One of the best weekend getaways from NYC, Long Island is located on the Atlantic Ocean in southeastern New York State, east of New York City.
Its famous Jones Beach State Park is a popular summer destination for the city folks, and it is home to the historic late-1700s Montauk Lighthouse, the world-famous Brooklyn Botanic Garden, several excellent art museums such as the Brooklyn Museum, fascinating Long Island Aquarium, and large parks such as Camp Hero State Park and Montauk Point State Park.
1. Old Westbury Gardens
Old Westbury Gardens is a beautiful Charles II-style mansion surrounded by 200 acres of magnificent formal gardens, woodlands, landscaped grounds, ponds, and lakes. The mansion was built in 1906 for John S. Phipps and his family and was designed by renowned English architect George A. Crawley. Westbury House is filled with fine original English antiques and art accumulated during the 50 years of its life as the Phipps’ family's residence. Westbury Gardens is open to visitors, and guides provide informative tours of the mansion and its formal gardens. It is also available for school visits, children's events and programs, family programs, classic car shows, museum exhibits, indoor and outdoor classical music concerts, lectures, pop concerts, and many other types of events.
71 Old Westbury Rd, Old Westbury, NY 11568, Phone: 516-333-0048
2. Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
The Vanderbilt Museum is located in the town of Centerport on the north shore of Long Island, on Eagle's Nest, the former 43-acre estate of William K. Vanderbilt II. One of the best weekend getaways from NYC, the museum includes the Vanderbilt Mansion with all its furnishings and art, a marine museum with a collection of natural history specimens, a curator's cottage, a boathouse, gardens, a seaplane hangar, and an extensive collection of firearms, swords, ship models, and various objects from Europe, Asia, and Africa. The museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum curators offer a very popular guided tour while dressed in period costumes, bringing the lives of the estate’s previous residents to life. The planetarium operates a Konica Minolta Gemini Star III full dome display projector, one of the best in the country, and with the latest surround sound technology
180 Little Neck Road, Centerport, New York 11721, Phone: 631-854-5579
3. Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
Located in the Upper Brookville village in Oyster Bay, New York, the 400-acre Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park is located on the former estate of railroad executive William Robertson Coe and his wife. It includes their 67-room Tudor revival residence Coe Hall as well as gardens, woodland paths, greenhouses, extensive plant collections, and a herbarium with more than 10,000 pressed specimens. The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is open to the public, so visitors can enjoy strolling through rolling lawns, woodlands, and gardens. The Camellia Greenhouse has a large collection of camellias while the main greenhouse has impressive collections of orchids, hibiscus, succulents, and seasonal flowering plants. Guided tours of Coe Hall offer a glimpse into the lifestyle of the rich in the 1920s, with collections of furnishings, stained glass, paintings, and decorative arts.
Planting Fields Rd. Oyster Bay, NY 11771, Phone: 516-922-9210
4. Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center
Best known for one of the largest live coral reef displays in North America, Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center has a 120,000-gallon shark tank, sea lion shows, marmosets, African penguins, touch tanks where visitors can actually touch live animals, and over 100 diverse exhibits. There is also a colorful indoor garden, home of the Butterflies, Bugs and Birds Exhibit, with 30 species of North American and tropical butterflies that fly freely through the garden. It is the only bug display in New York. The bird aviary is home to conures, lovebirds, ringnecks, and many other bird species. One of the most exciting adventures in the aquarium is JAWsome Aquatic Adventures with the Shark Dive, which allows visitors to get into a cage and sink down to the Lost City of Atlantis Shark Exhibit. Visitors can also have a go at feeding the charming penguins at the Penguin Encounter.
