The truth about leaving Long Island
Fun fact: it never leaves you
When you leave home, you start to realize the things that you have taken for granted your whole life. If your home happens to be Long Island, there are certain things you miss that are just not the same anywhere else.
Flawless beaches
Whether it be a pack-the-car-up with beach towels, coolers, and friends and head south on Wantagh Parkway for the day kind of trip or a quick drive down Ocean Parkway to catch the sunset at Jones Beach, there is nothing like the shores of Long Island. From the rocky cliffs of the North Shore to the sandy dunes of the South, you can catch a scenic view of the Long Island Sound or the Atlantic Ocean from any point on the coastlines.
The best pizza and bagels
Everybody has their favorite pizza or bagel place, and they stand by that choice. It seems as if you can never drive more than a mile without finding another pizzeria or bagel shop in the shopping center across the way. Once you leave the Island, you realize that there are no other places in the world that can live up to your favorites, because it’s obviously that New York water that makes them so good.
All-night concerts and parties
Going to a concert at Jones Beach Theater is a staple on any true Long Islander’s summer list. Whether it be tailgating before a show, seeing the view from of the stage with the ocean in the background, or just sitting outside of the amphitheater at Zach’s Bay to listen with your friends, these shows always promise you a memorable summer night.
Delicious diners
Nothing compares to going to a diner on a Sunday morning with your family, or on Friday night at midnight with your friends. With the abundance of diners on Long Island, it’s difficult to pick your favorite, but you tend to see the same crowd at your towns local diner. From getting milkshakes at the famous Diner by the Sea in Long Beach, to breakfasts at the classic Broadway Diner in Hicksville, there’s always some place to go for whatever your feeling.
Weekend getaways
Driving “out East” to the North and South Forks of the Island provide fun day trips for all. Whether it be berry picking at Patty’s Berries and Bunches in Mattituck, picking pumpkins with your family at Lewin Farms in Calverton, or just a day of shopping at the outlets in Riverhead, the destination will be worth driving to the last exit on the LIE.
The most perfect sunsets
Finally, there is absolutely nothing like a Long Island sunset. Being able to watch the sun fully set on the horizon is truly a magical thing. As you watch the sun go down on the boardwalk or from your backyard, you realize how wonderful Long Island really is.