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Long Island is considered a haven for residents and visitors alike. The longest and largest island in the contiguous United States, Long Island stretches over 100 miles from New York City to Montauk Point, offering pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches on its famous South Shore and quaint towns on its North Shore. Though a well-known summer destination for celebrities as well as singles, couples, and families, Long Island is also home to several million residents who enjoy the island’s unique beauty and a myriad of recreational opportunities. From fabulous art galleries and museums to exceptional fishing spots, golf courses to great restaurants, beautiful bike trails to spectacular white sandy beaches, there’s virtually something for everyone. Located in the northern center of the island, Stony Brook is also close to the excitement of Manhattan where an easy commute places you at the doorsteps of world-famous museums, professional and college sporting and concert events, and restaurants of every cuisine. What makes Long Island special? | World Famous Beaches | 
| Long Island is known for its beautiful beaches—more than 100 of them—from the large public stretches with multiple amenities, to quiet, private coves at the ends of residential streets. Each summer hundreds of thousands visit Long Island for a taste of the tropics within driving distance. Close by… Stony Brook Beach, Stony Brook
Crab Meadow Beach, Northport
Crescent Beach, Huntington
Cedar Beach, Mt. Sinai
Fleet’s Cove Beach, Huntington A short drive away… Jones Beach, Wantagh
Robert Moses State Park, Fire Island
Ocean Beach Park, Long Beach
Tobay Beach, Massapequa
Smith Point County Park, Shirley
Cupsogue Beach, Westhampton
Gilgo Beach, Babylon For more Long Island beaches and details: www.exploreli.com/beaches/ Top of page | | Spectacular Sporting Events | 
| From professional hockey to thoroughbred racing, minor league baseball, and exceptional college teams, Long Island has it all. Close by… Stony Brook Seawolves
For jump-to-your feet exciting football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, tennis, track and field, soccer, volleyball, and more, the team events of the Stony Brook University Seawolves just can’t be beat. Visit the Web site to find great seats and the schedule: www.goseawolves.cstv.com A short drive away… Belmont Racetrack
After the Preakness and the Kentucky Derby comes the Belmont Stakes race at Belmont Racetrack—Long Island’s own thoroughbred track. Magnificent horses are raced at this century-old track during the spring and early summer, and again from Labor Day through mid October. www.nyra.com New York Islanders Hockey
The New York Islanders is Long Island’s own professional hockey team. Based in Uniondale, this exciting team has won four consecutive Stanley Cup championships and has eight members in the Hockey Hall of Fame. www.newyorkislanders.com Long Island Ducks
A great baseball experience close to home is what the family-friendly Long Island Ducks are all about. Besides terrific team playing from a well-rounded professional team, great views from every seat, and the high jinks of team mascot Quacker Jack, fans can also enjoy plenty of on- and off-field entertainment including giveaways, fan versus fan competitions, trivia contests, and carnival style amusements. Founded in 1998, the Ducks are a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, playing their home games in Bethpage Ballpark in Central Islip. www.liducks.com New York Mets
Now in their beautiful new home, CitiField, in Queens, NY, the New York Mets, playing since the early 1960s, continue to excite loyal and new fans alike with their unwavering passion and winning ways. www.mets.mlb.com New York Yankees
The 2009 World Series Champions, Yankees, are one of America’s most successful sports franchises, achieving 27 World Series Championships and 40 American League pennants. In the new Yankee Stadium, built in 2009, the team continues to be one of New York’s best-loved attractions. www.yankees.mlb.com New York Knicks
Since their debut in 1946, the New York Knickerbockers have thrilled sports fans with powerful players, incredible coaching, and numerous championships. The team’s home base is Madison Square Garden, considered by many to be the world’s most famous sports arena. www.nba.com/knicks Top of page | | Exceptional Arts Venues | 
| Close by… Staller Center for the Arts
Located on the Stony Brook University campus, the Staller Center for the Arts presents an ever-expanding schedule of live music, dance, theater, and fine art exhibitions in its five theaters and 5,000 square foot University Art Gallery. Over 50 professional performances, as well as approximately 450 events generated by the Departments of Art, Theater Arts, and Music, are part of the Staller Center season and are supplemented by those outside presenters such as the Long Island Philharmonic and the Seiskaya Ballet, which presents The Nutcracker. www.staller.sunysb.edu/ Read about all the University’s art and cultural offerings at: www.stonybrook.edu/sb/arts.shtml A short drive away… The light, serenity, and beauty of Long Island have attracted artists and their admirers for decades. The Island is peppered with galleries and museums featuring paintings, photos, crafts, and other works by world famous artists, as well as emerging talent. For a listing of galleries: www.citidexli.com/2504.htm For a listing of museums: www.longisland.com/museums Or venture into New York City, home to some of the most famous museums, theaters, and arts centers in the world. Here’s just a sampling of the many options you can explore along with links for more detail: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