431 E Main St, Riverhead, NY 11901-2556, Phone: 631-208-9200
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5. Things to Do on Long Island: MoMA PS1
MoMA PS1 is one of the largest and oldest nonprofit contemporary art centers in the US. Founded in 1971, the museum serves as an exhibition space and does not have a permanent collection. Located in Long Island City, MoMA PS1 is also one of the biggest American art institutions focused completely on contemporary art and it supports and encourages most experimental and thought-provoking contemporary art of today. In addition to art exhibitions, the museum organizes the Warm Up summer music series, the Sunday Sessions performance series, and the Young Architects Program, organized together with the Museum of Modern Art.
22-25 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101, Phone: 718-784-2084
6. Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a 52-acre garden located in the Prospect Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, a delightful colorful oasis with more than 14,000 taxa of plants from all over the world. The garden is famous for its "gardens within the Garden" plant collections, unique groupings of plants and trees such as the famous cherry tree garden. When all 200 cherry trees are in bloom in the spring, the garden holds a month-long cherry festival at the Cherry Esplanade called Hanami, attracting thousands of visitors. The garden also houses the Steinhardt Conservatory with the C. V. Starr Bonsai Museum, a white glass and cast-iron aquatic plant house, three climate-themed plant pavilions, and an impressive art gallery. Another wonderful part of the garden is the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden created in 1914, the first Japanese garden in a public garden in the States. Things to Do in Brooklyn
990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225, Phone: 718-623-7200
7. Brooklyn Bridge
With its massive granite towers and long steel cables, the Brooklyn Bridge has been a New York City icon since 1883, stretching over the East River and connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. The main span of the bridge is 1,595.5 feet long, and when it was completed, it was the first ever steel-wire suspension bridge in the world. Initially a bridge for pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles, today it offers safe passage to trains, bikes, and cars, with millions of commuters and tourists having crossed. It dominates the New York landscape and is one of the most recognizable features of the city skyline. Crossing the bridge on foot through the elevated walkway is one of the most memorable visitors’ experiences.
Brooklyn Bridge, New York, NY 10038
8. Things to Do on Long Island: Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is the third largest art museum in New York City, with an impressive collection of over 1.5 million artworks. The museum is located near the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Crown Heights, Flatbush, and Prospect Heights, and covers 560,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor gallery space. Founded in 1895 and located in a beautiful beaux arts building designed by McKim, Mead and White, the museum was planned originally to be the biggest art museum in the world. The most significant museum collections are its Egyptian antiquities, spanning period of more than 3,000 years, as well as antiques from Europe, Africa Oceania, and Japan. There is a well-represented American art collection starting with the colonial period. Some of the most notable artists whose works are part of the collection are Mark Rothko, Norman Rockwell, Edward Hopper, Winslow Homer, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Max Weber.
200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238, Phone: 718-638-5000
9. Long Island Game Farm
The Long Island Game Farm is a wildlife park and children’s zoo located in Manorville. The park has been in operation for 47 years and is Long Island’s largest children’s zoo and wildlife park. The zoo gives families the opportunity to learn about animals in their natural environment. The zoo features several encounter areas where visitors can interact with and feed animals including Bambiland and a nursery. If visitors would like to feed the animals, they must purchase food from the zoo as they are not permitted to bring their own food. However, the park features a snack bar serving a selection of food items and light fare. Additionally, the souvenir stand sells Long Island Game Farm merchandise and apparel.
489 Chapman Boulevard, Manorville, New York 11949 Phone: 631-878-6644
10. Coney Island
Once an outer barrier island, Coney Island was eventually connected to Long Island by a landfill to form a peninsula on the Lower Bay in Brooklyn. This residential neighborhood of about 60,000 people morphs every summer into one of the most popular entertainment destinations in New York, bringing thousands of locals and visitors to enjoy the long sandy beach, Luna Park with its famous Cyclone roller coaster, and the Wonder Wheel. There is also the Circus Sideshow, the Mermaid Parade every June, a popular 4th July hot dog eating contest at Nathan’s, numerous street performers, musicians, food stalls, and much more. Coney Island is also the location of the MCU Park stadium, home to the Brooklyn Cyclones minor league baseball team and the New York Cosmos soccer club. More NY Beaches
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11. Cradle of Aviation Museum
Long Island’s Central Plains is the perfect place for the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Located in Garden City, near the Mitchel Air Force Base and Roosevelt Field, it commemorates Long Island's role in the history of aviation. With so many historic flights in the area by the mid-1920s, the area was nicknamed the "Cradle of Aviation.” The museum has more than 60 aircraft and models of airplanes from different time periods on display, such as Charles Lindbergh's Curtiss Jenny, the A-10 Thunderbolt II, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, and even an actual never-used Apollo Lunar Module, LM-13, which was supposed to land on the moon with the cancelled Apollo 18 mission.
