Have you had enough of staring at your phone all day, are you bored of being bored, or are you just looking for something fun to do this fall? If any of these questions resonate with you, then this is the article to read.
Below are ten fun things to do on Long Island and the surrounding area this autumn. Long Island, which looks like a fork from a satellite view, is the largest island in the contiguous United States. It is home to about eight million people, including residents of Brooklyn and Queens. There are about three million people within Nassau and Suffolk Counties. On this unique island, along with its surrounding areas, there is so much for residents to do.
- Visit Oyster Bay
A day trip to Oyster Bay in the fall is very enjoyable. Oyster Bay is a hamlet on the North Shore of Nassau County. It has a large, beautiful bay, with trees surrounding it. It has a ton of fall foliage, which is why Oyster Bay is best to visit in the autumn. You can spend some time at the scenic Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, which sits right on Oyster Bay Harbor. It has playgrounds, sports fields, grass, beaches, docks, and a small jetty, which can be fun to climb with caution. The park is also a great place to relax. A trip to Oyster Bay is incomplete without checking out the Railroad Museum, which has two locations in Oyster Bay. It has a turntable and train exhibits. It closes for the season in mid-November, so check the website for more information. There is also a nice downtown area, with restaurants, shops, and a few memorials. When I go there, I like to get pancakes and bacon at Taby’s Burger House. There is a nice library in Oyster Bay as well, which is a very short walk from downtown. You can walk or bike around the area; however, it is hilly. To get there, you can drive or take the train (check out the MTA website for exact times). An honorable mention goes to the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, which is also a lovely place to visit. It is 2-3 miles away from downtown Oyster Bay and is not accessible by public transportation.
- Take a Hike
A scenic hike outdoors is a wonderful way to view the scenery of fall. Imagine being in a wooded area, with few cars and people, seeing the sky, the colorful trees, the plants, the lakes and ponds, and nature’s sounds. There are many places to hike on Long Island; Hempstead Lake State Park, Massapequa Preserve, Belmont Lake State Park and Southards Pond, Caumsett State Park, and Blydenburgh County Park are just a few places. Make sure to wear proper footwear and dress appropriately for the weather. Bring rain gear, a lot of water, trail mix, food, Band-Aids, and sun protection (if the UV Index reaches 3 or higher). Make sure you know where you are going without constantly checking your phone. Instead, bring a map and a compass. Start early in the day to avoid hiking in the dark. Know the area you are hiking in, research it beforehand, know about rules, safety, and terrain.
- Visit Old Westbury
A visit to Old Westbury Gardens is also a great thing to do in the autumn. Old Westbury Gardens is a historic estate. It has beautiful gardens, open fields, grass, woods, picnic areas, ponds, a mansion, and more. It is a beautiful place to relax or explore in the fall. The only restaurant there is Café in the Woods; it serves pastries, sandwiches, salads, and beverages. The property closes for the season is October, so be sure to check their website for more information.
- Set Sail and Watch Seals
Autumn marks the beginning of seal watching season on Long Island. You can watch seals from the shore by relaxing or going on a seal hike, at places such as Jones Beach or Smith Point County Park. You can also go on a Seal Cruise with the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island (CRESLI): Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island, Inc. Another option is to set sail and enjoy the beautiful waters of Long Island in the fall. You can charter a boat with Easy Breeze Cruises, based out of Montauk, or with another company. Just imagine seeing the blue sky, the shimmering water, the colorful trees from land, feeling the cool fall breezes.
- Pick Some Apples
Apple picking is another fun thing to do this fall. Most apple picking ends in mid-autumn, so make sure to do it sooner rather than later. Most apple picking on Long Island is on the East End. Here are just a few locations where you can go apple picking: Harbes Family Farm in Mattituck, Lewin Farms in Calverton (which also has a corn maze), Harbes Orchard in Riverhead (which also has hayrides, music, a corn maze, and pumpkin picking), Milk Pail U-Pick Farm in Water Mill, and Breeze Hill Farm and Preserve in Peconic. The cost of apple picking greatly varies by farm and day of the week; farm admission and a bag of apples (amount of apples vary) usually cost between $15-$30.
