Do you long to roll around in a pile of fallen autumnal foliage or walk through the woods on a cold winter day? Go horseback riding or trek through hiking trails? Perhaps checking out nature trails with the kiddies?
You're in luck as Suffolk County Parks and the U.S. city of Long Island have parks and preserves that offer a perfect opportunity for an outdoor adventure or two.
Here are some of the best Suffolk County Parks and places for taking a leisurely walk, enjoying a nature trail, or letting the children just run wild.
There's no question Long Island has many beautiful parks within the NYS Parks system with lakes, beaches, and nature trails where you can relax outside or take a walk. They're great for taking a break from work or as a lazy person's workout.
Below are some great outdoor activities and plenty of parks and recreation areas for families in the American communities of Long Island that will fill your days with some good old-fashioned freshness and exercise. They're even free!
Robert F. Ench Teaching Gardens, Farmingdale
Located just off Route 110, this garden is a real treat for visitors.
Old Westbury Gardens, Westbury
It’s perfect for taking pictures year-round. There are plenty of pathways to explore and lots of beautiful sights to see.
Clark Botanic Garden, Albertson
A small but very beautiful garden with bridges and ponds. Perfect for younger children who might not be able to walk far.
Centennial Gardens and Botanical Garden, Floral Park
It's an amazing place and there are lots of pathways, a functioning garden (which donates its fruits and vegetables to a shelter), bridges, and colorful plantings.
Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Great River
It's a beautiful day for a hike! There are lots of trails, water, plants, and trees. You could walk around for hours.
Kings Park Psychiatric Center aka Nissequogue River State Park, Kings Park
Want a crazy place where you can walk around? This is the place! The huge old building was once a psychiatric hospital, and now it's open to the public to explore. Some people think it's haunted.
Sunken Meadow State Park – Callahan's Beach, Fort Salonga
This beautiful park has a trail through the trees and a nice, broad path for walking. It’s an excellent place to go for a stroll at any time of the day. Especially when the sun sets.
Fire Island National Seashore, Robert Moses State Parks, Babylon
A fun walk from the Robert Moses Field 5 in any season. Most likely you'll also see some beautiful scenes. Of course, the famous Fire Island Lighthouse is not to be missed! It is the halfway point to Fire Island.
Jones Beach State Park, Field 10, Wantagh
A great day in every season. This place is home to seals and fish. It is also a popular spot for taking pictures of sunsets. If you would like to visit, go ahead!
St. John's Pond Preserve, Cold Spring Harbor
This lake is next to the fish hatcheries in the same parking lot. You can go there and see how the scenery has changed. There is an old tree nearby with a sign reading "Planted in 1750".
Argyle Lake Park, Babylon
This beautiful park can best be described as a lake where people go for walks and there are lots of fun things to see and do nearby. There are plenty of good restaurants and stores nearby too.
Reeves Beach Shipwrecks, Riverhead
If you want an amazing experience, go to Reeve's Beach, where you can view shipwrecks from World War One, which were uncovered by hurricanes Sandy and Irene. You can access the site by parking in the lot, walking down to the beach, and making a left.
Heckscher Park, Huntington
With its art museums, sculpture gardens, lakes, stone bridges, playgrounds, and all the ducks you'd ever need, this city park is a must-see. It's a wonderful spot year-round.
William Cullen Bryant County Preserve/Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn
Surrounding the art museum of this mansion lies a beautiful park where you can take some pictures and get some exercise.
Cedarmere Park, Roslyn
A few miles north of Clayton, you'll be able to enjoy a nice waterfront park with lots of open space for running around and walking. There's also a beautiful garden and a small pond with a lovely stone bridge. You can even take a short stroll down to the water and look at the old mills.
Here's to you enjoying some time outdoors at one of these beautiful parks, beaches, and waterways.
Kids Will Like These Parks
There are several different parks for people with kids who enjoy picnics, hiking, bicycling, camping, or just being outside with nature to get some nice fresh air.
Parks and nature centers abound throughout Long Island, providing fun activities for kids and beautiful scenery for adults.
Whether you're looking to go outside for a few short walks or spend time enjoying the sunshine, there are plenty of parks on Long Island that you can visit.
They're great for families who want to spend time together without having to drive too far away from their cars.
Long Island has a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy, from beaches to museums to historic sites to amusement parks to zoos to trails to shops. Visitors can travel there either by car or boat, according to their preferences.
There are several popular destinations for vacationing in Suffolk County including Central Islip, Southold, East Hampton, Shelter Island, Riverhead, Huntington, Brookhaven aandLocust Valley.
Within New York City there are over 50 national parks, which include the Fire Island National Seaports, Montauk Point Lighthouse, Roosevelt Raceway, Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, and Shinnecock Bay National Historical Reserve.
Some other parks and places you might want to consider include Bethpage State Park, Jones Beach, Eisenhower Park, Jones Beach State Park, Heckscher State Park, Meadow State Park, Port Washington, Hempstead Lake State Park, Belmont Lake State Park, Kings Park, Wildwood State Park, Cedar Creek Park, Robert Moses State Park, Central Park, Hills State Park, Wantagh Park, Montauk Point, Sands Point Preserve
Get Out and Enjoy
There are seven states, three counties, one city, four wildlife refuges, and six historic preserves within New York State’s public recreation system. In addition, there is a large number of smaller municipal recreational facilities including those located in Patchogue, Ronkonkoma, and Southampton. The NYS park system on Long Island offers visitors a wide variety of activities ranging from many different types of sports to the quiet waters along the shore. There are also numerous state and county forests, historical sites, art galleries, zoos, botanic gardens, and aquariums.
Enjoy the great outdoors during the autumn months by taking some time off from work for a few weeks to stop and smell the leaves.
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