Long Island is home to some incredible restaurants. Every town you pass through has a bunch of great spots, especially for date nights.
If you’re planning a date night on Long Island, a town you should look into is Bay Shore. Bay Shore, Long Island is located on the south shore in Suffolk County.
It has recently been revitalized and many new restaurants and bars have popped up making it an awesome Long Island date spot.
If you are planning a date night, check out these 5 Bay Shore Restaurants! Not only is the food incredible at all five, but the atmosphere and service is top notch.
5 Bay Shore Restaurants for Your Next Long Island Date Night
Verde Kitchen & Cocktails
Hours: Monday | 12pm – 9pm Tuesday – Thursday | 12pm – 10pm Friday – Saturday | 12pm – 11pm Sunday | 12pm – 9pm Bar is open an hour later every night ** _____ Website Instagram
Coastal Kitchen
Hours: Monday – Thursday | 11:30am – 10pm Friday – Saturday | 11:30am – 11pm Sunday | 11:30am – 9pm Bar is open two hours later every night ** _____ Website Instagram
Looking for a place to grab a quality lunch in Garden City? Look no further!
Garden City, on Long Island, has tons to offer including some amazing restaurants. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite during your work lunch hour or looking to enjoy a sit down lunch, Garden City has it all.
Check out some of the best lunch restaurants in Garden City!
Babylon Village is a great stop to grab dinner and enjoy a night out. It’s also home one of the few remaining Cold Stone Creameries on Long Island. If you’re looking for a great night out then Babylon is the town on Long Island that you need to visit. There are places to grab a drink all over which makes it a great town to post up and bar crawl in.
If you’re new to grabbing a drink at a Babylon bar or just looking for some ideas for places to meet up with your friends, then you’re in the right spot! Check out these 5 Babylon bars you should grab a drink at :
So you find yourself looking for restaurants in Smithtown, New York. Here are a few that you should absolutely try. Whether it is for a date night dinner, birthday dinner, or celebration of any kind, any of these 5 Smithtown restaurants are bound to be a hit.
Long Island is home to some amazing restaurants, most you’ve probably never even heard of before. I don’t know about you but sometimes I get stuck going to the same few restaurants that I love because they’re so amazing that I forget to branch out and try new spots. Hopefully you’ll see something in this post that will inspire you to try a new Long Island restaurant that you haven’t eaten at before!
Whether you’re in Suffolk Country or Nassau County, these restaurants are worth the drive. These are also great Long Island restaurants to plan a date night around! Check out the town and explore a dessert spot near by to make the most of your trip. Check out these 5 Best Long Island Restaurants that you need to try.
Northport, New York Hours: Tuesday – Friday | 11:30am – close Saturday – Sunday| 10am – close All Day Brunch on the Weekends| 10am – 3:30pm _____ Website Instagram
Long Island is typically known as a Summer destination – The Hamptons, Montauk, and Fire Island are just a few places on Long Island that have grown in notoriety recently. These spots that were once known by the locals only have become luxury summer vacation spots to those living in New York City and beyond. With all the hype about Long Island being a summer destination, what about visiting in the winter?
I may be biased, but Long Island is a great place to be for all four seasons. Winter is very pleasant on Long Island and isn’t is a bad time to come check it out.
Why Should You Visit Long Island in the Winter?
1. It’s less crowded.
No need to dodge all the weekender traffic on the Long Island Expressway in the winter. You won’t have to deal with anyone except the locals, for the most part.
2. There’s great seasonal activities.
Sure putting your wetsuit on an surfing in the winter may be attractive to some, but for the others who don’t feel like freezing in the ocean there are plenty of seasonal activities to take part in.
3. It’s beautiful.
If you are lucky and visit Long Island in the winter when it’s snowing, then you are in for a treat. Long Island is a beautiful place on any day but add in the snow combined with the beach and you have the perfect winter day.
What Can You Do on Long Island in the Winter?
The opportunities are really endless whether you want to be indoors or explore outdoors. Here are some great places you should check out on Long Island in the winter.
Long Island is notoriously known as a Summer spot and is highly trafficked in between Memorial Day and Labor Day by those who live in New York City. I don’t blame them for coming out this way, Long Island has everything you could want for an epic Summer weekend – the beaches, the relaxation, the amazing restaurants. But once the Summer House leases end, so does a lot of the city-slickers which makes room for the locals! Granted, we the city people come out east to the island, they’re immediately going to the Hamptons or Montauk. There’s a whole lot more in between NYC and the Hamptons, but I’ll leave that for another post.
