State Parks
In the mid-1920s, master planner Robert Moses prodded the state into preserving some of its wooded and waterside gems and providing easier access to them. The result was a boon to Long Island, and created one of the nation's finest state park systems, filled with beaches, forests, cliffs, streams and wetlands.
Frequent visitors may want an Empire State Pass. The annual charge ($59 per vehicle, $50 for a second vehicle) covers entrance fees for unlimited visits to any state park. Passes are available from the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, 631-669-1000.
Here are some best bets:
Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale is home to five 18-hole golf courses, including the famed Black Course, host of the 2002 and 2009 U.S. Open Championship. But the park offers more than golf: It has a restaurant and bar, softball fields, a polo field, bridle paths, a picnic area and tennis courts.
Jones Beach State Park is probably the one state park that resonates with every Long Islander. Who hasn't sunned on its six miles of ocean beaches, walked its 2-mile boardwalk or caught a show at its (alternatively sponsored) theater?
Montauk Downs State Park is built around a golf course, the only 18-whole state course on the Island outside Bethpage. Its outdoor pool offers season passes or daily passes and has a country club feel, at state park prices.
Nissequogue River State Park, located at the mouth of the Nissequogue River in Kings Park, is a kayaker's paradise. (Rentals are available.) But anglers, birders and hikers will also love this mid-Suffolk gem.
Robert Moses State Park, just over the Robert Moses Causeway on Fire Island off East Islip, covers 875 acres and has 5 miles of beach. The park is a haven for fishing and windsurfing, and has picnic areas, a snack bar and an 18-hole pitch-putt golf course.
Nassau County Parks | Suffolk County Parks
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