A visit to Old Westbury Gardens is always a wonderful experience, but it's especially spectacular…read morein June when the roses are in full bloom. The gardens are beautifully maintained, the grounds are peaceful and relaxing, and every path seems to lead to another picture-perfect view. Based on many recent positive visitor reviews, people consistently praise the stunning landscapes, historic mansion, tranquil atmosphere, and endless photo opportunities. I'm giving it 5 stars because it's truly a beautiful place to spend a couple of hours. Whether you want to leisurely stroll through the gardens, take lots of photos, or do a little of both, about two hours feels just right. There's also plenty of free parking, which makes visiting easy. While the current admission price of $22 per adult feels a bit high, the beauty of the property and the overall experience still make it worth the visit. Throughout the year they host great special events, including classic car shows and an incredible illuminated pumpkin trail before Halloween that has become a Long Island favorite.

Had a great time at Old Westbury Gardens checking out the flowers in bloom. There were a lot of…read morepeople taking wedding and graduation photos. There was a Lego exhibit with all sorts of creations ranging from a monarch butterfly to hummingbird to snail on a mushroom. I definitely recommend checking Google maps using Google Earth view before you go because we ended up getting lost and couldn't find the entrance for 15 minutes. A lot of local libraries do offer Old Westbury Gardens passes so definitely check out your local library before purchasing tickets to see if they're available!

7/31/26 I haven't been to a laser show since I was a…read moreteenager. Now I'm a senior citizen. I get free tickets through AARP for the first show of the month and this month is The Grateful Dead. As we were guests of the band often (our friend was Brent Midland's assistant) we saw many a concert. My husband was blah about going, but really happy after. It blew my mind - and I don't do drugs. The sound system was amazing. The lasers were surprisingly good, although quite antiquated. My favorites were when you felt you were enveloped in the lasers. I was lost for an hour, in a good way. Luckily, hubby has a handicapped placard and we were able to park steps from the front door. I would have liked to have parked in the regular parking lot and walk, but that's no longer in the cards for us. The grounds are beautiful for as much as we could see in the dark.We would have loved to see the meteor shower, but that was not in the cards either.The show was from 9:30pm to 10:30pm (way past my bedtime) and over an hour away which was a complete bummer. In any case, this was a wonderful event. Join AARP if you're over 50 as the benefits are great.

Through my local library, I was able to obtain a free General Admission pass for up to 2 adults and…read more4 children for the Vanderbilt Museum on Sunday, June 21, 2026. Both Planetarium show and Mansion tour are add-ons for an additional charge and subject to availability. Currently, the operating hours for Saturday and Sunday are 11:00 am to 5:00 pm with last admission at 4:30 pm. Summer hours begin Saturday, June 27: Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm with last admission 4:30 pm. When I arrived on Sunday around 11:00 am, there were already a good amount of cars in the parking lot but there is still plenty of spots. We walked over to Planetarium/Admissions and showed our digital pass. The staff were very friendly and gave us a map to show us what we have access to with general admission yellow wristbands. General Admission includes access to the Vanderbilt Mansion (including the Habitat and Stoll Wing animal dioramas, and natural-history and cultural-artifact galleries in the Memorial Wing), The Hall of Fishes marine museum, Planetarium exhibits, and the grounds and gardens. It was really cool to walk around and check out the mansion. The main entrance is a cobble-stone driveway and a bell-tower looms above. This leads you to the central courtyard and I felt transported to a different country. With its ironwork, red tile roof and central courtyard, the mansion's Spanish architectural style stands out. Mr. William Vanderbilt spent over thirty years on scientific expeditions aboard his 250-foot yacht, the Alva, bringing back over 17,000 varieties of marine specimens. The marine and natural history museum is filled with the figurines of underwater creatures. We also met and spoke with the staff inside the mansion. They were very informative and friendly. The Vanderbilt Museum is definitely worth visiting.

I've lived on Long Island for most of my life and this was my first visit. It was a very inspiring,…read moreeducational, and deeply moving. From the moment we stepped in, it felt like the stories weren't just displayed; they were brought to life. What made the visit stand out most was our tour guide Monet Green. She was knowledgeable and passionate. Monet didn't simply recite facts; she connected the exhibits to the broader history, explained the significance behind each artifacts and timelines, and helped you understand how the past shapes what we experience today. Even complex moments were presented clearly and thoughtfully, without making it feel like a lecture. I also appreciated the pacing and tone. The guide created space for reflection while keeping the tour engaging--asking questions, encouraging curiosity, and making sure everyone felt included. By the end, I didn't just "learn about" history; I felt like I had a deeper understanding of the voices, struggles, achievements, and cultural impact represented throughout the museum. 10/10 recommend!

This place is widely celebrated for its extensive African Atlantic Genealogical Society research…read morecenter, local historical archives, and captivating rotating exhibits detailing Black excellence and heritage. I praise the hospitable and knowledgeable staff. I noted it is a uniquely welcoming, family-friendly environment that proudly highlights overlooked local and global Black history. Guests highlight the eclectic art displays and permanent artifacts--such as the restored 1915 piano of ragtime legend Eubie Blake--as well as its striking collection of traditional African masks. Uniquely, it hosts the first museum-based genealogy department in the US, allowing visitors to deeply research their ancestral roots.

