One of my favorite places in the world. Wonderful woods and spectacular views. A real treasure. So…read morelucky to have this gem nearby.

Camped here with our dog on Fourth of July weekend. Got the day permit for 4x4 beach off roading…read more What a beautiful beach and park. The hike around the lighthouse peninsula overlooking Gardiner Bay was spectacular. Only down fall was the ticks, they will rain down on your like no place I've ever been and I live in Connecticut. Come prepared with bug repellents and stay vigilant about checking yourself. Keep a hat on your head. Bring a tick key for easy removal. Had 2 attached to myself, two days after we came home...Probably came home with us on our dog, he had a great time swimming here.

This is a nice place for a hike as long as you bring bug spray and check for ticks later. It is…read moremostly pine forests punctuated by sand dunes. The main path makes a loop and took about 30 minutes for quicker walkers. Just pay attention to the trail markings on the trees to avoid getting lost! There are not restrooms or amenities at all, so plan ahead and bring water before you arrive.

Beautiful park, watch for ticks (eek!), the beach does have a lot of broken shells. On the plus…read moreside not too many people take advantage of the area (maybe because of the ticks?) but it's a nice area to go with out too many people.

One of the nicest things about this park is the full restroom facilities, with running hot water…read more So many parks only have cold water which is painful for some of us. So Kudos for this. During the soccer season they have at least three fields operational covering all age groups. The U13+ field is not the largest but it's pretty wide. No spectator seating for that field either but we'd all do a little better to walk more and site less. Additionally there is baseball field and a small playground for the wee ones. So there's a little something for everyone.

We walk here on weekdays when it's free in the trails and all around. We walk our dog. There's a…read moreWomen Owned Lemonade/Food Truck where you can purchase refreshments. They take Credit Card also. Delicious Coffee, lemonade and Sandwiches and Cookies!

I started coming here recently for the sunrise and it is my new favorite thing to do! So peaceful,…read moreserene, stunning views, just all the things. This afternoon I brought the Christian Singles Hub to have an apple picnic. Everyone in the group was just as impressed with the views. It was also great to see that the facilities are well kept. I also loved and appreciated having a garbage so close to the grill!

The big dog park has a wonderful gazebo and water spigot . The small dog park has a bench. Nice…read morefacility although a couple more trees are needed for shade. The park gets very hot on sunny days. Always attended by friendly dog owners and there friendly pets. Ample parking. Bring your own poop bags!

Great dog park. Good seating for humans, between the Gazebo and two benches in shaded areas. A…read morelot of regulars, particularly in the morning, creating an atmosphere where many dogs, and their humans, form friendships. There's plenty of room for dogs to run and play, a well water tap with multiple water bowls, and pick-up bags provided. An earlier review notes drainage problems, which certainly was the case as recently as 1.5 years ago, but they seem to have been solved.

Perfect spot to rent a hobie car sailboat for an hour on Fort Pond. Remember they are cash-only!…read moreYou can leave your essentials at the front desk with he friendly staffer. We had no trouble getting one mid-day Friday, and the weather cooperates with a nice wind. $50 might seem steep, but it was worth it for the 3 of us to get out on the water and for my daughter to learn how to captain. The dude at the dock made sure my wife could control the boat and gave us a little guidance, then we were on our way to some light sailing fun. Most boat rentals in Montauk seem to be for bigger or motorized craft, so look for what suits you.

Played a game of crazy gold with the kids and then rented a hobie cat and sailed around the lake-…read moreloads of fun. What a great place! Reasonable prices.

This is one of the most beautiful State Parks in the system. It's great in all seasons, and a good…read moreplace for birders and paddlers.

