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Spring on Long Island means it’s time to ditch the winter coat and enjoy the outdoors. Hike scenic trails, bike along oceanfront boardwalks, or dine al fresco in vibrant villages lined with cherry blossoms. Visit stunning gardens and flower fields in full bloom, or explore immersive sculpture gardens and family-friendly zoos and farms. This spring bucket list is sure to inspire your plans. It’s time to get out there!
Gardens, Greenery and a Sea of Two Million Tulips
Waterdrinker Family Farm is known for its famed Tulip Festival in the spring where couples, families and friends can spend the afternoon frolicking through a rainbow sea of two MILLION tulips. Visit the tulip farm’s barnyard animals where they have mini golf, tractor pedal cars, an obstacle course, wooden playland, family photo spots, and more. Plus, head on over next door to Long Island Farm Brewery to enjoy some local brews.
Experience Greenport’s Cherry Blossom Festival throughout spring where visitors can immerse themselves in a pink paradise with a self-guided walking tour of the area’s 300+ cherry blossom trees in full bloom. Indulge in blossom-themed refreshments and gifts offered by participating local businesses on the North Fork.
Explore Bridge Gardens, a five-acre gem in the heart of Bridgehampton, offering hedgerows, good birdwatching, a rose garden and a wide variety of perennial and annual flowers and shrubs.
Nature Trails for Spring Hikes
See meadows, beech forests, dunes, cedar swamps, ponds, tidal marshes and more while hiking Paumanok Path on Long Island’s South Fork. It connects the woods of Rocky Point to the shores of Montauk Point State Park. You may be lucky enough to spot deer, foxes, and harbor seals.
Traverse Sunken Meadow State Park’s three-mile shoreline featuring hiking, biking and horseback riding trails, watersports and more. The loop trail through the forest is a moderately challenging trail that leads out to the Kings Park bluff, offering sweeping views of the Long Island Sound. Caleb Smith Preserve in Smithtown has 543 acres of woodlands and wild animals. The park is known for its quiet serenity that can only be found in nature where visitors can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
With inclusivity in mind, Lakeland County Park in Islandia is designed for the disabled and their families. It has a nature trail-boardwalk over the waters of the Connetquot River, offering unique views of wetland greenery, waterfowl and fish.
Insider's Tip: For even more parks and reserves to explore, visit our parks page.
Have an Epic Animal Encounter
Explore Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Oakdale which has 690 acres of lawns and open meadows, a wildflower garden, a marshy refuge, and many nature trails for bird watching. You’ll likely spot cardinals, catbirds, chickadees, and migrant birds at the arboretum with waterfowl and ospreys seen along the river.
From bottle feeding a baby pig, to snapping a selfie with a giraffe to high-fiving a friendly sea lion, the opportunities for animal encounters with the family are endless! Long Island has top-notch zoos complete with giraffes, zebras, monkeys, and more. Visit farms and zoos like White Post Farms in Melville and the Long Island Game Farm Wildlife Park and Children’s Zoo in Manorville which is the largest combined children’s zoo and wildlife park on Long Island.
View ocean life up close at the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead where one of the largest all-living coral reef display in the western hemisphere lives. The aquarium also has a 120,000-gallon shark tank and gardens filled with butterflies, birds, and bugs.
Larger-Than-Life Outdoor Art
Parrish Art Museum has been showcasing the artistic legacy of Long Island’s East End since the 1950s and has become one of America’s most significant creative centers. The museum offers a range of outdoor and indoor art exhibitions across its 14 acres—totaling over 2,600 works of contemporary art!
On the North Fork, visit Peconic Landing’s outdoor sculpture garden which has been home to regional, national, and internationally recognized artists.
Wine and Dine Al Fresco
With Spring Long Island Restaurant Week, there are many opportunities to experience Long Island’s diverse dining scene and locally grown products this spring.
Long Island’s Wine Country has over 60 wineries! Spring is the perfect season to go vineyard-hopping with a group of friends or family. Enjoy the fresh air and a bottle of wine… or two!
Insider's Tip: Some wineries let you bring your own picnic lunches. Try Osprey's Dominion Vineyards in Peconic!
The Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail features 20 seafood stops, from Bay Shore to Montauk. It’s like a wine trail, but for seafood lovers!
Discover a Downtown Craft Brewery Scene
From Lindenhurst to Riverhead, in downtown villages you can find dozens of locally owned breweries that embody Long Island’s culture, creativity, and farm-to-table foundation. North Fork Brewing Company, Twisted Cow Distillery, Montauk Distilling Co., and Blue Point Brewery are all local favorites.
Iconic Outdoor Attractions
As the weather warms up, spending time outdoors is a must and with so many different spots from amusement parks to outdoor climbing to lighthouses, Long Island has enough to do to fill the outdoor enthusiast’s entire roster. Visit the Fire Island Lighthouse, completed in 1826 and standing at 74-feet tall. Learn the history of the lighthouse during a 182-step tower tour with panoramic views of the Atlantic, Fire Island, and on a clear day, the New York City skyline.
Celebrated as the oldest lighthouse in New York State and the fourth oldest lighthouse in the United States, the Montauk Lighthouse was authorized under President George Washington in 1792. The lighthouse is still in operation and its flashes can be seen every five seconds from up to 19 nautical miles away.
For climbing outside, WildPlay at Jones Beach is starting the fun in May, and Long Island’s iconic amusement park, Adventureland, welcomes a brand new ride, Wave Twister, this spring.
Insider's Tip: Stay tuned for Splish Splash's new water playground in Calverton: "Stingray Bay!"
