How many of these ultimate Long Island summer activities have you done?
On board the Fire Island ferry to Ocean Beach Brian Shea, Larchmont takes a selfie with his family. Credit: Daniel Goodrich
Everyone has their own idea of an ideal summer day on Long Island, whether it's spending time in the sand at your favorite beach or enjoying the open waters en route to Fire Island. How many of these bucket-list-worthy summer activities help shape yours?
1. Walk your favorite beach boardwalk
A typical evening is spent picking a boardwalk and setting out on a stroll. Should your go-to be Jones Beach, you can play on the game courts. If your evenings bring you to Long Beach, you bring your bike or drop by a restaurant.
A little more than two miles in length, the Long Beach boardwalk is a free and easy way to stroll along the beach without getting sand in your shoes. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
2. Take a photo in front of the Big Duck
On your way to the East End, you should always stop for a photo in front of the Big Duck. It was originally built in 1931. (1012 NY-24, Flanders)
The Big Duck, in Flanders, sits in the sun. Credit: Ed Betz
3. Try a wine flight on the North Fork
Your flight options are aplenty on the North Fork. Whether it’s reds or whites you prefer, you sip some Long Island-made wine at one of the many vineyards such as Osprey's Dominion (44075 Main Rd., Peconic), which has a large outdoor area, or at Rose Hill Vineyards (2000 Oregon Rd., Mattituck).
It's time for wine. A trip to the North Fork is a summer must. Credit: Jeffrey Basinger
4. Take the ferry to Fire Island
From family-friendly spots to lively bar and restaurant scenes, check out what each community on Fire Island has to offer.
On board the Fire Island ferry to Ocean Beach Brian Shea, Larchmont takes a selfie with his family. Credit: Daniel Goodrich
5. Eat hamburgers in the car at All American
A burger, a hot dog, a shake, fries or a knish — eat one or more streetside at All American Hamburger Drive-In in Massapequa (4286 Merrick Rd.).
People dine under the iconic neon of Long Island's famous All American Hamburger Drive-In in Massapequa. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
6. Cool off at a splash park
Bring the kids to cool off at a local splash park for the afternoon, and join in on the fun, too. Splish Splash in Calverton plans to revamp a super slide this season.
Sadie Rose runs though the splash park at Wantagh Park in Wantagh. Credit: Howard Schnapp
7. See a movie under the stars
Outdoor or drive-in movies are a summer tradition for those who like to watch a flick al fresco with the whole family.
8. Watch the Bethpage Air Show
The United States Navy Blue Angels are a fan-favorite at the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach. This year's show will include appearances by the Army's Golden Knights Parachute Team, Mike Goulian and his aerobatic Cirrus sport plane, female aerobatic pilot Jessy Panzer, Long Island aerobatic star David Windmiller and the American Airpower Museum Warbirds. It takes place May 28-29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Blue Angels take to the sky during a rehearsal for the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach in 2018. Credit: Barry Sloan
9. Indulge in an Italian ice
It’s an after-dinner specialty or a hanging poolside treat. You typically drop by Ralph’s, Rita’s or whichever ice shop you prefer.
A watermelon ice from Ralph's Italian Ices. Credit: @jojoeatsli
10. Strike a pose at a lavender farm
Snap a photo while lounging in the colorful chairs surrounded by lavender in full bloom at Lavender by the Bay in East Marion (7540 Main Rd.).
Take your pick or stop at all 20 locations featured on a self-guided North Fork trek to learn how farms and food purveyors do their work. Credit: Randee Daddona
11. Take yourselves out to the ballgame
Root, root, root for the hometown Long Island Ducks at Fairfield Properties Ballpark, formerly Bethpage Ballpark (3 Court House Dr., Central Islip). Tickets for the 2022 season start at $15 per game.
Long Island Ducks mascot QuackerJack appears at a gathering to celebrate the Long Island Ducks. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
12. Camp at Wildwood or MTK beaches
Be one with nature and spend a summer weekend camping at Wildwood in Wading River or on Montauk beaches.
Destiny Mejia, left, Rafael Torres, Brianna Cruz, Alisa Oppenheimer and Marissa Oppenheimer toast marshmallows outside their glamping cabin at Wildwood State Park in Wading River. Credit: Johnny Milano
13. Have your own shark week in Riverhead
Experience the thrill of seeing sharks behind the glass at the Long Island Aquarium (431 E. Main St., Riverhead).
The Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center in Riverhead. Credit: Randee Daddona
14. Surf at Ditch Plains Beach in Montauk
Take a ride at this Montauk Peninsula hot spot, with both active waves and non-rocky sand (18 Ditch Plains Rd., Montauk).
Connie Sargent of Montauk heads out for the surf at Ditch Plains Beach in Montauk. Credit: Randee Daddona
15. Cheer on your favorite horse at Belmont
Races are on at the 90,000-seat track at Belmont Park in Elmont where American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018) won the Triple Crown (2150 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont).
16. Climb the Montauk Point Lighthouse
Visit this national historic landmark, built in 1796, and travel up the 128 steps up the spiral staircase to the watch deck 86-feet in the air to catch the view (2000 Montauk Hwy., Montauk).
The Montauk Point Lighthouse is a national historic landmark commissioned by George Washington and built in 1796. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
17. Lay eyes on a Gold Coast Mansion
The splendor of the Gatsby-era lives on at luxury properties open to the public, including Mill Neck Manor, a Tudor Revival mansion and former home of Robert and Lillian Dodge built in 1923, on 86-acres overlooking Long Island Sound or Oheka Castle, the 109,000-square-foot, 127-room estate of Otto Hermann Kahn in Cold Spring Harbor (40 Frost Mill Rd., Mill Neck; 135 West Gate Dr., Huntington).
Oheka Castle in Huntington, built by financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn, was "Xanadu" in the opening of the 1941 movie classic, "Citizen Cane." Credit: Oheka Castle
18. Bring your pup to a dog park
Your four-legged furry friend roams free at the Eisenhower Park Dog Park in East Meadow (576 Salisbury Park Dr.), the Eugene Nickerson Beach Park Dog Park in Lido Beach (880 Lido Blvd.) or the Tully Dog Park in New Hyde Park where there’s artificial turf, pea gravel, a water station and play equipment such as tunnel and jump obstacles (211 Denton Ave.).
19. Go crabbing and clamming
Grab a long-handled net and the proper permit and travel to a dock that allows you to seek out the crabs. Northwest Harbor, in East Hampton, for example, requires a permit.
Stephen Curti, of St. James holds up his bounty of clams earned from a short amount of time spent raking for clams in the Stony Brook Harbor in St. James. Credit: Daniel Brennan
20. Satisfy your lobster roll craving
Wrap up your summer with a bite into a delicious, in-season lobster roll from one of Long Island's seafood shacks — everyone has a favorite.
The warm Connecticut lobster roll with tarragon citrus butter, coleslaw and shoestring fries at Lazy Lobster in East Rockaway. Credit: Daniel Brennan
