Winter may be months away but it's still OK to dream of cooler temps especially in the heat of summer while you trying to stay cool at the many beautiful beaches in Nassau County, New York.
For instance, the holidays will be here before you know it with all their bells and whistles and chaos, and commotion. But don't forget it's also a time to spend with friends and family to enjoy all the great things that Nassau County has to offer its residents and visitors.
Here are some ideas to get you in the mood for hot cocoa, ice skating, sweaters, and yes, even the snow and sleet when visiting or looking for something to do in Nassau County.
Be sure to check with each venue for its COVID guidelines and requirements in Nassau County before heading out to any event or special events and confirm details before departing.
Stimulate the Brain
There is a wide variety of museums and one of the most popular for families is the Long Island Children's Museum. It continues to engage children of all ages with its kid-focused exhibits and activities so pay a visit and get ready to spend hours here.
Throw a Bowling Ball
Hit the bowling alley for some good old-fashioned family competition at one of Nassau County's premier bowling alleys where there are many opportunities to bond with you mainly in between bowling and snacking.
Underwater Treasures
Oh, and ah at penguins and the other "residents" at the Long Island Aquarium where kids, as well as adults, will enjoy the wide variety of things to do that this venue has to offer.
Ice Skating
Visit one of Nassau County's many indoor skating rinks, where kids can learn the basics or progress toward an Olympic medal.
Museum Row
Museum Row, located in Garden City, is a one-stop destination for some of the area's best museums and formal gardens. Here, again you'll find the Long Island Children's Museum, Vanderbilt Museum, Nassau County Museum of Art, the Nassau County Firefighter's Museum, and the Cradle of Aviation Museum. All are within a short distance of the Nassau County Veterans Coliseum, and within walking distance of each other.
The museums of Museum Row are always growing and changing and offering fascinating exhibits and special events. Come explore all that Museum Row has to offer families and others.
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
Step back in time and experience life in a recreated mid-19th-century American village where a wide variety of adventures await.
The 209-acre Old Bethpage Village Restoration includes 51 historic buildings such as an inn, a store, and a church. All were transported from other areas of Long Island. Treasured for its accurate depictions of pre-Civil War life, actors in period costume bring the village to life with craft demonstrations and farm work on expansive gardens. Throughout the year, Old Bethpage hosts special events including the Long Island Fair, A Haunted Long Island 1880 Halloween, and holiday candlelight evenings.
Sands Point
The Sands Point Park and Preserve feature three castle-like mansions: Hempstead House, Castle Gould, and Falaise. Falaise, built by Harry S. Guggenheim, is open to the public and has many distinctive architectural features including thickly mortared walls, steeply pitched tile roofs, and a round tower that of a medieval fortress. Furnished with antiques dating to the 16th century, Falaise also highlights paintings from the Renaissance and important pieces of modern art.
But if the outdoors, formal gardens, and expansive gardens (even in the winter) and places like Jones Beach are more your things that's okay.
The Sands Point Park and Preserve has wooded hiking grounds as well as trails that lead down to its beautiful beach on the Long Island Sound - perfect for a stroll, or cross-country skiing on a winter day. And all activities including tours of Falaise are open to the public.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
From 1902 to 1908, when Theodore Roosevelt served as the 26th President of the United States, this was the "Summer White House."
Theodore Roosevelt lived at the Summer White House until he died in 1919, and it remains just as it was when he was in residence including the moose heads. The formal grounds include an Audubon Center and a songbird sanctuary. History buff or not, the Theodore Roosevelt home is not to be missed. And since the National Parks Service manages it, you don't have to go to Yellowstone to see a real-life ranger here at the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site.
Walk with the Wallabies at Manorville
On weekends during the winter months, the Long Island Game Farm invites all to take a walk with a wallaby, a cute marsupial. Getting up-close-and-personal is included with the standard park admission and is a great educational opportunity for kids, tweens, and adults.
For more information on the walk, ticket pricing, and the other wild attractions found here, please visit www.longislandgamefarm.com.
Snowball Fight
Also, don't forget to take a winter stroll if you are near Central Park or Belmont Park where you can people-watch, walk your dog, and throw a snowball or two with or at your kids!
Ice Skating
Some great outdoor activities are ice-skating in Nassau County like indoor and outdoor ice-skating rinks. For example, Grant Park in Hewlett Park and Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn-North Hills offer outdoor skating sessions throughout the week and on weekends.
Dinosaurs
Take a step way back in time with a visit to Nassau Coliseum's Jurassic Quest Dino, the largest exhibit of life-size, moving, museum-quality dinosaurs. Visitors can walk through the Cretaceous, Jurassic, and Triassic periods and experience what it was like to be among dinosaurs like the T-Rex, Stegosaurus, and the Megalodon. The lifelike creations move, roar, and blink their eyes. Guests can also take part in the interactive adventure the Quest to meet dinos and prehistoric sea creatures, take a Dino Snap photo, search for fossils, watch a live Raptor Training Experience, and more. Advanced ticket purchases are encouraged.
Much More Entertainment
In addition to all the wonderful winter and outdoor activities, Nassau County is also a foodie's paradise with hundreds of fine dining restaurants and several Michelin star-rated venues.
You can dine on a variety of cuisines from Japanese to Mexican to Italian. There are also lots of tasty local hole-in-the-wall restaurants and fares to explore. Whatever you crave, you'll be able to find it easily in Nassau County.
Other miscellaneous things to do while in Nassau County include a visit to Oheka Castle, the Guggenheim Etat, Roosevelt Field Mall, East Hampton, Coe Hall, Macari Vineyards, and going on a few beaches walks where you might be able to get into an animal encounter or two or dip your toes in the cool water if you dare.
From animal encounters to museums, hands-on exhibits to estates, eateries, and more there's plenty to do in Nassau County to keep you busy even in the cold winter months, simply bundle up and enjoy the Great Outdoors!
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