If you're a history buff, this is a must-visit. We took the free guided tour of the house on a…read moreSunday afternoon, and our park ranger was fun, engaging, and very knowledgeable, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The property also has three walking trails, but they are not well maintained. Be prepared for lots of mosquitoes and ticks if you decide to explore them, so wearing bug spray and appropriate clothing is a good idea.

A hidden gem in the county. If you are into American history, a visit to the estate is worthwhile…read more Our GPS sent us to the back entrance, it is a one way entry so we had to ask a local the way to the main entrance. The park signage is visible once you reach the right street- Old Church Av. Out tour guide was very knowledgeable. She knows details of the estate and the family. The free tour is being offered from Friday to Sunday only, every half hour schedule from 10 - 4 PM. The house size from outside was very deceiving, it looks small, when we went for a tour, we cant believe how many rooms were built inside. The house is on its original form, minor renovation was made. The grounds are maintained. We visited the family cemetery at the northwest end corner of the property. It was amazing to see the family of different generation's tombstomes. It was a privilege be on the estate of one of the Declaration of Independence signors.

This is former President Theodore Roosevelt's historic summer home estate, featuring preserved…read morebuildings, informational placards, and guided tours. The grounds are completely free to enter, with ample parking, well-maintained porta potties, and a small museum offering additional information and bathrooms. We've visited both in the winter and recently in the spring, and each season offered a different experience. On our latest visit, we took the short, manageable trail to the beach area with our dog. Walking among the towering hundred-year-old trees felt magical, almost like stepping back in time. The beach views were incredibly serene, and we even got to witness two deer running freely through the forest, chasing each other. This place is more than just a historic site, it gives you an awe-inspiring feeling. Between the peaceful scenery, rich history, and natural beauty, it felt like we were transported to another time. Absolutely recommend a visit here.

Honestly slightly embarrassed to have learned about this spot from guest visiting when it is so…read moreclose to where I am based. This spot is Theodore Roosevelt's family summer home. The house itself can be toured with timed guided tours Friday through Sunday. These open for reservation 9:30a online for the same day and ate usually sold out in minutes so plan accordingly! I can't comment on the house since I did not snag tickets when I naively went. However, the grounds are beautiful and the walk down to the forested loop trail with the beach outlet to the harbor is stunning. There is also a museum onsite that is free to visit and enter. It contains history of the family's home life, initial political career in NY state, and Vice Presidency and Presidency, issues he championed, and post Presidency conservation work and legacy.

Furman Square has been here forever, but was officially named and dedicated in 1993. It lies on…read morethe West side of South Ocean Avenue, just below Main Street (between Dragon and Phoenix Resturant (http://www.yelp.com/biz/dragon-and-phoenix-restaurant-patchogue#hrid:IVd-2YqxaIkZsNTd40EU6Q?fsid=9OcBmmLwE7sEZyvxsCEX-A) and Jimmy's Quality Shoe Repairing). The Square has a bench, a tree, some kind of Village Marker, and a one-way traffic inlet into the Church Street Municipal Parking Field. There is an unremarkable mural on the wall to the North, but the true attraction here is the Hans Gabali painting on the Southern wall. It features old-timey sights of South Ocean Avenue (see pics): 1. A dedication for the Incorporated Village Centennial. 2. Imagery of the (now bygone) Suffolk Traction Company. 3. The old Academy Street School (which is also gone). 4. An early Twentieth Century depiction of the Southeast buildings of the Four Corners. 5. The (still-there) Methodist Church (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/U1-bhlcgRzGn7vQQzDBlPw?select=Ju0C1UqSeC40VwyY_JSvRw). 6. Colby's Ice Cream Parlor (formerly on the corner of South Ocean and Smith St., now relocated) 7. (What I assume is) The old Mascot Dock and Public Bathing Beach. It's a great mural and Patchogue is lucky to have a Gabali piece of such a historic and personal nature.

Pretty lake. The lake is very clear, you can u can actually see through the water. There is a nice…read moreman-made waterfall and a "boardwalk" area where people stand and fish. I heard someone mention catching a wide-mouth bass. There was a few kayakers out enjoying the day. There is a small park with swings for the kiddies. I was there with my cat of course. She loved going into the foliage. It's a nice spot to picnic also!

The heyday of Yaphank has long passed (we're talking since the advent of electricity!) but it…read moreappears that the area must have received some government funding to spruce up the area with brick paths and bulkhead along the lake. So it's a fairly nice stop off area and it has a rural almost upstate NY feel. There are few "rural" areas left on Long Island and Yaphank, the town that time has forgotten, is a nice place to see what Long Island night have been like before the onslaught after 1945.

