Staycation

There are so many great places to explore and things to do right here on Long Island. Borrow one of our Free Museum Passes at Your Community Library Website, or check out one of the following books for some fun ideas.

Landmarks & Historical Sites of Long Island by Ralph Brady

Brady, a resident of Long Island and retired executive in the transportation industry, takes readers on a tour of historic sites and landmarks in Nassau and Suffolk Counties in the towns of Hempstead, North Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Huntington, Babylon, Islip, Smithtown, Brookhaven, Riverhead, Southold, East Hampton, and Southampton. Sites include St. Paul's School, the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, Roosevelt Field, Saddle Rock Grist Mill, the John Philip Sousa House, the US Merchant Marine Academy, Fort Massapeag, Sagamore Hill, Grumman Aircraft Corporation, Walt Whitman's birthplace, Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Laboratory, Vanderbilt Mansion, Fire Island Lighthouse, the Nike missile site, Port Jefferson, the Nikola Tesla Laboratory, Hallockville Museum and Farm, and the first US Navy submarine base, with details on their history and some b&w photos. (Publisher Summary)

Paddling Long Island and New York City by Kevin Stiegelmaier

A guide with 55 maps showcases the 50 best sea-kayaking routes and destinations around Long Island--from New York City to Montauk Point--in a book that covers every kind of paddling experience--from open, fast water to a quiet, leisurely route. The book’s guidance and language are geared to wide-ranging skill levels: the novice will be enlightened and encouraged, and the seasoned kayaker or canoeist will be engaged and engrossed. That is because the author’s intimate, lifelong knowledge of the area’s waterways shines in his descriptions of natural and social histories, humorous stories, personal anecdotes, and beautiful black-and-white photographs. In addition, the author provides contact information on local paddling clubs, outfitters, and Internet links. And a final extensive section on personal safety, boat and equipment preparedness, and related topics makes this book an invaluable tool. (Publisher Summary)

Great Escapes by Steven Howell

From the old “Gold Coast” of Long Island’s NorthShore, made famous by F. Scott Fitzgerald, to thesparkling waters of Jones Beach, the Hamptonsand Montauk, Great Escapes: Long Island providesa series of itineraries for packing in all there is todo and see on Long Island. There’s something foreveryone—from fishing to family fun to wine toursand food tours to visits to little-known historic sites.Each itinerary offers an in-depth narrative about thedestination along with pertinent recommendationsfor lodging, dining, shopping, and sightseeing. (Publisher Summary)

Long Island Wine Country by Jane Taylor Starwood

Well over 3,000 acres on Long Island’s beautiful East End have been planted with European wine grape varieties over the last three decades, and the vineyards are widely credited with keeping this beautiful landscape—officially designated one of the “Last Great Places” by The Nature Conservancy—green and growing. Add to that the recent praise for wine producers like Bedell Cellars, The Lenz Winery, and Wölffer Estate Vineyards (among numerous others) from sources like theNew York Times, Wine Spectator, and Wine Advocate, and it’s not difficult to see why theNew York Times, in an article on Long Island wines, captioned a photo with the words, “Who needs Bordeaux? A tasting of wines from the East End.”