Diving into the Atlantic Ocean to the east of Brooklyn and Queens, Long Island, New York, is a great getaway for New Yorkers and others with active lifestyles looking to escape the city for a few days to stretch their legs. The beaches and parks are ideal for swimming, running and biking, while farms and theme parks provide activities for couples and families to enjoy together.
Golf Courses and Horses
Bethpage is more than the usual trees, greenery and occasional creek you’ve come to expect from state parks in America’s northeast; it is home to five full-size golf courses. Black Course, one of Bethpage’s five golf facilities, is a world-class course that hosted the 2002 U.S. Open Championship. If you’re looking for something to do before or after tee time, Bethpage offers a panoply of activities, including tennis, biking, hiking and cross-country skiing trails, and even a bridle path, if you want to bring your horse.
Fun with the Kids
Spending a full day on the golf course can be difficult when you’ve got the kids in tow, but have no fear, for Long Island has plenty of family-friendly activities to keep everyone busy. A number of Long Island hot spots, from Adventureland to Boomers Family Fun Center, have rides, go karts, games and activities that will keep your family outside and having fun together. Offerings as diverse as Paintball Long Island, the Splish Splash water park, and the sports-oriented park Fun 4 All have something for all tastes--though maybe avoid the paintball if you have got toddlers.
Fighting Boredom with Boardom
For the young at heart out--or those with teenage children--Long Island’s Oil City Skate Park is a safe, indoor skateboarding facility where you can fly through the air without worrying about the police or asphalt zipping by below. Oil City, where the walls are festively festooned in graffiti, has a number of obstacles and jumps for skaters of all ages. The park hosts birthday parties and a summer camp, and gives lessons to all ages. Oil City stresses safe and responsible skating, so be sure to bring your helmet and pads.
Beaches
Long Island has long been famous for its beaches that allow New Yorkers to escape the sweltering heat of the city in the summer months. Jones Beach, not far from Brooklyn, is an easily doable day trip from New York. In addition to long swaths of pristine beaches, Jones Beach has a summer concert series in its outdoor amphitheater, which in 2010 features the likes of R&B diva Rihanna and 90s rock double bill 311 and the Offspring. Beaches further toward Long Island’s tip are quieter affairs, with a number of houses available for seasonal rental.
Farms
Long Island has a number of farm activities for those who are looking for very fresh food. Look for farm stands selling strawberries, peaches, apples, broccoli, potatoes, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes and more. Some Long Island farms let you go into the fields and pick your own produce; for more information, check out the Long Island Farm Bureau website in References.
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