“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
—Confucius
We’re almost certain Confucius was speaking about New York.
Last month, close to 150 Macaroni Kid publishers visited Long Island, New York, for our annual Meet Up, and spent time exploring the longest and largest island in the contiguous United States. Rich with history and packed with fun, Long Island, as we learned, is the sort of destination that leaves your heart happy, your mind full, and makes a perfect family getaway.
In Long Island, you can:
Go on an Adventure in North Fork, a 30-Mile-Long Peninsula on Long Island.
Nothing says adventure like descending into a tank of water filled with sharks, and you can do just that at the Long Island Aquarium. You’ll come nose-to-nose with some of the ocean’s top predators through the safety of a cage.
The kids will love taking a boat ride from the East End Seaport Museum to the Bug Lighthouse, where you’ll hear an animated story of the history of the lighthouse. Upon arrival, you can head inside and get a sense of what life was like for a lighthouse keeper.
Mix Fun and Fantasy in Western Long Island
Tour OHEKA Castle, the second-largest private home ever built in America. Magical and majestic with an intriguing history, it’s no wonder Taylor Swift chose it as the backdrop for the music video of her hit song, Blank Space.
Explore Old Westbury Gardens, a mansion from the early 20th century that is faithfully preserved with landscape, gardens, architecture and collections -- and the set of movies including Cruel Intentions, The Age of Innocence and American Gangster.
Step Back in Time in Central Long Island
Enjoy history? Long Island has plenty of opportunities for families to learn together.
Visit Long Island’s Stony Brook Grist Mill, a working grist mill, circa 1751, which served as a community hub in colonial America.
At the Long Island Maritime Museum, you’ll find nine historic buildings filled with nautical history, including stories of storms, shipwrecks, pirates, and water rescues.
The Avalon Park & Preserve offers 80 acres of wooded trails in five distinct natural habitats and is a re-creation of the natural environment that greeted the first indigenous people to settle New York State.
Experience Coastal Life in Montauk
And finally, at the very tip of Long Island, you’ll find Montauk, New York, a picturesque village that is considered part of the Hamptons. Here you’ll find incredible beach fronts, plenty of fishing opportunities, and some of the best surfing on the east coast.
It’s also home to the Montauk Point Lighthouse, a national historic landmark, and the Montauk Yacht Club, an iconic, award-winning Hamptons hotel located on a private waterfront.
Long Island, New York, is a special place with countless opportunities for family fun. Go with all your heart, and create memories that last a lifetime.
I LOVE NY. And we have no doubt that you will too.
To learn more, visit www.ILOVENY.com.