With the summer Long Island hype dying down and the New York City locals returning to the concrete jungle, it can only mean one thing – Fall is around the corner. Fall on Long Island is very different than summer on Long Island, but just as enjoyable (but for different reasons).
Visiting Long Island in the Fall is the best time to visit, in my opinion. Here are 6 reasons why :
6 Reasons to Visit Long Island This Fall
Fall Activities on the North Fork
This one is pretty much a given and isn’t much of a secret… The North Fork of Long Island is already a packed house in the fall, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be mentioned here. Between all the farm stands, apple picking, pumpkin picking, sunflower fields, corn mazes, and more, the North Fork on Long Island is the ultimate Fall destination on Long Island. Visiting Long Island in the fall means going back home with an endless supply of apples, pumpkins, plenty of local beers & wines, and maybe a pie or two from a local farm stand. The North Fork is very different from the South Fork, which gets most of the notoriety in the Summer season. You’re in for a laid back, relaxing, slow-paced (by New York standards) trip that is very different from the fat paced, party scene of the South Fork during the Summer.
Because of it’s popularity, I’d recommend visiting early in the Fall season. My cousins and I went on Labor Day Weekend 2 years ago, and it was the most enjoyable Fall Trip to the North Fork to date. We went apple picking, went through the corn maze, stopped by the sun flower field, and grabbed some wine at a local vineyard, and most importantly successfully avoided the crowds. Going early means missing out on some of the live music, pumpkins, and more seasonal activities like hay rides and haunted houses, but it is a very small price to pay in order to beat the crowds.
Colder Nights
We all know it will be 70’s / 80’s all the way through September, especially this year with the crazy heat. Nothing beats a warm fall day on the beach, followed by an epic sunset – now throw in that its sweatshirt weather and it’s a perfect night. No more muggy, hot, humid, nights – at least less often. Whether you are at the beach are walking around Sag Harbor, it’s a more enjoyable without getting drenched in sweat from the crazy heat.
There’s just something special about warm days, being able to enjoy all the outdoor activities during the day, like the beach, outdoor dining, hiking and be able to enjoy a nice night with a bonfire and some warm drinks.
Looking for the best breakfast on Long Island? Look no further. I’ve put together a list of some the best breakfast places that Suffolk County has to offer. If you are looking for some Long Island brunch spots, this list can double as that too! These are not listed in any order, so you should…
It’s Pumpkin Season – which means pumpkin beer! There are so many Long Island Breweries, located all throughout the Island – from Barrier Brewing Company to Port Jeff Brewing Co. and from St. James Brewery to Moustache Brewing Co. The breweries on Long Island should be it’s own reasons to visit Long Island, but the pumpkin beer is definitely a reason to visit Long Island in the Fall.
I’ve already seen Leaf Pile Ale from Greenport Brewing Company out and about! I spoke to some friends at Port Jeff Brewing Co. and Boo Brew will be hitting the shelves soon. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to plan a brewery tour of Long Island to try out all of the Pumpkin Beers.
Haunted Houses
Although I am a big baby and don’t do haunted houses, there are quite a few incredible haunted houses on Long Island that are worth visiting this Fall. There really is a haunted house for every level of fear you are looking for. Family friend to fearing for you life level scary. ‘ Chambers of Hell ‘ located in Hauppauge, New York continues to be one of the top rated haunted houses in the nation, coming in at #1 in New York State and 39th best haunted house in 2021. Gateway Playhouse always puts on a show with their Drive-Through attraction “Haunted Playhouse,” located in Bellport, New York. Deepwells Farm in Head of the Harbor, New York, adds a historical touch to their haunted house ‘ Haunted Mansion ‘ which adds in a unique element since Deepwells Farm is known for its paranormal activity and real-life ghost encounters that happen year round on the property.
If you’re looking for a great scare this Fall, there’s no need to travel way upstate or into New Jersey or further. There is a plethora of options to visit this Fall on Long Island!
Coffee Shops are my go-to spots – morning, afternoon, or night! Back when Covid-19 wasn’t a thing, you could find me posted up at a local coffee shop working on this blog or some of my work projects. The atmosphere is always so welcoming and they are all decorated so cute. It’s safe to safe…
Being in the Northeast means all 4 seasons! Getting to see the leaves change color is such a highlight on the Fall on Long Island. Visiting Long Island in the Fall is a great time to really take in the changing of the seasons. The leaves changing mixed with the serene landscape is a recipe for the perfect Fall vision. There is way too many hiking trails to list, but all have their own unique view of the Fall Foliage – especially those that run near the water on either the north or south shore. There’s something very special about seeing the reds, yellows, and oranges in the tress right next to the water line. From Nassau County to Suffolk County, the fall foliage is on display.