Charles Lindbergh Blvd, Garden City, NY 11530, Phone: 516-572-4111
12. Things to Do on Long Island: Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the largest park in Queens and the fourth largest in New York City, is popular for the range of facilities on offer for a number of sports, including baseball, soccer, cricket, tennis, and so much more. There is also a zoo as well as six playgrounds for the kids and the lovely Flushing Bay Promenade for a leisurely stroll. The park became famous in 1939, when it hosted New York World’s Fair, and its popularity further blossomed when it became the site of another World Fair in 1964. The park is a popular venue for weekend barbecues, fishing in Meadow Lake, skating in the winter, or catching a game of tennis at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Flushing Bay, NY 11368, Phone: 718-760-6565
13. Jones Beach State Park
Jones Beach State Park is the place where New Yorkers spend their hot summer weekends. With more than 6 miles of fine sand, families can find a nice spot to spend the day with the kids. There is always something to do in this fun park, which was designed by Robert Moses in the 1920s on the ocean liner theme. There is swimming and enjoying the sun, people watching, walking along the famous boardwalk, fishing, sampling the goodies in one of many diverse food concessions, and playing a game of mini-golf, shuffleboard, or basketball. The Jones Beach Theater offers concerts and plays, while the Jones Beach Nature Center teaches about the marine environment and endangered species that live nearby. Every summer, there are also special events, such as the Bethpage Air Show, volleyball and softball tournaments. More Weekend Getaways from NYC
Wantagh, NY 11793, Phone: 516-785-1600
14. Long Island Children's Museum
The Long Island Children’s Museum is located in the former airplane hangar in Nassau Community College in Long Island’s Garden City. This popular kids’ venue has 14 interactive hands-on exhibits, a live theater, fun art spaces, and many planned daily activities that can keep kids of all ages busy and happy for hours. The two-story ClimbIt© structure has ramps going up and down in a spiral, using up some of that abundant energy. The kids will also love creating giant bubbles in the Bubble Gallery, making "rain" in the Our Backyard gallery, or playing all kinds of musical instruments. There is also a small theater with regular shows. The museum is one of the most popular venues for kids’ birthday parties in the city.
Nassau Community College, 11 Davis Ave, Garden City, NY 11530, Phone: 516-224-5800
15. Things to Do on Long Island: Caumsett State Park
The Caumsett State Historic Park Reserve is undeniably one of Long Island’s most treasured parks. Home to 1,5000 acres of mixed terrain and a number of historic buildings that were built during America’s Golden Age in the 1920s, Caumsett State Park holds a lot of gems to be discovered. The scenic peninsula of the park is the perfect place to traverse miles of trails and paths. Whether you’re walking, biking, hiking, or even cross-country skiing, the paths offer a multitude of uses as they wind through woodlands, rock shorelines, salt marshes, and meadows. Nature lovers can also enjoy looking out for the flora and fauna that call the park home, thanks to Caumsett’s diverse environment. For those who intend to visit, the park is open all year, every day of the week, from sunrise to sunset.
