Map
paradise found off the coast of times square
From the rush of the city to the rush of the surf in just a few gallons of gasoline. Or under an hour on the Long Island Rail Road from Penn Station.
Welcome to Nassau County. "The Island of Possibilities." Come discover our acres of white sand beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. Our miles of rugged coastline on Long Island Sound. And in between, lovely villages, first-class museums, world-class shopping, top-notch hotels and restaurants, hiking trails, public gardens, bike paths, swimming, surfing, boating and fishing. Plus plenty of free and near-free events and attractions all season long.
*Restrictions apply.
Nassau County
Museum of Art
Stroll the formal gardens or view the works ofinternationally-acclaimed artists, including masterpieces byEdouard Vuillard, Pierre Bonnard, Roy Lichtenstein, LarryRivers, Robert Rauschenberg, Auguste Rodin and GeorgesBraque. Exhibit on fashion pioneer Iris Apfel throughSeptember 7th. For more information, call 516 484-9337or visit nassaumuseum.com.
Sagamore Hill
Theodore Roosevelt not only slept here; he lived here from 1885until his death in 1919. America’s first environmentally-responsiblePresident established the summer White House in Oyster Baywhere Sagamore Hill is now a National Historic Site. Visit thehome, stroll the nature trail and enjoy the fields, salt marshesand woodlands that gave Teddy a lifetime of pleasure. For moreinformation, call 516 922-4788 or visit nps.gov.
Museum Row
A one-stop destination for some of the region’s finest museums,Museum Row is home to the Long Island Children’s Museum, theNassau County Firefighters Museum and the Cradle of AviationMuseum. Bring the whole family to experience new and exciting exhibitsand events all year long. For more information, visit nassaucountyny.gov.
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
Step back in time and experience life in a mid-19th-century American village.The 209-acre village includes Civil War-era homes, organic fams and businesses. Pack thewhole family into the minivan for big screen Drive-In movies, Tuesday evenings in July andAugust. And don’t miss the 166th Annual Long Island Fair, a recreation of a 19th-century countyfair, September 25-28. For information, call 516 572-0200 or visit nassaucountyny.gov.
Eisenhower Park
Tee off on one of Eisenhower’s three 18-hole golf courses, including thestoried Red Course, home of the 2008 Commerce Bank Tour, and thechampionship-level White Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones. Swimat the Nassau County Aquatic Center, one of the finest indoor swimmingfacilities in the country. Enjoy the many free concerts and movies under thestars at the Lakeside Theater. For more information and for a full calendarof events, call 516 572-0200 or visit nassaucountyny.gov.
Bethpage State Park
Best known for its five world-class golf courses, including the renowned BlackCourse – the site of the U.S. Open Championship in 2002 – Bethpage willagain host the U.S. Open in 2009. Bring the whole family to enjoy the park’spicnic facilities, playing fields, tennis courts, bridle paths, hiking and biking trailsFor more information, call 516 249-0701 or visit nysparks.state.ny.us.
The Capital One Bank Theatre at Westbury
Opened in 1956 as The Westbury Music Fair. Renovated in ‘06. Hosts some 125live music, comedy and family concert events annually in an intimate in-the-rousetting. Summer line-up includes Patti LaBelle, Ringo Starr, Michael McDonaGladys Knight, Johnny Mathis, Kenny Rogers, Vince Gill and The Beach Boys.For more information, call 516 334-0800 or visit livenation.com.
The Nautical Mile in Freeport
Nautical charm and street-fair revelry abound on this gorgeous stretch ofshore. Rub elbows with commercial fishermen as you take in the sightsand sounds of one of Long Island’s oldest maritime communities. Enjoy afishing trip on one of many charter boats, shop the boutiques and be sureto dine at one of the many lively waterside restaurants. For moreinformation, visit freeportny.com.
Jones Beach
One of the world’s most beautiful and famous beaches and home to spectacularconcerts at the Nokia Amphitheater. This summer’s line-up includesLinkin Park, John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, The Police, Stone Temple Pilots,The Allman Brothers and Journey. Surfers head to parking lot West End 2nearby Long Beach for more great waves. For more information, call516 221-1000 or 516 785-1600 or visit jonesbeach.com.
Nickerson Beach
To avoid the crowds at Jones Beach and Long Beach, soak inthe sun on this beautiful white-sand ocean beach. There’ssomething for everyone at the Fun Zone, with new basketballcourts and baseball field, tennis courts, playground, skate park,swimming pools, kiddie pools, barbecue facilities and a dogrun. For more information, call 516 571-7700 or visitnassaucountyny.gov.
Belmont Park
Spend a day at the races at the home of the historicBelmont Stakes. Come out early with the entire familyfor Breakfast at Belmont. Enjoy a leisurely meal as thehorses go through their morning workouts, take a guidedtour through the barn, and experience a day in the life ofa Thoroughbred. For more information, call516 488-6000 or visit nyra.com.
Roosevelt Field
Shopping reaches new heights at New York’s largest shopping mall, builton the site where Charles Lindbergh took off on his historic trans-Atlanticflight. Bloomingdale’s, JCPenney, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Dick’s SportingGoods and 270 specialty stores from the Apple Store to Zumiez. Snackat a food court with everything from egg rolls to falafel. Dine at one ofseveral premiere restaurants. For more information, call 516 742-8000or visit rooseveltfieldmall.com.
Americana Manhasset
Just a short trip from Manhattan’s 5th Avenue is another mecca ofshopping, the Americana, known by Long Islanders as The MiracleMile. You will, indeed, believe in miracles, as you visit some of the45 stunningly beautiful boutiques, including Louis Vuitton, Tiffany& Co., Cartier, Prada and Hermes. For more information, call516 627-2277 or 800 818-6767 or visit americanamanhasset.com.
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Home to the NY Islanders hockey team and the NY Dragons arenafootball team, this 18,000-plus seat arena, built on the grounds offormer Army/Air Force base Mitchel Field, also hosts concerts andexpo events. For more information, call 516 794-9303 or visitnassaucoliseum.com.
Gold Coast
Nassau County’s North Shore is where the Morgans, Guggenheims, Vanderbilts,Belmonts, Harrimans and Roosevelts built their “country” homes – extraordinarymansions, many set on Long Island Sound. Sands Point, at the tip of Port Washington,and King’s Point, at the tip of Great Neck, were the inspiration for F. Scott Fitzgerald’sEast Egg and West Egg in The Great Gatsby. Many of the mansions are open for publictours. For more information, visit ligoldcoast.com.