One of my favorite hiking spots is Avalon Preserve in Stony Brook, New York. The rich history of Stony Brook is attractive in its own right, but the amazing walk through nature, especially in the Fall, is worth visiting.
Locals Only
The best part of Fall on Long Island is that it is mainly just the locals! Visiting Long Island in the Fall is a great time to take in everything Long Island has to offer without all the commercialized, tourist-trappy, Instagram clout chasing, parts of the Summer that make it all seem in-authentic. At the end of the day Long Island is an amazing place to visit Year-round, no matter the season. Long Island can get a bad reputation in the summer, especially with all the negativity press around the $90 chicken fingers this summer. Once all the summer craziness slows down, the beauty of Long Island really shines. Enjoying Long Island as the locals do is the best way to really immerse yourself in the amazing place that I am lucky to call home.
After what has been (and honestly continues to be) the world’s most crazy and hectic summer, Ian and I finally found some time to enjoy a much needed unplanned date night. Last weekend was really no different from the rest of the insane weekends we’ve been doing all summer ( Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Birthday Weekends, Lacrosse Tournaments, anything you can think of we’re had on our calendar this summer), considering we had a Bat Mitzvah and a Guyanese Wedding to attend, but we somehow managed to get a few hours to spend together in Port Jefferson for a date night on Saturday.
Every weekend has been regimented, there’s been so much to get done that the only way to fit everything in is to make wild schedules – wake up at this time, be ready to leave by 9, stop at Target or CVS, grab a quick lunch, off to the next event, try to catch a breath, drive another hour, get to the restaurant for dinner, get home at 1am and set your alarm to wake up at 6am… It’s been more stressful than relaxing, even with my amazing Summer Fridays from work. When we found a few hours on Saturday Night that weren’t accounted for, we immediately knew that a spontaneous, no thought, low-key date night was needed.
We didn’t want anything crazy, just a simple night – no fancy restaurant, no crazy traveling involved, just a low-key night spent together. Jumping in Ian’s cute little BMW 2002 and heading over to Port Jefferson was the obvious choice!
We wanted low-key, but we also wanted great food that doesn’t break the bank – Slurp it was. Located right in town, we were able to find a parking spot super close so there was no need to drive around like crazy trying to find something. Parking in Port Jefferson is notoriously difficult, but we had no issue finding a solid spot on the side of the road without having to go into any of the parking lots. We started off with Bao Buns for an appetizer. For Dinner, Ian got the Vegan Slurp Ramen and I got the Spicy Slurp. Both were pretty damn good and I would absolutely get them again.
A short walk across the way from Slurp leads you to Port Jeff Brewing Co. It was the perfect night to sit outside and Port Jeff Brewing had tons of outdoor seating, for all different sizes of groups. There was no live music when we went on Saturday, but they had a schedule up for all the days bands would be coming to play. There were dates throughout September, so even after Summer officially ends you can still enjoy outdoor entertainment. We were hoping to grab a Sour at Port Jeff Brewing because its out latest obsession, unfortunately they were sold out BUT we did get the amazing news that are going to be releases Boo! Brew soon!!
Walk by the Water
I really wish I took more pictures of the night because it was the best weather possible. We decided to keep the night rolling, and walk off the ramen, by heading down the water. We head past Danfords and made our way down to the Port Jefferson Visitors Center. The lit path was a perfect walk to the “beach” area – it was late at this point but you wouldn’t of guessed it purely based by the amount of people who were also out and about. We made our way past the #PJBIGCHAIR and naturally had to get a picture of Ian… He’s 6’6″ but by the picture you can barely tell.
We rested by the Big Chair for a bit enjoying the live music that could be heard from Danfords. After a couple Billy Joel singalongs and some boat watching, we decided to call it a night. It was a blast just heading out to Port Jefferson without a plan for a low-key date night. There were so many great spots to choose from but our little date night in Port Jefferson was perfect for us!
If you’re thinking about a spontaneous date night on Long Island, Port Jefferson is a great spot to pick!
Living on Long Island means you pretty much live where other people vacation. It took me my almost 30 years of life, and living in another state, to really come to terms with that and realize what a great place to live Long Island is. There’s so much to do, including go to my favorite place, Fire Island.
Located just south of Long Island, it’s a short ferry or boat ride from the mainland, but provides picture perfect ocean views, adorable restaurants & shops, and everything you would want in a quaint beach town. Before you go to fire island, here are some things you need to know and prepare for!