25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Huntington, New York 11743, Phone: 631-423-1770
16. Things to Do on Long Island: Lieb Cellars
Established in 1992, Lieb Cellars today includes 85 acres of vineyards, a crush winemaking facility named Premium Wine Group, and a pleasant tasting room located in a converted barn on the property. Lieb Cellars’ signature wine style is dry, clean, and fruit-forward. The star of their portfolio is the Reserve Pinot Blanc, made with grapes from 30-year-old vines. Their 2013 Reserve Pinot Blanc was declared a “Top 12 Wine in America” by renowned WSJWine from the Wall Street Journal. Lieb wines are produced entirely from the estate-grown fruit. Their vineyards are farmed sustainably and cared for by hand.
13050 Oregon Rd, Cutchogue, NY 11935, Phone: 631-734-1100
17. Queens County Farm Museum
Located on New York City's largest remaining undisturbed farmland, Queens County Farm Museum has a history that dates to 1697. The 47-acre farm includes original farm buildings, a greenhouse, farm vehicles and tools, livestock, planting fields, an herb garden, and an orchard. Today still a working farm and a museum, Queens County Farm offers visitors a pleasant and tranquil respite from the hectic city life. It is especially popular during special events, such as wreath making workshops, auto and motorcycle shows, and the Queens County Fair, which is held every year. Kids enjoy visiting the farm animals and having hayrides.
73-50 Little Neck Pkwy, Queens, NY 11004, Phone: 718-347-3276
18. Montauk Point State Park
Montauk Point State Park is located in the hamlet of Montauk, and its 862 acres include most of the eastern tip of Long Island. When the sea is calm, it is possible to see the converging tides from the Block Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. The park is covered in dense stands of trees, scrubland, and wetland ponds, which provide home to many species of birds and mammals. As you go down from the steep bluffs, the landscape changes to sandy and rocky beach. The park is world famous as the site for whale watching and launching deep sea fishing trips, since Long Island thrusts into the sea for more than 100 miles. The park is also home to the historic 1792 Montauk Light, one of the oldest in the country and the best place from which to see the entire park.
East End of Route 27, Montauk, NY, Phone: 631-668-3781
19. Things to Do Near Me Today: New York Aquarium
Originally opened in 1896 in Castle Garden in Manhattan’s Battery Park, New York Aquarium was relocated to Coney Island, Brooklyn, in 1957. It is now operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society and is a part of an integrated group of four zoos and an aquarium, the Bronx Zoo being one of them. It is the oldest American continuously working aquariums and occupies 14 acres and offers home to 266 species. Its main mission is to promote public awareness of the problems facing the ocean and its inhabitants through special exhibits, research, and public events. The aquarium operates the New York Seascape program, a local conservation effort to restore marine populations and protect local waters.
602 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224-3452, Phone: 718-265-3474
20. Things to Do on Long Island: Noguchi Museum
The Noguchi Museum was designed and built by Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi. The 24,000-square-foot two-story museum and its attached sculpture garden are located in Long Island City, a block from the Socrates Sculpture Park. It was renovated in 2004 and is now open all year round. In 1974, when he decided to build a museum, Noguchi bought a gas station and a photogravure plant located just across the street from his studio in New York, where he had lived and worked since 1961. The museum opened to the public in 1985 with the purpose to showcase and preserve Noguchi's sculptures, stage designs, architectural models, drawings, and furniture designs. It currently has 12 galleries and a gift shop.
9 - 01 33rd Rd, Long Island City, NY 11106, Phone: 718-204-7088
21. Harmony Vineyards
Harmony Vineyards is a sustainability-focused Long Island vineyard, striving to create world-class wines achieving harmony between humanity and nature. The vineyard's tasting room, which is located just three minutes via tax from the St. James LIRR Station, is housed within a National Register of Historic Places-listed waterfront home originally constructed in 1690 and renovated in 1904 by renowned New York City architect Archibald M. Brown. Visitors can taste the company's Bordeaux-style red wine blends and Chablis-style Chardonnays throughout the week, with exclusive farm-to-table waterfront Sunday brunches available with advance reservations. A curated selection of Long Island-brewed beers are also available.
