterfront views. Since Long Island is surrounded by water, many LI towns are fortunate enough to have beautiful waterfront views that make for absolutely stunning sunsets. I hate to be one of those basic people that posts only sunsets on my Snapchat story, but sometimes when I witness a sunset similar to the one pictured above, I can't help myself.
5. Taking advantage of the abundance of seafood by going to delicious seafood restaurants
I used to be a bit squeamish when it came to eating fish, but as I've gotten older I've really come to appreciate the bounty of delicious, often locally sourced seafood that's available on Long Island during the summer. I can't imagine a more perfect summer aesthetic than enjoying a delicious fish taco or lobster roll while sitting by the water with your family. Even if "fishy" fish isn't your thing, there are also tons of fried seafood shacks sprinkled all around Long Island and its beaches.
6. Making use of your close proximity to sports venues and going to Mets games, the U.S. Open, etc.
Though I'm a huge Mets fan, and it's very easy to get to their stadium via the Long Island Rail Road, they've been so bad this year that I'm honestly hesitant to recommend going to Mets games as a fun summer activity. Still, if you like baseball, tickets aren't that expensive and it's a fun day at the ballpark. For those looking for slightly higher quality athletic performances, the Tennis U.S. Open happens every August right across the street from where the Mets play, in Flushing, Queens. Going to the U.S. Open is a lot of fun, especially on opening night when you're treated to a musical performance and the promise that your favorite player is definitely still in the tournament.
7. The opportunity to take scenic boat tours around the North Shore of Long Island
As I suspected, a lot of my Long Island summer suggestions have to do with the water, and this one is no different. Long Island is known for its boat-filled water landscape, and alongside people's personal boats are many boats that sail all along the coast for tours. I have yet to actually take one of these boat tours, but if the view from the boat is as pretty as my view from land, then I'm sure they're well worth it.
8. Roadside farm stands filled with fresh, locally grown summer produce
When my family drives out to Montauk every summer, we know we're getting close when we start seeing farm stands just about every half a mile along the road. Eastern Long Island especially is filled with farms that thrive in the summer months with corn, tomatoes, berries, and much more. And spontaneous stops to a roadside farm stand are just part of the charm that come with spending the summer on Long Island.
9. Stepping back in time by going to Old Bethpage for an afternoon
It may not be on the same size and scope as Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, but on a nice summer day, strolling around Long Island's largest living history village is a wonderful, leisurely way to pass the time. Long Island kids probably went to Bethpage on at least one field trip in elementary school, but even as a young adult it can be fun to see what it might have been like to be a blacksmith or a hatmakter for a day. Then, when you leave Old Bethpage, you'll probably be grateful that you live in the age of high-speed internet, rather than in the age when low-speed snail mail was the only way to communicate long distances.
10. Fond childhood memories of going to Adventureland for the day
If you're from Long Island, you've no doubt visited, or at least heard of, Adventureland. It's a kid-friendly amusement park in Farmingdale, not to be confused with the movie "Adventureland" starring Jesse Eisenberg. Though all the rides look a little smaller now than they did when I was five, I still have vivid memories of getting soaked by the crocodile soaker ride, staunchly avoiding the roller coaster known as "the Hurricane," and patiently waiting for broken rides to be fixed. Adventureland is certainly more geared towards elementary and middle school-age kids, but even as a 20-year old I still feel like I could have a great time at Adventureland on a summer day.
Coming home from college for the summer, I sometimes forget just how much there is to do during the summer on Long Island. It's easy to settle back into comfortable routines of hanging out at home on free days, but I feel like my summer is a lot more fulfilling when I take advantage of all that Long Island has to offer. Then, when I go back to school in August, I've made wonderful new Long Island memories that can carry me through the school year in Charlottesville.
