Things to Do in the Community

Stony Brook and the surrounding areas offer hundreds of opportunities for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Below is a sampling of the many things to do on Long Island! Note: Some merchants may offer a  discount when you use Wolfie Wallet or your Stony Brook ID

FUN ACTIVITIES ON LONG ISLAND

Adventure Park at Long Island Bring out your inner daredevil at Adventure Park at Long Island! Your family can climb and zip line through low- and high-ropes courses.

Splish Splash Check out the 20 water slides at Splish Splash. Two new additions for this year are Bombs Away and Riptide Racer.

Bethpage Air Show Celebrate the official start of summer at the Bethpage Air Show on Memorial Day weekend. This year, capacity is limited, and tickets must be bought in advance.

Old Westbury Gardens Pack a picnic and enjoy the 200 acres of gardens, ponds, and lakes at Old Westbury Gardens.

Adventureland Hop on amusement park rides for all ages at Adventureland. You can then cool off at the arcade and grab some food.

Stony Brook Grist Mill Tours  
Learn about the history of the grist mill in a guided tour with a miller. Open to the public. 

Sweet Briar Nature Center Visit the butterfly vivarium and reptile room at the Sweet Briar Nature Center. Don’t forget to also check out the Discovery Area, which includes a sandbox, a hobbit house, other activities where children can paint and make music.

Planting Fields Arboretum Explore the colorful gardens and greenhouses at Planting Fields Arboretum. While there, take a tour of historic Cole Hall.

Whale & Seal Watching Tours Take a whale-watching tour with Captain Lou Fleet. You might also spot some dolphins, birds, and other wildlife, with a naturalist on board to explain it all! Use code WHALE2021 at checkout for $10 off each ticket.

Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve Hike or bike through acres of woodland, meadows, rock shoreline, and salt marsh at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve.

Urban Air This adventure park, located in Lake Grove, has an obstacle course, climbing walls, virtual reality, and much more!

Garden of Eve Pick strawberries this spring at Garden of Eve. Its annual Strawberry Fest will be hosted in May and June. Just be sure to buy tickets in advance!

Bayard Cutting Arboretum Surround yourself with nature at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum. It has 690 acres of open spaces, woodlands, and gardens.

Bayville Adventure Park An adventure park including indoor rock climbing, bumper boats, rides, mini-golf, Bungee Bounce, and more.

Waterdrinker Family Farm & Garden Waterdrinker Farm & Garden offers seasonal festivals including an annual tulip and sunflower festival. You can also enjoy a round of mini golf and local brewery.

Discovery Wetlands Cruise
Join Stony Brook Marine Services (located across from the Three Village Inn) in their 27 passenger vessel cruise! Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Stony Brook Harbor as you coast through this 88-acre wetlands preserve.

Gateway Drive-In Watch a movie from the comfort of your car at the Gateway Drive-In, which boasts the largest outdoor projection surface on Long Island. All proceeds go to the Performing Arts Center of Suffolk County.

Wild Play Elements Park at Jones Beach Swing through the air at Wild Play Elements Park at Jones Beach. There are three levels of obstacles that get higher and more challenging, including tightropes, cargo nets, zipline tour, rope swings, 40 ft drop, and Axe throwing.

Fire Island Walk along the pristine beaches of Fire Island. Then explore the salt marsh on a guided tour and climb to the top of the Fire Island Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse on Long Island.

Stony Brook Bike Rentals Experience the beauty of Long Island’s North Shore by enjoying a bike ride! Cruise through Stony Brook's scenic bike trails and enjoy historical buildings, beautiful landscapes, and forested preserves.  

Uplands Farm Nature Sanctuary Walk the nearly 2½ miles of marked trails at the Uplands Farm Nature Sanctuary. It’s a former dairy farm that has been transformed into a preserve with bird and butterfly meadows and a white pine-shaded ravine.

Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Preserve Book a guided tour at the Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Preserve, then head over to the playground and picnic area.

Old Bethpage Village Restoration Take a step back in time at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration. Your family will find out what it was like to live during the mid-19th century.

Sands Point Preserve See a real-life castle at Sands Point Preserve. Built-in 1902, Hampstead House is a 100,000 square-foot castle inspired by Ireland’s Kilkenny Castle.

Montauk Lighthouse Sign up for surf lessons in Montauk. Then visit the Montauk Lighthouse, which was built in 1796 and is a national historic landmark.

Lavender by the Bay Walk through fields of lovely lavender—and buy some to take home—at Lavender by the Bay.

Country Fair Park Ride the go-karts at Country Fair Park. Then round out the day of fun with mini golf, batting cages, outdoor laser tag, and more.

Caleb Smith State Park Preserve There’s plenty of bird watching at the Caleb Smith State Park Preserve. Plus, the Nature Museum has been recently renovated and showcases natural history exhibits.