This place is so cute, so quaint, I didn't even know it existed until I followed a path from…read moreWantagh Parkway to this cute little museum. It wasn't open when I went but I got to see around the outside and explore the train it had and look around the little station there. The path connected to the back of the society is stunning as well I went on a Spring morning and it had these beautiful yellow flowers everywhere.

The Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center might just be one of the coolest hidden gem, located right…read morein plain sight. Located at West End 2, sits an education center that is remarkable designed, combining beautiful architecture with nature. They have weekly classes for families, students, scouts and volunteer groups. Once you explore the center, be sure to check out the entire beach of West end 2! In my opinion, this is one of the most perfectly, serene and secluded parts of Jones Beach. My suggestion is to take the path closest to the parking lot and make a left along the shoreline. That will provide an awesome view of Point Lookout and Hempstead Park, as well as the Atlantic Ocean. In my opinion, you won't see as many rambunctious seagulls here, as the majority hunt for food over by the crowded fields 4 and 6. You will however see plenty of super cute birds walking and roaming the shoreline.

Great find! So peaceful. Good for bikers to come through. Great for small kids to run, learn and…read moreexplore. Facilities are new. Clean bathrooms. Free access with Empire Pass. We usually spend an hour here. No food services but pack snacks, enjoy the loungers and chill

This was my first time attending the Oyster Festival in Oyster Bay (and first time in Long Island)!…read moreIt's nice that there aren't any tickets required for entry, though it is a long haul from NYC. We came on a beautiful Saturday and were super excited to get fresh oysters and (or so we thought) for cheap! It's a nice venue by a school and park right by the bay, and it gets very very crowded, especially in the afternoon. There are some nice craft vendors, but my partner and I were really excited for the food. The seafood options were good, but much more limited than I thought. There was only one vendor selling oysters, and the only mode of preparation was raw (nothing grilled or otherwise more creative). I was pretty surprised by how steep the pricing was, though I'm glad the proceeds go back to the community in some form (6 oysters for $20). I was a bit disappointed by the quality of some of the oysters we got for that pricing, as there were some that were pretty small, flat and not as high quality. The other seafood options were good, and I really enjoyed a fried coconut shrimp kebab that was $25. Overall, it's a nice festival vibe and well managed, just pricey and some of the food quality around the star oyster was not quite up to expectations! I am giving it an extra star because it's by the water and the town was super quaint and beautiful!

Every year for the past 7 years, minus 1 pandemic, my family and I will go to the Oyster Fest. It's…read morebecome a nice tradition. We always start with a lobster roll, which unfortunately go up by about $5 per year (they're now at $30 apiece, so not sure if we'll be keeping that part of our tradition). Then we go through the tents to see if there's anything worth buying, and off to the beer tent for a few, and then we gorge ourselves on other delicacies. There's always a woman selling fudge there who I always hit up for a few chunks to take home with me. This year I had a foot long hot dog for $6 from a German place. It was excellent. We'll definitely be back next year, just maybe not eating anymore lobster rolls, as $30 each for 5 people gets a bit steep very quickly.

The Firefly is a special place. You have to visit to understand how truly wonderful it is. Talk…read moreabout a vibe, local art and creativity abounds, no cookie cutter art here. Staffed by the artists whose works line the walls, there is a relaxed, refreshing air about this space that you have to feel to believe it.

An amazing gallery setting for local artists right on Main Street in the Village of Main Street. I…read moreappreciate that this pace was created to let locals collaborate and spend time together. That is true community building. They feature some really great exhibitions. All You Need is Love Exhibition is the one coming this January 2024 - that should be a very touching experience. The entry fee is only $35 - what a great value. Take a gander at those amazing pieces of art, I am sure the selection will be well worth it. To add to the community , The Firefly Artists continued the Christmas Story Leg Lighting tradition . Main Street is known for art galleries and this one gives you a true sense of family and caring.

I have read a lot of the interesting reviews and find a common theme here. This museum is…read moredefinitely and place with a powerful message, and a treasure for those of us here on the Island. This museum is not just about the Jewish Holocaust but the rise of the Third Reich and the progression of activities that led to the Final Solution. There is a very powerful message here of teaching tolerance and respect. As you pass through the rooms filled with pictures and narratives you learn how this quickly escalated from the early days of the rose of the Reich to the horrible beast it became. This place should be on every family list of places to visit. It is a living history of what must not be forgotten. On a personal note... When I visited the camps in Poland there was school bus after school bus of children. Learning about this period in history is a mandatory part of the school's curriculum. Here we walk through museums, there they walk through the actual camps that held so many people. The staff here is amazing and will always be able to find someone to answer questions. This is a place to come, learn, and reflect about all our actions and words. KUDOs to the team at Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

Had Salvador Dali litho expo. Good Holocaust education wing. Nothing like Washington museum,…read morethough. Presume docents there some days.