Trips on Long Island, in NYS to take before summer ends
Visitors play the course at the Whale's Tale mini golf and arcade on Shelter Island. Credit: Gordon M. Grant
If you're looking to squeeze in one more vacation before summer ends, here are last-minute trips to take on Long Island and in New York State.
SHELTER ISLAND
The beaches
A view of Crescent Beach from the Sunset Beach Hotel restaurant on Shelter Island. Credit: Gordon M. Grant
Purchase a $25 day pass that grants you entry to all public beaches on Shelter Island. Passes are available online if you want to purchase before your trip. Scan the appropriate QR code (shelterislandtown.us) and pay with a credit card. The code is also posted at the beaches and on the door of Town Hall (38 N. Ferry Rd.) Crescent Beach (Shore Rd. in the area of Crescent Beach Rd.) and Wades Beach (114 S. Midway Rd.) are protected by lifeguards in-season.
Shelter Island Kayak
The Shelter Island Kayak company offers self-guided tours via kayak, SUP and canoe along the Coecles Harbor Marine Water Trail. Credit: Adam Mills
This spot offers self-guided tours via kayak, SUP and canoe that provide a look at changing foliage and wildlife. Single kayaks are two hours for $30, four hours for $45, full day for $60; double kayaks are two hours for $50, four hours for $70, full day for $90. Guided tours available for $60 per person, $30 for kids under 12.
INFO 80 Burns Rd.; 631-749-1990; kayaksi.com.
Mashomack Preserve
Friends hike at Mashomack Preserve in Shelter Island. Credit: Randee Daddona
With several miles of hiking trails and coastline, visitors have plenty to explore. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are also frequently spotted flitting around feeders placed outside the 19th-century Manor House.
INFO 79 S. Ferry Rd.; 631-749-1001, nature.org.
Whale’s Tale
Play mini-golf at this classic Shelter Island spot that hosts a nautical18-hole course. The snack shop sells grill food, ice cream and other treats (cash only).
INFO 3 Ram Island Rd.; 631-749-1839, shelterislandwhalestale.com
SALT Waterfront Bar and Grill
Friends grab food and drink while sitting on the outside deck at SALT Waterfront Bar and Grill on Shelter Island. Credit: Madison Fender
Located in the Island Boatyard and Marina, you can arrive by land or sea (dock slips are available), this spot is especially known for its outdoor Shipwreck Bar, a grounded boat that’s been turned into a grab-a-drink destination. There is live music Wednesdays through Sundays, and lunch and dinner is available daily except Wednesdays. Food truck and raw bar available Wednesdays at the Shipwreck Bar.
INFO 63 S. Menantic Rd.; 631-749-5535, saltshelterisland.com.
OVERNIGHT STAY
The Ram’s Head Inn
Exterior of the Rams Head Inn on Shelter Island. Credit: Newsday/Gordon M. Grant
Accessible by land and sea, ship-to-shore dining is available at its private dock, and the Inn has a yacht available to charter for day trips. Equipped with a spa, yoga classes are also offered, as are picnics 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Live music is slated Thursdays though Sundays, and trivia nights are on Wednesday evenings.
INFO 108 Ram Island Dr., Shelter Island Heights; 631-749-0811, theramsheadinn.com
FIRE ISLAND
Beaches
Visitors arrive at the beach in Ocean Beach, Fire Island. Credit: Linda Rosier
There are no fees to visit the ocean or bay beaches on Fire Island—but keep in mind not all have lifeguards on duty. Check any posted signage for rules and regulations before setting up in the sand.
The Fire Island Lighthouse
The Fire Island Lighthouse at Robert Moses State Park. Credit: Danielle Silverman
Open daily for tours, this historic beacon towers over the area and can be seen for miles around. Getting there involves either a walk from Kismet or Robert Moses State Park. The gift shop and museum are also open daily.
INFO 1 Burma Rd., Fire Island National Seashore; 631-583-5901, fireislandlighthouse.com
Biking
Bikers explore Ocean Beach, Fire Island. Credit: Linda Rosier
Places to consider when looking to rent a bicycle include Ocean Beach Hardware (482 Bayberry Walk; 631-583-5826, oceanbeachhardware.com), OBP Bike Shop (1 Champlain Walk, Ocean Bay Park; 631-583-5111, obpbikes.com), Corliss Bike and Supply in Fair Harbor (62 Bay Walk; 631-583-5769, corlissbikeandsupply.com) and "The Bike Guy" (41 Maple Ct.; 516-220-1764).