7 Things You Must Do Before You Go to Fire Island, New York
1. Research the Different Towns
There are so many different places you can go in Fire Island – Kismet, Davis Park, Ocean Beach, just to name a few! Each have their own quirks and charms. It’s important to know that each town is different, some have more restaurants than others, some have stricter beach rules than others, some are much more expensive than others… Do you research to make sure you are going to the best spot for your trip. Trust me, there are very different places you should be going for family trips with children or for bachelorette parties.
2. Book Hotels/Rentals in Wayyyyy Advance
Knowing how small the island is and how dedicated people are to returning to the same place the same week every single year, it’s important to get ahead of the rental game. Not only is booking in advance helpful for getting good rates and the exact dates that you want, but also good properties. Like the towns, not all hotels/rental houses are created equal. Some are brand new fully gut-renovated mansions (that come with a hefty price tag), while others are quaint small 1-bedroom bungalows. Locking in your accommodations early is also important because popular dates fill up quickly!!
3. Get a Beach Cart
I know I mentioned this in a previous point, but the beach cart needs its own blurb. Because there are no cars, you only mode of transportation is your feet or a bike. While most ferries don’t allows bikes on the boat over, you are looking at walking with all of your belongings to your house. If it is close to the ferry dock, you’re in luck. If not, you may be setting yourself up for failure without one. There are plenty of places where you can rent beach carts, but you can also pick up one of your own. The one linked is from Amazon, so all my last-minute shoppers, you can have this in two days! They aren’t too expensive and if you’re a beach person, this will itself off in no time.
Fire Island is a small island with no cars. The only way to access is by boat, which means it costs a decent amount to import food, water, clothes, sunscreen, toiletries, and everything we take for granted on the main land. Mark ups are incredibly high and because its such a small island, theres typically only 1 maybe 2 stores where you can get what you need – which means they can charge whatever they want. To avoid spending a large chunk of your spending money on water and food, liberally pack these items with you! Make sure to stock your beach cart and coolers full, the ferries do a great job of helping you load and unload all your belongings!
5. Buy Bathing Suits
You will be living in bathing suits. Whether you are walking to the beach, tanning, or grabbing food, chances are you’ll be in a bathing suit and a cover up. It honestly may be the only outfit you have to pack! Everything is super casual on the island. You can obviously get dressed up and be fancy, but you risk sticking out like a sore thumb! This is an incredibly laid-back island, remember that.
6. Research the Laws of the Town you are Visiting
Another one that was briefly mentioned before. Each town has their own laws, some are more strict than others and most have different rules. The last thing you want is to get in trouble on Fire Island. That would mean another trip back at a later date for court and a typically hefty fine. These towns are also historically known for being very strict when it comes to the rules. At the end of the day, Fire Island is a small island and the owners, police, and regulars like to keep the towns peaceful and free of trouble, so the police will intervene to uphold the rules. That’s why it is important to know the rules before you go, some are kinda ridiculous but you still need to abide by them! I guess it’s a locals only kinda thing…
7. Get Ready for an Awesome Trip & Start Planning for Next Year
Once you go to Fire Island, you will want to go back. There is so much charm to the island and really makes you forget about all the stress and problems on the main-island. Make sure you fully disconnect to really make the most of your trip to Fire Island!
It’s the words that no one on Long Island wants to hear, “summer is almost over.” We wait all year for these three months, just to have them disappear shortly after they’ve finally arrived. With the sun setting before 8pm again, it’s tough to deny it but Fall will be here before we know it.
Summer on Long Island is the absolutely best and cannot be matched. It really flies by every year. I’m happy I was able to make it out east, to Fire Island, and also to New York City. I swear, having all of those options right at your finger tips is what makes living on Long Island so great. With Fall approaching, there’s plenty more amazing things to do, but before we get there – here’s 10 things to do before the sun sets on sweet Summertime :
1. Go to A Concert At Jones Beach Theatre
Concerts are back and just in time for the end of Summer! Between the recent shows of Incubus and Taking Back Sunday – the fun is never ending over at the Jones Beach Theatre. Pack your coolers and get ready to tailgate until the sun goes down! The best part of tailgating for concerts at Jones Beach is meeting all the other people who made the trip. You really meet some of the nicest humans from all over Long Island and beyond. Not to mention the actual concert is a blast – Listening to your favorite artists with the most picturesque backdrop just can’t be beat.
Located right off Ocean Parkway at Tobay Beach, in technically Massapequa, Surf Shack is exactly what it promises – a “Flip Flop Coastal Kitchen.” With great food and drinks this is a great spot to just relax and hang with friends or family. It’s not a bad place to catch a sunset or live out the last few days of summer. There’s also great live music!