169 Harbor Road, Head of the Harbor, NY 11780, Phone: 631-291-9900
22. Sailing Montauk
Enjoying the timeless beauty of Montauk from the water aboard a sailing ship is a whole new way to appreciate its beauty. Sailing Montauk offers a range of sailing trips on their 40-foot USCG-certified catamaran Mon Tiki. You can choose a 2-hour Sunset Cruise, a sail and swim trip, or the Discover Montauk experience, or you can book the ship for a private cruise for any special occasion. The Mon Tiki has 500 square feet of space on its open deck, coolers full of ice, and a Bluetooth stereo you can use to play your playlists. The Mon Tiki sails from the Montauk Yacht Club.
Montauk Yacht Club, located at 32 Star Island Rd, Montauk, NY 11954, Phone: 631-668-2826
23. Sagamore Hill
Located about 25 miles from Manhattan on the North Shore of Long Island, Sagamore Hill was the home of Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, from 1885 until 1919. He called it his Summer White House and it was luxurious for its time, with 23 rooms and a bathroom with a then-rare porcelain tub. During the years he was the president, Roosevelt hosted many foreign dignitaries at Sagamore Hill. The house was the venue of the crucial peace talks that negotiated the end to the Russo-Japanese War. Roosevelt died at Sagamore Hill in 1919 and was buried at Youngs Memorial Cemetery nearby. Today, Sagamore Hill is a National Historic Site and includes the Theodore Roosevelt Museum. More Long Island day trips
20 Sagamore Hill Rd, Oyster Bay, NY 11771-1807, Phone: 516-922-4788
24. The Heckscher Museum of Art
Located in Heckscher Park in Huntington, New York, the Heckscher Museum of Art features a collection that spans more than 500 years, with special focus on European and American art from the 19th to 21st centuries. The museum was established in 1920 by German-American industrialist August Heckscher with his gift of 185 artworks. His collection included Old Masters such as Lucas Cranach the Elder, Henry Raeburn, and François Girardon as well as renowned American painters such as Ralph Albert Blakelock, Thomas Moran, and George Inness. The museum collection grew to over 2,500 pieces of art. The museum is also a venue for a range of public programs for families, adults, and children, concerts such as the First Friday series, festivals, and workshops.
2 Prime Ave, Huntington, NY 11743, Phone: 631-351-3250
25. White Post Farm
White Post Farms has been a working family farm in Huntington, New York, since 1886. Starting with vegetables for the local market, White Post Farms evolved with the times and is today not only a working farm but also a popular agro-tourism destination for city dwellers who love to visit farm animals and pick up some fresh produce or a home-made pie. The farm has two huge bird aviaries with colorful parakeets, budgies, cockatiels, lorikeets, and love birds. There are also pony rides, bouncers, train rides, playgrounds, and much more. Kids can feed a baby giraffe, see antelopes and zebras up close, feed the sheep and goats, play in a giant sand box, and much more. The farm is a very popular place for kids’ birthday parties.
250 Old Country Rd, Melville, NY 11747, Phone: 631-351-9373
The top attractions to visit on Long Island, NY near me today according to local experts:
- 1. Old Westbury Gardens
- 2. Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
- 3. Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
- 4. Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center
- 5. Things to Do on Long Island: MoMA PS1
- 6. Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- 7. Brooklyn Bridge
- 8. Things to Do on Long Island: Brooklyn Museum
- 9. Long Island Game Farm
- 10. Coney Island
- 11. Cradle of Aviation Museum
- 12. Things to Do on Long Island: Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
- 13. Jones Beach State Park
- 14. Long Island Children's Museum
- 15. Things to Do on Long Island: Caumsett State Park
- 16. Things to Do on Long Island: Lieb Cellars
- 17. Queens County Farm Museum
- 18. Montauk Point State Park
- 19. Things to Do Near Me Today: New York Aquarium
- 20. Things to Do on Long Island: Noguchi Museum
- 21. Harmony Vineyards
- 22. Sailing Montauk
- 23. Sagamore Hill
- 24. The Heckscher Museum of Art
- 25. White Post Farm
More ideas:
Camp Hero State Park
Camp Hero State Park is a 754-acre park that occupies a part of the former Montauk Air Force Station located on Montauk Point, New York. The park is one of the few fairly undisturbed green spaces in the city with diverse ecosystems, such as dense maritime forests, large beachfront areas on the Atlantic coast, and freshwater wetlands. The park offers home to rich populations of wildlife and is a popular hiking, horseback riding, and biking destination with miles of well-maintained trails. It is also one of the best surf fishing areas in the world. The view from any spot in the park is spectacular, especially from the bluffs rising above the beach. The former air base is now a National Historic Site.