www.metmuseum.org The Guggenheim Museum
www.guggenheim.org The Museum of Modern Art
www.moma.org The Jewish Museum
www.jewishmuseum.org Museum of Chinese in America
www.mocanyc.org American Museum of Natural History
www.amnh.org American Folk Art Museum
www.folkartmuseum.org Tenement Museum
www.tenement.org Whitney Museum of American Art
www.whitney.org El Museo del Barrio
www.elmuseo.org The Studio Museum in Harlem
www.studiomuseum.org Asia Society
www.asiasociety.org South Street Seaport
www.southstreetseaport.com Brooklyn Museum
www.brooklynmuseum.org Children’s Museum of Manhattan
www.cmom.org International Center of Photography
www.icp.org Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Home of The Metropolitan Opera, The New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The New York City Opera, The New York City Ballet, and other performing arts companies
www.lincolncenter.org Broadway and Off-Broadway Shows
You can always purchase tickets at the box offices or through conventional ticket seller web sites. But if you’re looking for a bargain, visit the Theater Development Fund’s TKTS booths in Times Square or the South Street Seaport for deep discounts on day-of-performance tickets.
www.tdf.org Top of page | | Shopping | | | Close by… Smith Haven Mall
Just a short distance from Stony Brook, the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove is a shopper’s paradise with more than 140 stores that meet all your shopping needs. www.simon.com/Mall/?id=103
A short drive away…
Tanger Outlets
For fabulous finds from your favorite stores at excellent discounts take a trip to the Tanger Outlets. There are two locations right on Long Island—one in Riverhead, the other in Deer Park. www.tangeroutlet.com Top of page | | Great Neighborhoods | 
| Stony Brook Village
A charming, quaint community, Stony Brook Village is filled with shops, lovely restaurants, parks, lodging, cultural activities, and even an historic grist mill. www.stonybrookvillage.com Port Jefferson
One of the most picturesque of waterside villages to be found on Long Island, Port Jefferson is known for its many historic buildings housing wonderful shops and restaurants, its easy going lifestyle, and mid-Island convenience. www.portjeff.com/ Huntington
Settled in 1653 and voted one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People, Huntington is a unique town with a rich and diverse history offering numerous attractions including a lighthouse and a whaling museum. town.huntington.ny.us/ St. James
Another picturesque locale, St. James attracted many celebrities and socialites early in the 20th century and remains a desirable community with historic charm and a scenic setting. Top of page | | And more… | 
| Incredible Music
Music lovers can indulge in virtually every genre throughout the Island. You can catch well-known rock bands at Jones Beach, enjoy classical music performances by the Long Island Philharmonic, and find venues for everything from pop to jazz to alternative to ska. The Lure of the Hamptons
Known for magnificent homes, soft white sand beaches, and celebrity sightings, the Hamptons are a tourist attraction as well as a weekend destination for city dwellers. A series of towns, the Hamptons feature fine restaurants, small town squares, exceptional art galleries, trendy boutiques, and plenty of great people-watching. Award-Winning Wineries
Thousands of miles from Napa, France, and Italy, some of the world’s most promising wineries have emerged on the shores of Long Island. Though less than 35 years old, the Long Island wine industry has grown from a single vineyard to more than 30 wineries offering world-class wines, along with enjoyable tours and tastings. The Magic of Manhattan
Just 59 miles from Stony Brook is Manhattan, part of the most famous, most-visited city on the planet. Though a small island, just 23.7 square miles in size, Manhattan is exceptionally urbanized, offering visitors a diverse array of restaurants, entertainment options, museums, parks, sports venues, shopping choices, and sightseeing opportunities. From the art galleries and boutiques of Soho and Tribeca, to the fascinating streets of Chinatown and Little Italy, to the upscale shops of Madison Avenue, to the quiet family neighborhoods of the upper West and East sides, to the historic beauty of Harlem, Manhattan is a fascinating microcosm filled with people and places representing virtually every country in the world. Top of page | | Photos on this page by John Griffin |
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