1. Adventureland
Yes, it's not just a movie. Adventureland exists, and it was every Long Island kids' favorite place to bug their parents into taking them. It's not abnormal for a Long Islander to have their first roller coaster be "the lady bug ride," and you knew you were mature when you were finally old enough to ride "that blue and white roller coaster."
2. The beach is just a quick car ride away.
It doesn't matter if it's Long Beach, Robert Moses, Jones Beach or the Hamptons, a beach is just 30 minutes away tops. Scavenging for sand crabs, body boarding and burying our little siblings in the sand are typical pastimes for any Long Island kid.
3. New York City is close by.
What's better than living in the world's greatest city? Living 30 minutes away from it, so you don't have to deal with the noise and traffic 24/7. Nothing screams "I'm an adult" like your first unsupervised trip into NYC (probably to go to a hookah bar or a sake bombing restaurant that your camp friend's friend claims doesn't card).
Shout out to the LIRR for dealing with the youth of Long Island's BS for far too long.
4. "Walking into town."
Again, it doesn't matter which town you're referring to. It was the best place to blow your $20 allowance, and I'm sure you and your friends walked to get pizza, ices and to loiter around the shops that didn't yell at you.
5. Having your birthday party at either Fun Craft, Laser Tag, Libby Lou's, Curly Qs or one of the many bakeries.
Self-explanatory. You did it. Ten of your friends did it. You all frickin' loved it. Plus, nothing was cooler than seeing your name outside of Fun Craft or wearing a chef's hat that made you feel legit.
6. Hanging out at "The Mall."
Whether it was Roosevelt Field, Walt Whitman or one of the other amazing Long Island malls, you and your friends probably spent your preteen days trying to get into the inappropriate section of Spencer's and lapping the food court for free samples.
7. Concerts at Nassau Coliseum
Sure, it may not be what it used to be anymore (in fact, it's closing), but back in the day, Nassau Coliseum was the place to see any of your favorites. Getting to Hillary Duff, Disney on Ice and The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus all in the same place was a dream to 6-year-old me.
8. ...And at the Nikon Theater at Jones Beach
Driving with a car packed with friends to see Sublime, Wiz Khalifa or the hundreds of other acts the venue draws in is a staple of a Long Island summer. (Note to all you 17-year-olds with fake IDs, they don't serve alcohol. Don't get your hopes up.)
9. Late night trips to the diner.
As you grow up, get your license and start to realize you're incapable of going to bed before 2 a.m., nothing is better than cheese fries and a milkshake from a Long Island diner. As all Long Islanders know, our diners are the best of the best (and they stay open late). After a long night at Brandon or Sammy's house party, gather up your friends and head over to the nearest diner. The freshman 15 had nothing on our junior year, I-just-got-my-license food binge. (This picture is actually from The Witches Brew. If you've never been, do yourself a favor.)
10. Bagels and pizza. Pizza and bagels.
Stop lying to yourself, New Jersey. New York has the best bagels and pizza around. Nothing beats running downstairs at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning to see your signature bagel waiting for you. (Shout-out to my mom for always getting my "plain bagel, scooped, lightly toasted with cream cheese" order spot on.) Then there's the pizza. Whether you got it with a dozen friends on a Friday night at one of your "parties," your mom ordered it for a quick dinner in between your 40 extracurricular activities, you went to the local pizza restaurant for a first date, or it was served at one of those awesome birthday parties I discussed earlier — pizza is a part of being a Long Islander. No matter which crazy diet were on, we must crack every so often to have a slice of pizza. (Follow @picturesofyummyfood to see more of the delicious food LI has to offer. You'll gain 20 pounds just looking at it.)
11. You hate to admit it, but you couldn't help but fall in love with it.
Sure, maybe you hated high school. You swore up and down that you despised Long Island and all of its people. You exclaimed that once you went off to college, you'd never come back. But then, your first semester is over. You're in the car or on the plane home, and you can't help but smile. You know you're on your way back to your favorite place. Despite whichever "scene" you hated and people you dismissed, Long Island is the most undeniably beautiful place to be able to call home.
