Quantcast

Enjoy the beauty of Long Island’s state parkland by taking a one-day road trip through several of the region’s parkways, preserves and historic sites.

Start your trip in Nassau County, heading east of the Southern State Pkwy. to the Meadowbrook Pkwy. south to Jones Beach State Park — one of the largest beach-front public recreation facilities in the world.
Welcoming you to this seaside gem is the Jones Beach Water Tower, standing 231 feet high and holding more than 300,000 gallons of water. Enjoy swimming along six miles of beaches with two bathhouses, Olympic-size pools, diving areas and wading pools.
Zack’s Bay offers bayside swimming perfect for little children. Walk the 1.5 mile long boardwalk and play miniature golf or dance to one of the bands performing at the bandshell. Refreshments are available throughout the park, including a full-service restaurant, an ice-cream parlor and various snack bars. Jones Beach Theatre provides a summer schedule of the best in popular music concerts.
Go east on the scenic Ocean Pkwy. to Captree State Park. Fishing is game here with a boat basin housing a fleet of open and charter fishing boats sailing daily. South of Captree, on the west end of Fire Island, is Robert Moses State Park. Play golf on the picturesque 18-hole pitch and putt golf course over looking the Atlantic Ocean or enjoy swimming at one of the ocean front beaches.
Head north on the Robert Moses Causeway to Route 27 east, then south on the Southern State Pkwy. to Heckscher State Park. Bicycle throughout the park, stopping to take a swim in the Great South Bay or in the pool. Launch your boat and enjoy a boat ride on the bay. End your day by pitching a tent and camping in one of the 69 sites.