OVERNIGHT STAY
Eugenie Trott, of Jersey City Heights, takes out a kayak at the Palms Hotel's in Ocean Beach, Fire Island. Credit: Linda Rosier
The Palms Hotel in Ocean Beach (168 Cottage Walk; 631-583-8870, palmshotelfireisland.com) has a private bay beach, courtyard and items like bicycles and kayaks available to use.
The Finger Lakes and Upstate New York
Family-friendly spots to visit include Rosamond Gifford Zoo (1 Conservation Pl., Syracuse; 315-435-8511, rosamondgiffordzoo.org) and the Strong National Museum of Play (1 Manhattan Square Dr. Rochester; 585-263-2700, museumofplay.org)—and for baseball fans, the Syracuse Mets play home games at NBT Bank Stadium (106 Lake Dr. Liverpool; 315-451-7275, onondagacountyparks.com).
Seneca Lake
The Captain Bill's Seneca Lake Cruises tour company hosts dinner cruises and sightseeing tours along Seneca Lake, the largest of the Finger Lakes. Credit: FingerLakes.org
Captain Bill’s Seneca Lake Cruises tour company (3 N. Franklin St., Watkins Glen; 607-535-4541, senecaharborstation.com) offers dinner cruises along its waters, as well as sightseeing ventures and live music. Grab dinner at the Seneca Harbor Station, a lakeside restaurant at the tip of the water that was constructed from a former train station. Sip vino at one of several wineries in the area including Rock Stream Vineyards (162 Fir Tree Point Rd., Rock Stream; 607-243-5395, rockstreamvineyards.com), Prejean Winery (2634 Rt. 14, Penn Yan; 315-536-7524, prejeanwinery.com) and Boundary Breaks (1568 Porter Covert Rd., Lodi; 607-474-5030, boundarybreaks.com).
OVERNIGHT STAY
The Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars is a winery resort that overlooks Seneca Lake and has wine tastings and a restaurant. Credit: FingerLakes.org
A stay at the Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars (5435 Rt. 14, Dundee; 800-243-5513, glenora.com) offers views of Seneca Lake. Wine tastings and a restaurant with vegan and vegetarian offerings are available.
Otsego
Visitors at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY can wander the Plaques Gallery, which features the likenesses of all the members who have been enshrined. Credit: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (25 W. Main St., Cooperstown; 607-547-7200, baseballhall.org), where visitors can see a wide variety of exhibits dedicated to the sport. The Rail Explorers pedal railbike group has a new experience, a 12-mile rail route that rolls over bridges, by farms and through woodlands (136 E. Main St., Milford; 1-877-833-8588, railexplorers.net), and the Fly Creek Cider Mill (288 Goose St., Fly Creek; 607-547-9692, flycreekcidermill.com), a historic water-powered cider mill that can be toured.
OVERNIGHT STAY
An exterior view of the Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown, NY. Credit: www.vzphoto.com/Otesaga Resort Hotel
Over in Cooperstown, the Otesaga Resort Hotel (60 Lake St.; 607-544-2502, otesaga.com) provides a menu of seasonal foods at its Hawkeye Bar and Grill and looks out onto Otsego Lake.
Madison County
This 167-foot waterfall is located within Chittenango Falls State Park, in the town of Cazenovia, found in Madison County, NY Credit: Madison County Tourism
See the 167-foot waterfall located within Chittenango Falls State Park (2300 Rathbun Rd., Cazenovia; 315-492-1756, parks.ny.gov), which also has fishing and hiking trails.
A look at the exhibits inside the All Things Oz Museum in Chittenango, a village in Madison County, NY, where "Wizard of Oz" author L. Frank Baum was born. Credit: Madison County Tourism
The "Wizard of Oz" author L. Frank Baum is from the Village of Chittenango, and the All Things Oz Museum (219 Genesee St., Chittenango; 315-687-7772, allthingsoz.org) is located there, which features several exhibits and artifacts related to both Baum’s work and "Wizard of Oz."
This ring is only one of the many boxing-related exhibits found in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, located in Canastota, a village in Madison County, NY. Credit: Madison County Tourism
Visit the International Boxing Hall of Fame (1 Hall of Fame Dr., Canastota; 315-697-7095, ibhof.com), a museum dedicated to boxing stars and the sport’s history.
OVERNIGHT STAY
The Colgate Inn (1 Payne St., Hamilton; 315-824-2300, innatcolgate.com) has a tavern serving American food and has a college neighborhood that features shopping, arts and entertainment, while the Brewster Inn (6 Ledyard Ave, Cazenovia; 315-655-9232, thebrewsterinn.com) has a full restaurant and sunset views of Cazenovia Lake.
