Tours on Long Island are like the wind: you can’t see them, but they’re always around, and if you pay attention they’ll take you places.
Eastern Long Island is a favorite location for locals and tourists alike to visit wineries, breweries, distilleries, and cider houses. Each offers a unique experience in a relaxed atmosphere.
Further, spending time on the water is an experience Long Islanders take advantage of in many ways. From kayaking and paddleboarding to fishing and charter boating, there are ample opportunities for nature enthusiasts to spend time on the water.
Below are 10 Long Island tours that locals and visitors alike should enjoy.
Alcohol Tours of Long Island
Although Long Islanders are justly famous for their craft beers, the beverage that has been Long Island’s claim to fame involves alcohol made from apples. Yes, hard cider is all the rage these days! More than 20 producers, mostly in Suffolk County, makeover 80 different varieties of hard cider. They include well-known names like Doc Porters (Farmingdale), Shoreline (Bay Shore), Wölffer Estate (Sagaponack), and Eve’s Cidery (Calverton). You can find them in farm stores, arenas, and tasting rooms; many offer tours.
Boating Tours of Long Island
Long Islanders love the water, and there are all kinds of boating tours available. One is Harbor Lights Yacht Cruises, which offers 4-hour cruises on weekends exploring Hempstead Harbor. Also popular are sunset dinner cruises aboard Spirit of Oyster Bay or Spirit of Freeport, which set sail from Massapequa on Friday nights. You can even rent your boat or schedule a private charter through some companies, like The Landing at Port Jefferson. There’s also Great South Bay Eco Adventures in Patchogue offering eco-adventures including kayak tours, birding walks, fishing trips, and more!
Ocean Tasting Tours of Long Island
Although Long Islanders have had to fight for decades to keep the waters of Jones Inlet clean, that’s all different now, because there are many ways to sample the local seafood from the water. Several water taxi services offer great tours within a few miles of shore. For example, The Landing at Port Jefferson offers a free mini-cruise with two tastings and a tour every Wednesday night between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Flatbread Company in Patchogue has a regular shuttle boat ferrying hungry customers back and forth across the channel so they can enjoy pizza on their beautiful patio overlooking Little Peconic Bay.
Biking Tours of Long Island
Suffolk County is increasingly becoming more bike-friendly as it expands its network of bike paths. All along the East End, there are great places to enjoy a bike tour. In Nassau County, two favorite tours are along the Wantagh State Parkway and Merrick Road. In eastern Suffolk County, you can explore Mill Neck on Long Island’s Gold Coast by renting a bicycle from Winnick Bikes, pedaling around Sunken Meadow Park, or riding the North Shore Rail Trail to Orient Point. If you’re ambitious, try riding your bike out to Montauk Point Lighthouse!
Cider House Tours of Long Island
Most of the craft hard cider producers offer tours and tastings. It’s not hard to schedule a visit because many of them have limited hours it is best to call ahead; some are seasonal. Among those offering tours are Bad Seed Cider Co. (Holbrook), Eve’s Cidery (Calverton), Doc Porters Hard Cider (Farmingdale), Golding Farms Cider Mill (Medford), Long Island Meadery (Holbrook), Locust Lane Craft Brewery (Riverhead) and Vander Mill (Jericho).
Cruises of Long Island
There are many opportunities to take a cruise, whether you want to enjoy one of the harbor cruises out of Patchogue, Port Jefferson, or Oyster Bay; explore New York Harbor with Circle Line Cruises; learn about the region’s maritime heritage on North Shore tours, or even get married! Check out our list of boat charters in Long Island. And don’t miss some great options in the Hudson Valley, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
Long Island Ghosts & Gravestones
Ghostly history is alive (and well) all over Long Island. There are famous places like Fort Hill Cemetery in Patchogue where you can join ghost tours on Friday nights in October; historic cemeteries like Cedar Grove & Laurel Grove Cemeteries in Farmingdale; haunted houses like Poplar Plains in Calverton or Candlewood Castle at Stony Brook, or discover one of our most unique ghost stories, the mysterious Ward’s Brothers Salt Works near Orient Point. If you enjoy tales of hauntings, murders, and more.
Haunted Houses of Long Island
Fright fans are not disappointed on Long Island. The entire region is dotted with haunted houses, many of which have special events around Halloween. These include the Spookley the Square Pumpkin Patch in Smithtown, The New York Werewolf Lair in Copiague, Poplar Plains Center for Psychotherapy in Calverton, Twisted Residence in Coram, Candlewood Castle at Stony Brook, and many more.
Haunted Lighthouses on Long Island
Is that a ghost on the beach? No, it’s just a foggy night at Montauk Point Lighthouse on the eastern end of Long Island. The first lighthouse on Montauk was erected in 1792 but a new lighthouse was built and lit in 1858. It stands 156 feet tall but looks taller because of its location above sea level. Every weekend from June through October you can climb to the top for magnificent views as well as some spooky happenings if you believe the legends.
Hiking & Walking Tours on LI
Walking is one of our favorite activities—and there are great places to hike and explore all over Long Island. Whether your passion is for waterfalls, woodlands, or coastal trails, there are plenty of opportunities for hikers to enjoy Long Island’s natural beauty. Take one of our self-guided tours, join a long island hiking club, or go on one of the guided hikes put together by organizations like The Nature Conservancy.
Enjoy your next vacation on Long Island!
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