Summer Fun on Long Island

From the powder-fine, white sands of Long Beach to the pounding surf of Montauk, Long Island has a variety of beautiful beaches on its north and south shores. It's no surprise that Stephen Leatherman, a.k.a. "Dr. Beach" has selected several Long Island beaches, year after year, for his annual list of America's Top 10 Beaches. Read more...

Throughout Long Island, there are summer concerts and many are for free. So take your pick of the following, bring blankets or chairs and sit back and listen to music ranging from classical to classic rock and everything in between.

Enjoy the sights and scents of lush greenery and colorful flowers blossoming in public gardens on Long Island. Whether on the grounds of former Gold Coast mansions or set across acres of carefully planted arboretums, Long Island gardens will give you leisure time in the sun. Read more at:

• Gardens on Long Island
• Outdoor Sculpture Garden at the Nassau County Museum of Art

When the sun is shining during the day and even the nights are pleasantly warm, you can enjoy your meals at many restaurants with outdoor dining, facing the ocean, a bay, pond or picturesque street. Read more about Long Island Outdoor Dining...

From Oyster Bay, once home to Teddy Roosevelt's "Summer White House," to Lloyd Neck where Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie once rented a luxurious estate, Long Island's neighborhoods offer great scenery and attractions. Read about walking and driving tours at:

• Oyster Bay Walking & Driving Tour
• Tour of Lloyd Neck
• Cold Spring Harbor Walking & Driving Tour
• Walking Tour of the Port Washington Waterfront

With its gently rolling hills and sprawling, flat landscapes, Long Island is a great place to play golf. From the legendary Black Course at Bethpage State Park --- several times home to the U.S. Open--- to numerous courses in Nassau and Suffolk, read more about Long Island Public Golf Courses...

Summer is a wonderful time to get married on Long Island. Read about Five Fabulous Wedding Locations on Long Island and Long Island Wine Country Weddings.

There are plenty of places to enjoy the great outdoors on beautiful Long Island. Read about places like Garvies Point Museum & Preserve, where you can stroll after seeing the indoor attraction. Or explore Grumman Memorial Park, a free, outdoor attraction that features a number of authentic aircraft.

There's always lots of indoor and outdoor fun at the Long Island Children's Museum and Atlantis Marine World features live animal shows in its outdoor arena.

The Belmont Stakes is a 1 1/2-mile thoroughbred horse race held annually each June at Belmont Park Race Track in Elmont, Nassau County, NY. This popular event always draws an enthusiastic crowd, with a record attendance of over 120,000 in 2004. This legendary race is the third leg of the famous "Triple Crown," consisting of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and finally, the Belmont Stakes....Read more about the Belmont Stakes...

Discovery Wetlands Cruises starting at Stony Brook Harbor, will take you through the scenic wetlands to see birds and marine life as well as beautiful scenery. Read more about Discovery Wetland Cruises...

Or take a tour through the Peconic River with Atlantis Explorer Tour Boat Cruises, leaving from Atlantis Marine World.

Summer is also a great time to take your furry friend out for a walk. Read about Dog Runs on Long Island where you and Fido can meet other dogs and their people while getting some exercise.

Every Saturday from the beginning of June through the end of October, you can stroll through Port Washington's Town Dock to buy a variety of freshly-picked fruits and vegetables, delicious baked goods and more. Read more about the Port Washington Organic Farmers Market....

Any season is a good time to go shopping on Long Island. Read about:

• Shopping Malls & Outlets in Nassau County
• Shopping in Suffolk County
• The Americana Manhasset Shopping Center and
• Tanger Outlets - Riverhead.