Stopped here on a spur of the moment before we headed to the airport. Very cool grounds to explore…read moreand walk around. Didn't expect it at all and very pleasantly surprised.

Loved walking around it's a free stop very cool. Lots of poison ivy. But beautiful…read more Thy have two parking lots. Some hill walk. Beautiful views of the harbor in Roslyn. It had beautiful flowers blooming. Lots of area have shade but great breeze. Although the home wasn't open it has great garden areas good.

What a lovely day trip. Fun for the entire family ages 5…read moreand up. While visiting family we were wanting to get on the water and participate with all our extended family. This was the perfect excursion for us.

We visited the Huntington Lighthouse for a guided tour on August 4, 2013 and we thoroughly enjoyed…read moreour trip. The Lighthouse is 101 years old and looks like a castle out at sea. After purchasing our tickets at a dockside tent, where various souvenirs were also being sold by the volunteers, we boarded a small boat for a 10-minute ride to the Lighthouse. The boat ride through Huntington Harbor was absolutely lovely - weather was warm, sunny, and clear, the water was smooth, and the views were fantastic. Arriving at the Lighthouse, we got off the boat on a floating dock and, after a brief introduction, began the guided tour with two tour guides. The first tour guide took us to the second floor of the lighthouse, out onto the landing, and up into the very top of the lighthouse where the light itself it, and was very thorough in his explanations and seemed enthusiastic about his tour. He was very knowledgable. The second tour guide told us about the living quarters of the Lighthouse and was also informative. All of the volunteers were very friendly and were clearly very interested in their work and very knowledgeable about the Lighthouse. After the tour, we returned to the boat and headed back to shore. All in all, the entire experience took exactly one hour, from initially boarding the boat to returning to shore. The suggested donation for the tour is $15 for each adult, but they accepted $20, and we bought a magnet for $3. The tent in which to purchase tickets and souvenirs is located at the end of the parking lot of Gold Star Beach in Huntington, just by the dock. There were signs indicating that a parking permit was required and that Huntington residents could purchase a seasonal or daily pass and that non-residents must pay a daily fee and display a tag; however, there was no one at the gate when we pulled in, and though we waited for someone to come, no one ever appeared, so we parked. We saw someone at the gate as we boarded the boat. We didn't have any problem with our parking, perhaps we just lucked out. The Lighthouse was beautiful and is nicely maintained. We really had a fantastic time. Our only complaint is that on the way back from the Lighthouse, the boat seemed much too crowded, to the point where we were really seated directly up against each other. However, I think the same number of people were on the boat when it headed to the Lighthouse, so I think the issue was more that no one was telling people to sit on both front and back of the boat or asking people to move around - because as we disembarked, I noticed that there were 12 people at the front and only 2, who were sitting with plenty of room, at the back.

Learning HISTORY is always worthwhile. This is one of best small tidbits of knowing a piece of…read morelocal History. Fascinating how it's right there among a beautiful residential area !

The secluded corner of Makamah Road and Hayes Hill Drive would seem an odd crossroads to find such…read morean archaic instrument of public intimidation and torture (as it's a bit off-the-beaten path), but here you have it, what they call "The Makamah Pillories." These double-headed stocks (see pic) are known to both snobbish locals (who see having the pillories only as a status symbol, pretending to be above the lowbrow vibe and fun entertainment factor here), and bottomfeeder, low level criminals, and drunks (who have found themselves in an uncomfortable position of humiliation and reprimand). Passers-by to this post are rare, and the possibility of a crowd gathering here is completely unfathomable: One who is bound here will likely be sobering up the better part of the night in a penance of solitude. . . Time is the corrector of erred judgments here, and I have learned much from the test, though my head, spine, and wrists do not want for a revisiting anytime soon.

Take it slow if driving to this lighthouse, which is over two-hundred years old and on the National…read moreRegisty of Historic Buildings. To get there by roads, you must pass through Asharoken, a locals-only kinda town, known for its radar detectors and speed trap-police force. I'll just say it makes for a nice bike ride. To see the lighthouse over the Sound, look just west of the four LILCO towers (It has a fixed Fresnel lens that doesn't blink or rotate). There is also an active Coast Guard station on-site here which, though closed to the public, can be arranged for groups and private tours. Former Northport resident Hans Gabali painted a depiction of this lighthouse, which can be viewed here (http://www.yelp.com/biz/moriches-gateway-real-estate-moriches#hrid:wvKIjxcuCrdPCMPB-6PfIg).