LONG ISLAND, NY -(November 15th, 2016)- Just because winter is coming on Long Island doesn’t mean you have to hang up your hat and hibernate for the rest of the season. There are still plenty of things to see and do to help you ward off a potentially serious case of ‘cabin fever.’

From a weekend getaway to nature hikes, ice skating, cultural events, and wine tasting events, we’ve got lots of ideas to share.

Pool Party Weekend

Why not make a plan to get together with family and/or friends for a ‘Pool Party Weekend.’ You don’t have to go far to find a hotel with an indoor pool and restaurant where you can shut out the idea of the cold and snow and relax in comfort. Order in, watch a movie, take a swim, enjoy the hot tub.

You can even find some great Getaway Deals that combine a hotel stay with spa treatments, wine tasting or visits to some local attractions like the Children’s Museum or the Aquarium.

A Brisk Winter Hike

Not afraid of a little bit of brisk weather or snow? Maybe you even like to get outside when there’s a bit of a chill in the air. If so there are plenty of nature hikes organized by NYS Parks to keep you active all winter. Go along with a naturalist guide who will show you parts of our parks you might never have seen otherwise, and who will offer insight on the wildlife, trees and flora that make these parks the gems that they are.

NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation also runs children’s programs all winter. These indoor and outdoor programs include craft-making and nature education.

If you want to head out on your own quiet adventure outdoors, take a look at our full list of Hiking and Biking Trails. You can explore the rare Dwarf Pines in the Pine Barren region; set out on a bird-watching tour or discover the bluff-top hiking trails on the north end of the Greenbelt Trail system.

Outdoor Ice Skating

What would winter be without ice skating. There are several indoor locations, but to truly get a feel for the season, bundle up and head out to one of Long Island’s many outdoor ice skating rinks. You can always have a nice cup of hot chocolate afterwards to warm you up.

Several of the Island’s villages and parks, including Port Jefferson Village, Greenport Village, Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn, Grant Park in Hewlett, Bethpage Community Park, Marjorie Post in Massapequa Park and Syosset-Woodbury Park welcome skaters of all levels to their outdoor rinks. Indoor rinks are located at Cantiague Park in Hicksville and Freeport Recreation Center, among other public and privately operated facilities.

Cultural Events (Indoors)

If you’re the type who really does not want to be out in the cold, there are a lot of events still going on at our local museums. There’s a Norman Rockwell era exhibit at the Heckscher Museum, a Long Island in the 60s exhibit at the LI Museum and a photography exhibit at the Nassau Museum of Art. Or plan an evening out at one of our local theaters and music halls where you’ll find everything from ‘Mary Poppins’ at the Engeman Theater and ‘9 to 5’ at the Bayway Theater, to Kenny Rogers at NYCB Theater in Westbury and Jefferson Starship at the Suffolk Theater.

And most people might not realize it, but our wineries, breweries and distilleries are open year-round for tastings and tours. Many feature live music during the winter months. You can arrange for transportation or a tour. Or, why not make a weekend of it and spend a winter getaway at a charming B&B.

There are a lot of other things to see and do on Long Island, even in the heart of winter. Find more at: www.discoverlongisland.com

ABOUT DISCOVER LONG ISLAND:

Discover Long Island was established under the name Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau & Sports Commission in 1979 as the official tourism promotion agency for the destination’s travel and tourism industry. The organization contributes to the economic development and quality of life on Long Island by promoting the region as a world-class destination for tourism, meetings and conventions, trade shows, sporting events and related activities. For more information, please call 631-951-3900 or visit www.discoverlongisland.com.

 

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