Beautiful parks, preserves, arboretums, and beaches are just some of the reasons why we are proud to call New York our home. We gathered a list of some of our favorite local spots in Long Island, Brooklyn, and Queens.
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Parks for the Beach Goer
Jones Beach State Park
2400 Ocean Parkway Wantagh, NY 11793
This is an iconic beach destination for residents from all over Long Island and New York City. Some activities include but are not limited to: walking and biking on the boardwalk, swimming (in the pool or in the ocean), bird watching, zip-lining at the adventure park, and more. During Memorial Day weekend you can attend the Bethpage Air Show. Additionally, Jones Beach hosts the Magic of Lights holiday show.
Ocean Beach Park
(Multiple Entrances) Long Beach, NY 11561
This beach is popular for its surfable waves, beach, and boardwalk (with a bike lane). In the summer, locals enjoy attending movie nights on the beach (check the Long Beach Movie Nights Facebook Page) or a concert from the Free Summer Concert Series.
Robert Moses State Park
600 Robert Moses State Parkway Babylon, NY 11702
Located on the south shore, Robert Moses State Park offers public beach access to Long Island residents. Go to field 5 and walk to the Fire Island Lighthouse (via boardwalk or beach). Venture past the lighthouse to explore Kismet in Fire Island. If you are a golfer or you enjoy volleyball visit field 2 from early spring to late fall.
Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk
(Multiple Entrances) Rockaway, Queens, NY
This popular beach destination is especially preferred by New York City residents because of its accessibility via the subway. There are multiple amenities here including eateries, fitness equipment, barbequing areas, handball courts, and more. Rockaway Beach is also a popular surfing destination.
Smith Point County Park
1 William Floyd Parkway Shirley, NY 11967
Smith Point County Park is a great park for eastern Suffolk County residents who enjoy camping, going to the beach, off-roading, scuba diving, fishing, and more. In the winter you can also drive through the Smith Point Light Show.
Sunken Meadow State Park
Rte. 25A and Sunken Meadow Parkway Kings Park, NY 11754
This park has the hallmark of Long Island’s North Shore beaches due to its rocky beach makeup. Plus, the water here is calm because it is on the Long Island Sound. Head north on the Sagtikos Parkway and stay on it until the parkway ends. There is a ¾-mile boardwalk, fields for playing sports or picnicking, a playground, food concessions, golf, and more. From the boardwalk and beach, you can see Connecticut on a clear day! This is a beautiful spot for watching the sunset.
Parks and Arboretums for History and Architecture Lovers
Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park
440 Montauk Highway Great River, NY 11739
Transport yourself to a different time with this waterfront estate on the south shore. On the grounds, you will find the Cutting family’s former summer estate, along with a collection of trees and plants throughout the ground. Visit the Hidden Oak Cafe for a casual lunch on the back porch or a fancy Victorian Tea.
Coe Hall/Planting Fields Arboretum
1395 Planting Fields Road Oyster Bay, NY 11771
The large collections of plants, trees, and flowers combined with impressive architecture make this arboretum and former estate a lush and lavish example of why Long Island’s north shore was once called the “gold coast”.
Camp Hero State Park
1898 Montauk Highway Montauk, NY 11954
If eerie conspiracies (see Montauk Project or Netflix’s Stranger Things) or history excite you (it was formerly a military base), this is a unique national landmark on the easternmost end of Long Island. The dramatic satellite dish, bluffs, and signage on the grounds are worth the day trip.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
(Multiple Entrances) Corona, Queens, NY
This park has a lot to offer its visitors. It is home to the World’s Fair, Hall of Science, NY State Pavilion, Terrace on the Park, US OPEN, and Citi Field making this park an unmistakable hallmark of Queens. There is a ton of history here.
Mitchell Park
115 Front Street Greenport, NY 11944
Take a day trip out to Greenport for the waterfront views and antique carousel at Mitchell Park. Walk around nostalgic Greenport for its boutiques, antique shops, and restaurants.
Montauk Lighthouse (Montauk Point State Park)
2000 Montauk Highway Montauk, NY 11954
Visit “the end” of Long Island for a scenic view of the Montauk Lighthouse, which is a National Historic Landmark.
Parks and Preserves for Nature Lovers
Argyle Park
NY-27A Babylon, NY 11702
Argyle Park is a good outdoor option if you are not extremely outdoorsy because it is not too large and it is close to local shops and restaurants. The lake has a path around it making it a great spot for a leisurely stroll. Plus, there is a small playground for kids. The waterfall can be seen right off of NY-27A and is a distinct feature of the park. Argyle Park is host to town fairs like the Annual Fair at Argyle Park in the fall.
Avalon Nature Preserve
200 Harbor Road Stony Brook, NY 11790
Do not let the entrance deceive you. When you approach the preserve, it is easy to assume that it’s just a small pond in the front, but walk on the boardwalk to the right of the pond to find a pathway to a whole world of walking trails, ponds, a labyrinth, and more.
Blydenburgh County Park
Veteran’s Memorial Highway Smithtown, NY 11788
Reconnect with nature through Blydenburgh County Park’s rowboat rentals, camping sites, trails, and picnic sites. Bring your dog to the gated dog park and let them roam freely. On some trails, you can walk right up to the water and get lost in the grandness of this haven in the middle of the suburbs.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
(Multiple Entrances) Brooklyn, NY
Explore the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s many gardens, collections, and conservatories containing a vast collection of plants. There are always plants in bloom, regardless of when you go.
Connetquot River State Park Preserve
3525 Sunrise Highway Oakdale, NY 11769
Connetquot River State Park Preserve is great for fresh-water fly fishing (special permits and rules apply), hiking the trails, bird and wildlife watching, and spotting rare plants. Don’t forget to bring quarters to feed the fish at the hatchery!
Fire Island’s Sunken Forest
Sailor’s Haven via the Sayville Ferry
This unique national park is accessible via the Sayville ferry. Walk the boardwalk through this beach forest then head to the beach.
Prospect Park
(Multiple Entrances) Brooklyn, NY
There is something for everyone at this sprawling park. For example, visitors can go fishing, hiking, discover architectural structures, ice skate or roller blade (depending on the season), visit the zoo, and more.
Parks, Preserves, and Beaches by Permit or Leisure Pass
Every municipality has its unique parks and amenities worth enjoying. Check your town’s parks and recreation website for additional access to resident-only parks, beaches, and recreational amenities. In some cases, you may need to apply for a park permit or leisure pass that will grant you access to town parks and beaches. These additional parks and leisure centers may have special amenities such as public pools, beach access, spray parks, playgrounds, skate parks, sporting fields, boating slips, and more.
New York Park Directories
There are so many sight-worthy parks and outdoor spaces to choose from that we could not list them all (see our map for extras)! Find additional information on local parks, beaches, preserves, etc. with these state and county resources:
With this app, you can save your favorite parks and receive push notifications about closings and other information. This is especially helpful in the summer if you are planning to go to the beach. It will save you the aggravation of driving all the way there just to find out your favorite field(s) are closed.
- Suffolk County, NY: Parks Department
- Nassau County, NY: Parks and Recreation
- New York City Parks & Recreation
Additional Parks We Like