- Take a Bike Ride
Biking is a fantastic way to see what the North Fork has to offer in the fall. The terrain is mostly flat. You can sometimes bike on sidewalks, but most of the time, you will have to bike on the roadside. Remember to dress appropriately for the weather, apply sun protection if the UV index is 3 or above, bring water, and wear a helmet if you are under 14 years old. According to Google Maps, it takes three hours to bike from Riverhead to the Orient Point ferry dock. With stops, it will probably take a lot longer, so make sure you start early in the day to avoid biking in the dark, especially since the sunset can be as early as 4:30 PM in November. Here is some of what to see on the North Fork: farms, vineyards, shops, restaurants, harbors, the Long Island Sound, docks, beaches, parks, woods, pretty neighborhoods, nice towns, golf courses, Horton Point Lighthouse Nautical Museum in Southold, Railroad Museum of Long Island in Riverhead and Greenport, East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation in Greenport and the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead. You take the Cross Sound Ferry to New London, CT; the ferry is in Orient Point, and the journey across is around 80 minutes. You can also visit Shelter Island and explore it via a ferry. This ferry is in Greenport and the journey across is 8-9 minutes.
- Visit Fire Island
Fire Island is a suitable place to see in the fall; you get to avoid the summer crowds. Fire Island is a large barrier island protecting the South Shore of Long Island; it is unique because of its car-free lifestyle. On Fire Island, you can see fall foliage, woods, beautiful towns, small communities, beaches, the Atlantic Ocean, the Great South Bay, restaurants, shops, the Fire Island Lighthouse, and the Fire Island wilderness (research for rules and regulations). The only places you can drive to on Fire Island are Robert Moses State Park and Smith Point County Park. To get to Fire Island, take the ferry. For more information, check out their websites. Beware, these ferries may not allow bikes; in November, they stop operating at some communities for the winter. But what communities should you visit? For more quiet and secluded communities, go to Kismet (which is close to the Fire Island Lighthouse), Point O’ Woods, and Water Island (a community on Fire Island, not an island of its own). For more family-friendly communities, consider visiting Fair Harbor, Ocean Bay Park, and Watch Hill (which is close to the Fire Island wilderness). For vibrant communities, go to Ocean Beach, Cherry Grove, and the Fire Island Pines. You can also get around the island via the Fire Island water taxi, check their website for more information including pricing and schedules.
- Visit Southold
Hall Monitor Jenifer Caracciolo likes to go to a farm in the Southold area. Caracciolo said, “Going out to Southold, going to the pumpkin patches, getting mums, getting the apple pie, and especially, eating the hot corn with the stalk, mm, so good.” Caracciolo said that it is fun to eat corn from the stalk.
- Go Pumkin Picking
Students said that they like to go pumpkin picking. Charles Podlaski, a junior, said, “I like to go pumpkin picking at Dees’ Nursery center in Oceanside in the fall.” Dees’ website says, “From the ground up, Dees’ is the ultimate one-stop-shop. Without sacrificing quality, we offer a full range of garden center, nursery, and florist services for your indoor and outdoor gardening needs.” They also said to “Come check out Long Island’s Best Kept Secret.” They are open seven days a week; be sure to check out their website for more information.
- Visit NYC
There is plenty to do in NYC. Sophia Goumennyi, a freshman, likes to go shopping in NYC because it “is a wonderful experience due to the surrounding scenery and spending time with friends and family.” The best neighborhoods to go shopping in NYC are mostly in Manhattan, others include Williamsburg and Greenpoint in Brooklyn; and Astoria, in Queens. To get to these places, take the train. Take the Long Island Railroad to Manhattan or Queens, then take the subway from there. I do not recommend driving because of the high amounts of traffic that often plagues NYC. Check the MTA website for more information about pricing, schedules, and routes.
Now you know what to do this fall, so stop staring at your phone all day and go have some fun. You will be glad you did.