1898 Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY 11954, Phone: 631-668-3781
Montauk Point Light
The Montauk Point Light is located next to Montauk Point State Park, in the Montauk hamlet in the town of East Hampton in New York. Built of sandstone in 1796, the lighthouse was the first public work of the young United States and the first lighthouse in the State of New York. Today, it is the one of the oldest still active lighthouse in the country. The lighthouse tower is 110 feet high and currently uses a 290,000-candlepower light, which flashes every 5 seconds and can be easily seen from a distance of 17 nautical miles. The lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as a National Historic Landmark.
2000 Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY 11954-5600, Phone: 631-668-2544
Long Island Ducks Minor League Baseball
The Long Island Ducks is a minor league independent baseball team in Long Island and a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The Ducks have their permanent home at the Bethpage Ballpark, a 6,000-seat baseball stadium located in Central Islip, New York. In addition to baseball games, the Bethpage Ballpark is the site of many kids’ attractions, such as an inflatable fast pitch tent and an inflatable jump house. The "Ducks" got their name in reference to Long Island's long time duck-farming heritage. The Ducks set the single-season attendance record for the independent league baseball during the 2001 season, with 443,142 fans.
3 Court House Dr, Central Islip, NY 11722, Phone: 631-940-3825
More Ideas: Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay
Located in Oyster Bay, New York, the Planting Fields State Historic Park aims to educate, enrich, and entertain visitors of all ages about gardening and environmental conservation. Visitors can expect to experience a premier public park, garden, and estate that is sure to delight members of the entire family year-round.
History:
The Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park is a part of the non-profit organization, the Planting Fields Foundation. The foundation was started in 1979 by a board of New York State Regents as an educational foundation to serve the public.
The Arboretum State Historic Park is a gem in the collection of parks and historical sites preserved by the hard-working staff of the Planting Fields Foundation and the generous donations from the community.
The estate belonged to insurance mogul, William Robertson Coe and his wife, heiress to the Standard Oil fortune, Mai Rogers Coe. The estate is one of the last remaining Gold Coast estates along the North Shore of Long Island.
The estate is more than 409 acres and still contains its original historic structures and landscape. The house is a Tudor revival decorated in an Elizabethan style which includes many of the original pieces of furniture, rare paintings, stained glass windows from as early as the 13th century, and unique wood and stone carvings.
The Sites:
Main Greenhouse:The main greenhouse is one of the original structures from the Coe Estate and was built in the 1920’s by the Coe family to grow their rare plants and flowers. Collections found in the greenhouse includes ferns, orchids, palms, cacti, begonias, and many seasonal exhibits. The greenhouse is open year-round.
Sensory Garden:The newly opened sensory garden features gazebos along brick walkways lined with colorful and scent-filled flowers. This garden features seasonal blooms and spectacular seasonal exhibitions and events. Guests can use all five senses in this garden to enjoy one-of-a-kind multisensory experiences.
Camellia Greenhouse:This greenhouse is one of the original historical structures on the property and currently contains one of the largest collections of rare and beautiful camellias featured in a greenhouse in the Northeast. The camellia house is open year-round.
The Garden Library:The library can be found in something known as the “Hay barn complex” and serves as a haven for those interested in reading about horticulture. There are hundreds of resources available to anyone curious about gardening and environmental care.