Long Island Aquarium Sail on an interactive and educational adventure aboard the Atlantis Explorer. Conducted by Long Island Aquarium educators, you’ll travel down the Peconic River and into Flanders Bay. When your excursion is over, stop by to say hello to the aquarium’s resident penguins.

American Beauty II Cruises Take a sunset cruise aboard the American Beauty II—or learn about the historic whaling village of Sag Harbor on a sightseeing tour.

Belmont Lake State Park Catch some fish at Belmont Lake State Park. There is trout fishing in the spring and bass fishing in the summer.

Nassau County Museum of Art Marvel at the outdoor sculpture garden at the Nassau County Museum of Art. There’s also an arboretum, nature garden, and trails to explore.

Vanderbilt Museum Enjoy Centerport's Vanderbilt Museum, featuring mansions, exhibits, a planetarium, and a line-up of featured events. 

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium Teach the kids how to fish at Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium. Just be sure to make a reservation in advance.

Clark Botanical Gardens Spend a quiet morning or afternoon at Clark Botanic Gardens. This 12-acre botanical garden was designed by Alice Recknagel Ireys.

Deep Hollow Ranch Live like a cowboy at Deep Hollow Ranch, the oldest working ranch in the U.S. Families can ride horses on the trail to explore Montauk’s beautiful scenery (private guided tours are available).

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site See Teddy Roosevelt’s historic home at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site. Then explore the grounds and take a hike to the small nearby beach.

The Big Duck Snap a photo in front of The Big Duck, which is recognized by the National Register of Historic Places and has become a roadside attraction for many motorists driving out to the east end.

Smith Haven Mall Located just a few minutes from SBU, Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove is the hub for your shopping needs. Plus, it's accessible by local bus! 

Roosevelt Field  Located in Nassau County, this Garden City Mall is everything you could ask for. 

Tanger Outlets SBU is nuzzled in between two local outlet malls. Tanger Outlets, two locations in Riverhead (east) and Deer Park (west), is the one-stop shop. 

Walt Whitman Mall Located on Route 110 in Huntington, NY. Travel time is about 40 minutes. 

Town of Brookhaven Parks and Recreation Explore swimming, hiking, tennis and much more!

Areas

Find your next weekend-venture here.

Stony Brook  Village Just a mile north of SBU, Stony Brook Village offers residents and visitors an array of shops, restaurants, waterfronts, and much more!
(audio experience click here)

Port Jefferson Village A few miles east of Stony Brook rests Port Jeff Village -- your hub for good eats, rich history, fun family-friendly activities (like ice-skating!), and even ferry transportation! 

Three Village The best of what 3V has to offer.

Southampton For our "out-east" friends! This link takes you to a small guide on the activities eastern Long Island has to offer.

New York City A link full of guides on NYC -- borough by borough. What more could you ask for?

Local Beaches

Find your perfect beach right here on Long Island.

1. Fire Island National Seashore in Patchogue
2. Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh
3. Robert Moses State Park in Babylon
4. Tiana Beach in Hampton Bays
5. Cupsogue Beach in Westhampton Beach: Best for Animal Spotting
6. Coopers Beach in Southampton
7. Hither Hills State Park in Montauk
8. Shelter Island: Day Tripping
9. Long Beach: Foodies
10. Main Beach: Great for Celeb Sightings
11. Sunken Meadow State Park: Nature Lovers

Resources

Discover Long Island Your guide to life on Long Island! Explore a selection of activities to enjoy, places to shop, and more!

Beyond the Brook This SBU Student Affairs site provides students with all the information needed to explore what Long Island and New York City has to offer socially, culturally, and recreationally. 

Destination Accessible Destination Accessible gives detailed accessibility information of leisure locations for people with mobility challenges.

Getting Around: LI Transportation Commuting on Long Island is difficult -- we get that. Check out this guide of transportation options to help y our commute go just a little bit smoother.

Religious Directory View the local places of worship near the Stony Brook University campus.

Protect the Places You Love  The Three Village Community Trust is a non-profit, all volunteer, organization working hard to preserve and maintain historical properties. To volunteer, donate or support please visit the website.

Long Island Travel Guide  Explore world-renowned beaches, historical lighthouses, culinary delights, premiere golf courses,  and award-winning vineyards on Long Island. Download a copy of the Travel Guide for inspiration  to plan your perfect getaway. Get the guide.

50 Reasons Why We Love Living on Long Island  Life on Long Island is great. Though many already call it home, people from all over love to deep dive into what Long Island has to offer. With loads of museums, parks, beaches, tours, and beautiful villages, it's obvious why many choose to vacation here, shop here, and spend their weekends here. This site lists 50 reasons why people love Long Island. Check out this guide for your next day-off plans!