If you know someone from Long Island, there’s a high probability they drive you insane with the number of times they talk about it. But truth be told, Long Island is the most feel good place I’ve ever been and I could not be more grateful to call it home.
To any skeptics, the rush that it brings just from being there can be fully understood once you’ve made the trip.
When you grow up on Long Island, time means absolutely nothing, sleeping doesn’t exist because the adventures are endless. This means random road trips to the king’s park psych center at 11 p.m. on a Wednesday night, it means trying a new indulging breakfast place every Sunday morning, driving down the Southern State towards Robert Moses with the windows down to watch the sunrise.
This is where you have bonfires at your local beach in the middle of the winter but picnics late at night in the summer. The entire atmosphere will make you feel so alive.
This place is vsco central; you'll capture pictures of the most colorful sunrises, exquisite sunsets, scenic trails, and mouth-watering foods.
Make your way through the sunken meadow hiking trails, grab unique breakfast treats at Crazy Beans in Brookhaven, or one of the hundred choices of sweet comfort food and coffees from the Witches Brew.
From the cute coffee shops and venues in Huntington to the boardwalk and restaurants in Northport village all the way to the beach town of Fire Island, rainbow milkshakes and outdoor movies on Long Beach, to the beautiful celebrity central within the Hamptons, the people here are like no other and there is always something to do.
It’s crazy to think this place was all I knew before attending college in central PA which is a completely different but pleasing setting than Long Island. It’s true that you don’t even realize just how incredible the area you grew up in is until you are expected to adapt somewhere else.
On Long Island, diner time is any time, Jones Beach concerts once schools’ out is everything, and a trip to the big apple is just one simple train ride away.
Did I mention we have the BEST bagels, pizza, and ice cream?
Let me reframe, the bagels; always fresh, just try any deli’s bacon, egg, and cheese on one and the debate is over.
Our pizza; too many different kinds, between Little Vincent’s cold cheese pizza, Martino’s chicken, bacon, ranch slice, to Mario’s penne ala vodka slice, you can never go wrong.
And last but not least, our ice cream. America’s best soft serve comes from Carvel and if you still haven’t gotten around to try it, I feel bad for you.
Ever heard of a water ice? Cream ice even? Ralph’s ices is a water/cream ice and ice cream shop on which is located in AT LEAST one area of each town.
Not to mention, live bands play outside during the summer and buy one get one free milkshakes every Tuesday is a must.
People from Long Island are so different being that we come from such different areas whether it be Suffolk county, Nassau county, out East, Montauk, but ironically, when we interact with someone from Long Island the connection is there.
There is just something about a Long Islander demeanor that is like no other, it’s a bond that cannot be broken.
We have been exposed to such a vibrant part of this country and state alone that everything is just all right in the world. Going home means everything because family is everything here and so is having friends that make you feel so alive at heart, it’s doing everything without feeling restricted by time or anyone.
If you haven’t been to Long Island yet you need to plan a trip and experience the haunted corn mazes and pumpkin picking in the fall, Jones Beach Christmas light show in the winter, sunflower fields and vineyards in the spring, and the magic of the entire summer.