The North Fork of Long Island is the ultimate summer getaway. Staying away from the craziness of the Hamptons, the North Fork gives heavy stay-cation vibes with a big classy energy. Between exploring the wineries, cider house, and vodka distillery and shopping local at all the adorable farm stands, there are plenty of incredible restaurants waiting for you. Book an airbnb or stay at a quaint Bed and Breakfast to kick start an amazing summer getaway on the Northfork. Southhold, Greenport, and even Jamesport are great towns to spend a relaxing weekend!
4. Drive on Ocean Parkway During Sunset
This is for all my car lovers out there – There’s no better view of a Long Island sunset than the one from Ocean Parkway. With water on both sides, you get all the feels of summer from the comfort of your own vehicle. Roll down the windows and enjoy the breeze of ocean air. Looking to get out of your house and escape? Try this out. It’s a great little drive that will make you feel beyond content and ready to take on the next day!
5. Go For a Walk on The Jones Beach Boardwalk
There’s something about the South Shore Beaches – the ocean, the atmosphere, and the energy. Head down to the Jones Beach Boardwalk for a nice evening of relaxation and ocean views! When the beach goers start to leave, the craziness dies down and walking along the boardwalk you have the best views of the sunset. They recently added brand new volleyball courts, bocce ball courts, and little mini tennis courts. You can rent equipment and play or bring your own. There’s even a bird walk portion of the boardwalk. You can break off the main path and walk above the dunes to see all the wildlife that life in the area – great for kids and nature lover’s of all ages! Walking on the Jones Beach Boardwalk is not just a walk, there’s so much to do and so much to see. A must for any end of summer activity to do on Long Island.
6. Enjoy a Glass of Wine at Del Vino’s Vineyard in Northport
Don’t feel like driving in Hamptons traffic to head out east to grab a great glass of wine? Not a problem – Make a stop at Del Vino in Northport. Nestled away from major roads and Northport’s Main Street, when you are at Del Vino you are really taking a break from it all (Not like you really need to it’s not like we live in New York City)! With a wide array of wine and local beer to choose from, Del Vino is a great place to decompress after a tough work week. In my opinion, it is the perfect Long Island Summer date spot – so make your reservation and enjoy the end of summer at the vineyard!
7. Enjoy a Fishing Trip on a Boat Out of Captree
End your Long Island summer the right way with a fishing trip in the bay heading out of Captree! You can charter a boat yourself with a group of friends or family, or join in on a boat with other’s. Getting out to fish is easy on these charters, whether you’re a seasoned vet or a rookie. Historically these boats leave pretty early in the morning, so pack your lunch plenty of sunscreen and water and get ready for a day of fishing! If you get lucky you might even have some dinner to take home. For you night owls, there are also plenty of charters that leave in the evening. Regardless of when you choose to go, fishing out of Captree is a fun adventure to end summer for any group of friends of family!
8. Have a Beer at Port Jeff Brewery
Consider this some extra peer pressure to get get a Pier Pressure from Port Jeff Brewery. With an outdoor deck and plenty of seating, this brewery is the perfect spot to end a nice summer night. Between the amazing beer and amazing people, there’s not much else to want! Keep an eye out for dates where live music is playing – if you thought it couldn’t get any better, it does. Port Jeff Brewery has a great location right in the center of town – grab a beer before or after dinner, or run across the way and grab Ice Cream or Ralph’s! A quick trip to the Port Jeff Brewery can become a whole day outing in no time.
9. Spend a Day at the Beach at Robert Moses
A classic Long Island Beach Day is a staple of summer. Load up the car, grad lunch from the deli, pack the chairs and towels and head down to the south shore and enjoy the Atlantic Ocean at Robert Moses State Park. If you haven’t made it to the beach yet this summer, this is your sign to go make it happen.
* Pro Tip – pack sweat shirts and blankets and enjoy the sunset before packing up to head home!
10. Get Some Ice Cream from Kith Treats at Manhasset Americana
The original cereal infused ice cream? Sign me up. I may be excited to post this because I just recently found out this location existed. I used to plan city trips around getting this incredible ice cream, but not any more thanks to this great little location that is attached to Hirschleifers at Manhasset Americana. Pick between chocolate or vanilla ice cream in either a cup or shake and add your favorite toppings. They also have a menu to select from if you can’t make up your mind. My go to is “The Wifey” – something about the Nutella drizzle makes it the best thing on the entire menu. Plus they do collaborations with public figures so keep an eye out for new items added to the menu!
Teena Fey 