Long Island may be enjoyed without breaking the bank. There’s much to see and do on Long Island without breaking the bank, from free movies, concerts, and plays to museums with no admission prices. Do you have to keep the youngsters entertained as well? Several of these things are fantastic for bringing your children, young relatives, or friends to the island without paying a dime.
1. Watch the Sun Go Down on the Beach
If you aren’t a resident of the town or village, you may have to pay to visit any of the wonderful Long Island beaches throughout the summer. However, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and usually after 5 or 6 p.m., you may lay on the sand for free and watch the sunset below the horizon in areas like Long Beach. Spectacular sunsets can also be seen from the waterfront in places like Port Washington and Cold Spring Harbor.
2. Visit Long Island Wine Country
Explore some of the North Fork’s many vineyards and wineries, as well as a handful on the South Fork. Many vineyards offer free music and special events, even though most charge a small fee for wine samples. During the summer, visit The Wine Stand at Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack, where live music is performed on Fridays and Saturdays.
3. Take a Hike
Long Island has various hiking paths, such as those in Garvies Point Preserve, which lead down to a peaceful beach, as well as several fantastic wildlife refuges, such as the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Uplands Farm, run by the Nature Conservancy, has a double-loop track surrounded by red cedar, oak, hickory, and other towering trees. During the summer, butterflies, birds, wood frogs, and salamanders frolic in the area’s pools.
There are additional free admission gardens on Long Island, such as the Bailey Arboretum and Clark Botanic Garden, where you can walk through shaded walkways. Donations, on the other hand, are much appreciated by Clark Botanic Garden.
4. Visit the Big Duck
Long Island’s giant bird was created by duck farmers in the 1930s to draw people to their duck emporium. The historic edifice is free to visit, but the “duck-a-bilia” for sale inside may be worth your money. The annual holiday lighting of the Big Duck takes place on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving. Outside of Flanders, on Route 24, is where you’ll find the Big Duck.
5. Attend a Free Concert
Many free concerts are held on Long Island. The Steinway & Sons Piano Gallery of Long Island in Melville is a showroom for famous pianos, as well as a recital hall that is free to the public. Free concerts can also be found at the Jones Beach Boardwalk Bandshell.
6. Stroll Through an Outdoor Sculpture Park
The Sculpture Park at the Nassau County Museum of Art comprises approximately 50 sculptures by artists such as Botero, Calder, and others, all of which are shown outside on the museum’s expansive grounds.
The 145 acres of the museum also have established nature pathways through the woods, allowing you to take a stroll amid the scenery. You’ll have to pay a little fee to park in their lot on weekends. There is also a charge to enter the museum itself.
7. Visit Grumman Memorial Park
The Grumman Corporation, now renamed the Northrop Grumman Corporation, had a Long Island presence for many years, as Grumman Memorial Park near Calverton commemorates. Actual jets such as the F-14A Tomcat and the A-6E Intruder can be viewed for free.
8. Attend a Free Festival
Long Island has a thriving festival culture, with many of the events being free. From the yearly Oyster Bay Festival to the Cow Harbor Festival in Northport to Suffolk County Community College’s annual Long Island Shakespeare Festival in the summer, generally in June and July, there are a variety of admission-free events including entertainment, music, and more.
9. Visit a Museum
On Long Island, there are several free museums to visit. The John D’Angelico guitar used in the wedding scene of The Godfather, one of Les Paul’s original Gibson guitars, and an 1840 La Cote guitar is among the treasures housed in the American Guitar Museum, which is housed in a former farmhouse in New Hyde Park.
The African American Museum of Nassau County in Hempstead celebrates the African American community’s numerous cultural achievements. Eubie Blake’s piano is part of the permanent collection, and there are also special events and changing exhibits.
You can use the “Museums on Us” program if you have a Bank of America credit or debit card. Show your card for free public admission to over 100 museums throughout the country on the first full weekend of the month. The Long Island Children’s Museum, Old Westbury Gardens, the Hecksher Museum of Art, and the Long Island Museum are all part of this on Long Island.
10. Visit Art Galleries
Browsing art galleries is always free, and it’s just as much fun as seeing artwork at a museum. Tour galleries throughout Long Island, and don’t forget that several colleges have free and open-to-the-public art galleries. The Adele and Herbert J. Klapper Center for Fine Arts Gallery, the University Center Gallery, and the Swirbul Library Gallery are all located in Garden City at Adelphi University. During the academic year, the Lyceum Gallery on the Eastern Campus in Riverhead and the Gallery East on the Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood both host free shows. There are also open-to-the-public artists’ receptions.