The Coe Family Estate:The 100-year-old Tudor Revival estate is decorated in an Elizabethan style and features most of the original décor and furnishings. An abundance of rare paintings, carvings, decorations, and furniture are found all over the Gold Coast estate. Tours are given year-round.
The Arboretum: The 409-acre property is filled with rare and unique trees, shrubs, and plants for visitors to explore via walking trails. Guided educational tours are given year-round and are sure to entertain horticulture lovers of any age.
Woodland Trails:The woodland trails on the property are part of the original landscape designed by the Coe family 100 years ago. Visitors can explore and enjoy beautiful landscaped trails year-round.
Additional Information:
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay, NY 11771, Phone: 516-922-8600
More Ideas: Vanderbilt Mansion, Museum & Planetarium
Located in Centerport, New York, the Vanderbilt Mansion, Museum & Planetarium aims to foster education and enjoyment for visitors of all ages. Through preservation and interpretation of historical and cultural artifacts, the facility provides priceless educational experiences about the Gold Coast Era of Long Island. The Museum is truly unique since it contains a mansion, a planetarium, a park, and a world-class marine and natural history museum.
History:
The Vanderbilt Museum was officially opened to the public in 1950 by the State of New York upon the death of its founder and namesake, Willie Vanderbilt.
Willie was huge fan of the ocean and everything related to it, including boating, fish, and other marine life. After he spent many years traveling the sea and collecting thousands of items, he started his own personal museum in his own on Long Island.
The museum was called The Hall of Fishes and he opened it to the public in 1922. The museum continued to expand throughout his 43-acre estate along the Long Island waterfront and eventually grew to a total of 30,000 objects.
It now includes the mansion filled with thousands of historical and cultural artifacts including antique furniture, rare decorations, archives, photographs, books, and fine artwork. There is also a curator’s cottage, a boathouse, seaplane hangar, and a planetarium with a surround park.
Currently, the Museum welcomes thousands of visitors each year and hosts a large variety of educational programs and exciting events.
The Mansion:
The 24-room woodland estate of Willie Vanderbilt features distinct architecture, elegant décor, and fantastic ironwork. The estate is on more than 43 acres along the waterfront of Long Island. The mansion allows visitors to experience the privilege life that many wealthy individuals led during the Jazz Age.
The rooms are filled with priceless furniture, artwork, collectables, and personal belongings. Visitors can take a walking tour through the living-museum and see these priceless pieces up close and personal.
The Museum & Exhibits:
The Museum features the vast collection of Willie Vanderbilt which he gathered while he navigated oceans all around the globe. He found items from the Galapagos, the Pacific Islands, Asia, the Mediterranean, Africa, the Atlantic and the Caribbean.
There are thousands of specimens of bird, insect, and marine life, including some fascinating new discoveries. There are also many items such as weapons, clothing, ceremonial artifacts, and clothing from various cultures around the world. Vanderbilt collaborated with William Belanske from the American Museum of Natural History to create educational dioramas and exhibits. In fact, the world’s largest display fish, a 32-foot wale shark, is in the museum.
The Planetarium:
This educational theater features fun programs for members of the entire family underneath a newly renovated 60-foot dome. There are seasonal shows and special shows for children, adults and families. Visitors can also examine the universe with the reflecting telescope.
Education:
Willie Vanderbilt always wanted his estate to be used for educational purposes and to share his passion for the sea. The Vanderbilt Museum does just that. It focuses on a variety of history, culture, and environment educational programs for children and adults of all ages. The programs are offered year-round and include interactive workshops and hands-on activities to ensure that learning is fun!
Children can attend longer, more specialized programs on school breaks which are cohesive with the standards of the New York State curriculum. They will make exciting art projects like seashell windchimes, animal masks, watercolor paintings, and paper sculptures. A variety of science, nature, and astronomy programs are also available.
Additional Information:
Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport, New York 11721, Phone: 631-854-5579
