TV
Spring on Long Island means shedding your winter coat and heading outdoors to experience nature brimming in every corner. Explore hiking trails and wildlife oases, bike on oceanfront boardwalks or dine al fresco in a bustling downtown village where cherry blossoms in full bloom line the sidewalks. Soothe your senses and see spring flora in all its glory at one of Long Island’s majestic gardens or Instagrammable flower fields featuring miles of tulips and lavender. Be inspired with a stroll through an immersive sculpture garden with larger-than-life art. Make memories with the family with epic animal encounters at the region’s many zoos and farms.
With so much to do, a spring trip to Long Island is sure to dust off those winter blues! Check out our top picks for bucket-list worthy springtime activities across the region.
- Delight in the Gardens, Greenery and a Sea of Two Million Tulips
- Explore Nature Trails for Spring Hikes
- Have an Epic Animal Encounter
- Be Inspired by Larger-Than-Life Outdoor Art
- Wine and Dine Al Fresco with Exclusive Discounts
- Discover a Downtown Craft Brewery Scene
- Experience Iconic Outdoor Attractions Sans Crowds
- Make Memories with Family
Delight in the 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.
Experience Greenport’s Cherry Blossom Festival throughout May 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.
Explore Bridge Gardens, a five-acre gem in the heart of Bridgehampton, offering mysterious hedgerows, and a wide variety of perennial and annual flowers and shrubs.
Explore Nature Trails for Spring Hikes
Whether you’re craving a peaceful, scenic walk through a nature preserve or want to break a sweat trekking through a lush, hilly forest, you’ll want to explore Long Island’s diverse range of hiking trails. Hike at Muttontown Preserve, Nassau County’s largest nature preserve known for its beautiful flowers and woodlands.
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.
Bike at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve with twenty-seven miles of paths with stunning Long Island Sound views or the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt trail that has 20 miles of paved paths straddling the county line.
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 the largest all-living coral reef display in the hemisphere lives. The aquarium also has a 120,000-gallon shark tank and gardens filled with butterflies, birds, and bugs.
Be Inspired by Larger-Than-Life Outdoor Art
Home to the former Child Fricks Estate, the Nassau County Museum’s outdoor sculpture garden has over 40 pieces by 30 sculptors, located throughout its 145 acres of fields, woods, ponds, and formal gardens of the William Cullen Bryant Preserve. The property features sculptures created over the past 100 years, from 1913 to 2018.
Tucked away just a stone's throw outside of the bustle of East Hampton town is a 16-acre reserve and sculpture garden where every few steps brings a magical surprise. Founded by Jack Lenor Larson in 1975, LongHouse Reserve blends the beauty of the Hamptons landscape with the property's brilliant collection of over 60 contemporary sculptures.
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!
Wine and Dine Al Fresco with Exclusive Discounts
From Long Island Wine Country’s Locals Week to Spring Restaurant Week, there are many opportunities to experience Long Island’s diverse dining scene and locally grown products this spring. Long Island’s award-winning wine country is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a series of VIP experiences and events throughout the spring and summer, from intimate “10-mile” wine dinners with renowned chefs to a grand celebration.
Running from March 24 to April 2 is LIWC’s Locals Week where Long Island residents can enjoy VIP treatment, product discounts, and complimentary or upgraded tours and wine tastings. And from April 23 to 30, spring restaurant week promises a prix-fixe menu for participating restaurants. Have fresh-caught catch and waterfront views at Lombardi’s on the Bay in Patchogue, dine in a bustling downtown at Arlo Kitchen & Bar in Northport, or enjoy modern American cuisine at City Cellar in Westbury.
Discover a Downtown Craft Brewery Scene
From Long Beach to Riverhead, nestled in downtown villages you can find dozens of locally owned breweries that embody Long Island’s culture, creativity, and farm-to-table foundation. Known as the gateway to the North and South Fork, Riverhead has so many options to choose from. Grab a pint at Tradewinds Brewing Company before stopping by Peconic County Brewery, North Fork Brewing Company, Montauk Distilling Co., and Long Ireland Beer Company.
Lithology Brewing Co. in Farmingdale and Bright Eye Beer Company in Long Beach also provide creative craft brews and ales. On the East End in Montauk is Montauk Brewing Co., a small-scale brewery in the popular hamlet on the tip of the island.
Experience Iconic Outdoor Attractions Sans Crowds
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 and the Adventure Park at Long Island are both reopening for the 2023 season in the month of April as well as well as Long Island’s iconic amusement park, Adventureland.
The Best Indoor Family Entertainment for Winter Recess
Long Island offers a treasure trove of family entertainment year-round. And as temperatures drop and winter recess begins, incredible indoor entertainment awaits. Make the most of the school break whether your family is the active type, into crafts and creativity, museum lovers, or theatre-goers.