Opened to the public in 1920 and made a National Natural Landmark in 1980. Orient Beach State Park…read moreis just a beautiful example of a natural beach environment. Orient beach offers a gorgeous environment for passive recreation as well as a paradise for beach goers. There is a 2.1 mile bike path along the park road which stretches along the section of the park called long beach. This road is also the entrance and exit to the park which is situated at the end of this stretch of road. Being part of the bike path it provides for an incredible walk with views of Gardiner's bay on one side and marsh lands on the other. There are many species of Birds and other wildlife life within the park and an amazing and unusual red cedar forest which encompasses the picnic area. Hobbies here include swimming , paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing and a playground for the kiddies . Facilities here are very nice and clean, including a bath room and showers for when you get off the beach. Truly an incredible place to visit at least once in your life, its natural beauty is impressive.

One of LI's hidden gems - also happens to be free. Well kept trails and birds of prey you can check…read moreout before talking a nice walk. Trails are very easy to walk, even if you have a stroller with you. Easy beginner hike or leisurely stroll for just about anyone.

4.5 Stars.    I love…read morethe Long Island Pine Barrens Region. So much so, that in Las Vegas, I have had dreams that I was hiking in Sears Burrows County Park. A few forested miles southwest of it, my dream kind of came true when we visited the Quogue Wildlife Refuge. My stepmother, who is familiar with the Refuge encouraged my dad and I to join her there on a nature walk.    The Quogue Wildlife Refuge has been protecting this 305 acre naturescape since 1934. It is a naturescape adorned with pine forests, fields, the rare dwarf pine forest, bogs, swamps, a pond, and pine oak forests.    Contrary to how I envisioned the Refuge, it was not this difficult to find place. Parking was right off Old Country Road. Across from the unpaved parking lot were the attractions that serve as a trailhead to the four color coded trails (please see the map proceeding the review) that range from a 0.8 mile hike on the Green Trail to a 2.5 mile hike on the Blue Trail. Welcoming us was the Outdoor Wildlife Complex where injured wildlife are well taken care of thanks to the kindness of people that care. One of the acts of kindness are the Visitors who donate money at the entrance. This leads to the point that admission is free, yet a donation is the right thing to do. I took some time photographing the animals that included owls, foxes, raccoons, and Giant African Spurred tortoises in the nearby greenhouse. Although these aren't grand habitats that would be found in the Bronx Zoo, I appreciated that the animals had a home. In the shadow of the Outdoor Wildlife Complex and pine trees was the full service restrooms. All the way to the left was the Old Ice Pond.    My Dad, stepmother, and yours truly engaged in a relatively short walk in the southeast corner of the park where a pine oak forest interspersed with fields dominate. My Dad's knees bother him, so we engaged in a shorter hike with breaks on the benches breathing, hearing, and sightseeing the pine barrens. We'd see a deer and birds up on the pine trees. Our ears would also take in the sound of the nearby train. Our experience leads to the point that the seven miles of hiking trails appear to be more relaxing than strenuous.    The Old Ice Pond framed by a mature forest is the picture postcard centerpiece of the landscape. There are hiking trails that overlook it. We took in this picture postcard from a bench and inside the Charles Banks Belt Nature Center, which looks like an inn overlooking the pond. We shared the panoramic spectacular views of the ice pond with several volunteers who were sending out materials that we assumed were promoting the Refuge. Within this building that reminds me of a lodge, is a museum of neat nature related stuff. Some were real like the lizards. The preserved butterflies were really cool. This is a neat place to check out when it os open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.    Our visit ended with the three of us taking in the springtime scenery of the Old Ice Pond.    I do have a concern that is causing me to leave my rating at 4.5 instead of 5 stars. That has to do with the east preiphery fence. When we walked along the southeast border there was a fence smack dab in the middle of the pine forest. My concern is that this is unprotected land that can fall victim to the bulldozer. If that were to happen, it would ruin the experience on account of a truncated forest causing the Refuge to feel more like a caged in 305 acre yard than a part of a pine forest. I really hope that the other side of the east periphery fence is a protected forest. My concern is merited from seeing a before and after picture inside the Nature Center of rapid sprawl along nearby County Route 104.    On the future, I would love to return to Quogue Wildlife Refuge. Especially in the Fall when the trees change colors over the pond. Until then, I hope to have more dreams about the Pine Barrens.