Summer unleash a fervent want to scarper the swelter city for coastal breezes and open tune . But who require to trade in crowded streets and overprice drinks for jam - packed beaches and restaurants catering to the ultra - rich ? intrust us , there are much better options out east than fight for elbow way on a crowded Jitney . For a real change of pace , skim the Hamptons and drumhead to one of these underrated Long Island townspeople .

Long Beach

Why it ’s so great : Only 45 minute from Manhattan , this skinny barrier sandbar house one of the Island ’s former beachside communities , despite being only half - a - international nautical mile wide-cut at its dense . That have in mind you ’re never more than a few steps from the water , smother by both bay and oceanside view . The iconic boardwalk has been an institution here for more than 100 long time – not even Superstorm Sandy could permanently shut it down . What to do : Stretch out on the sand or walk the boardwalk to soak up the seaside vibration . For dinner party , do n’t fly back to city with the other daytrippers . Swingbellyson Beech St churns out genuine - plenty slowly - smoke barbecue , including the best ribs this side of St. Louis . For dessert ( or breakfast … no judgement ) , check outDough Hutfor handmade donuts in flavour to touch far - trendier ( take : more expensive ) bakeries , like maple Roger Bacon and s’mores . Or visit theDiner by the Seafor crazy , multicolored milkshake intermixture you do n’t have to wait hour in line for .

Oyster Bay

Why it ’s so swell : This historic crossroads is base to Teddy Roosevelt ’s summer family , Sagamore Hill . And in purity of this nature - loving president , his namesakeSanctuary & Audubon Centerpreserves 15 estate of wildlife for your strolling or hiking enjoyment . The walkable , waterfront Downtown also boasts some wizardly shops , and if you ’re visiting in October hosts the annualOyster Festival . What to do : get down the Clarence Day on the waterfront , where you could board the historical oyster sloopChristeenfor a sail around the Laurus nobilis . A red-hot summer day on Long Island is n’t complete without some Italian methamphetamine , so contain by theBonanza Standon Shore Ave for a novel goody . Continue to explore Teddy ’s small abode , boost through the nature preserve , or take a walking beside one of the North Shore ’s rocky , yet scenic beaches . Finish the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. with dinner party atWild Honey , a amercement - dining favourite where many of New York ’s rise culinary stars have their starting time .

Huntington

Why it ’s so great : It ’s insufferable to list the Island ’s most creative eating house without mention Huntington more than once . The comparatively heavyset Downtown boasts more eclectic eateries than anywhere in the East End , and the culinary landscape stretch all the way up New York Ave to waterfront classic likePrime . This crossroads is no slouch in the cultural department either . Huntington is home to theHeckscher Museum of Artas well as theCinema Arts Centre , whose line - up of independent , alien , and classic films is a cinephile ’s dream . Heckscher Park also hosts the annualSummer Arts Festivalwith free outdoor performances nearly every night . What to do : If you ’d rather see a show indoors , catch some hot music or drollery atThe Paramount , a locus fear for its ability to domiciliate big - time acts in an intimate setting . Stop next door for a pre - show insect bite atSwallow . The chef ’s modern take on small plates means you may try a little of everything ( like duck confit pizza pie ! ) and still have room for dessert . If after all that sample you ask a little bombination , check outSapsuckersfor local beer from one of 16 daily rotate drafts . And do n’t leave township without trying the famouscold high mallow pizzafromLittle Vincent ’s .

Bay Shore

Why it ’s so slap-up : This revitalized South Shore village is on its elbow room to eclipse Huntington as the Island ’s newfangled hot spot for right eats . New restaurants seem to bug out up weekly on Main St. Culinary selection here launch the gamut from healthy , organic fare atTula Kitchento the graceful huitre bar atSalt & BarreltoVerde’sauthentic , handcrafted Mexican cuisine served in a dining room / nursery . Down by the piss , dockside eateries offer beautiful true laurel perspective and salty breezes . What to do : To work up an appetency , take a walk along the shoring at Bay Shore Manor Park , stopping atFatfishfor a drink at their outdoor dockside bar . Then manoeuver up toward the village shopping center . Just off Main on 4th St , Tullulah’soffers the most innovational menu in town , with seasonal tapas offerings like lamb alimentary paste or mussels in a spicy kimchi stock . Do n’t pass on without render one of the cautiously craft cocktail – the mixologists are always experimenting with new confection . Finish the day by drink some s’mores atMilk & Sugar– both the interior decoration and the menu are so sweet , they ’ll make your teeth ache in all the correct ways .

Patchogue

Why it ’s so large : This South Shore village ’s Downtown has recently gone through a huge translation . An inflow of Modern eating house , bars , and breweries packs the idealistic taphouse crawl within three little blockage . Walking Main St alone presents dozens of bar hopping opportunities , from the family - made beer atBrickHouse Breweryto the chilli - infused margarita atDel Fuego . Of course , Patchogue is also still home to Long Island ’s OG craftsmanship beer maker , Blue Point . On Thursdays , the Greenwich Village hostsAlive After Five , a street just that amps up party atmosphere . What to do : Along with pay their respects at Blue Point , beer aficionados call for to visitHoptron Brewtique . The constantly change tap feature of speech guile brews you probably wo n’t spot anywhere else . Do n’t leave to grab a growler full of your favorite for a souvenir . If you ’re pale of overhyped , overcrowded music fete , Patchogue also has the antidote . At Shorefront Park , theGreat South Baymusic fest is the low-toned - paint cousin of the overpriced big city affairs . This July fetch acts to five stages over four day . When your visit is everlasting , you’re able to skip a ferrying to the next destination .

Fire Island

Why it ’s so great : Simultaneously a family - well-disposed seaside destination and the epicenter of the jovial community on Long Island , this narrow stretch of sand has a petty something for everyone . Only a short ferry ride from the South Shore , Fire Island is nursing home to beaches that rival the Hamptons in both beauty and night life , but with a much more inclusive mental attitude . There are no cars on this tiny sandbar , so the public security is unmatched among the Sunken Forest , deer roaming the dunes , and multitude hale their beach supplies in piffling flushed wagons . What to do : rent ’s be existent , you ’re here for Baroness Dudevant and sunshine , so get in early enough to spend the better part of the day catching rays on Ocean Beach . For the easy transportation , lease a bike to search further . As the sun sets , take in the waterfront view at theIsland Mermaid , a charming dockside restaurant beloved by topical anaesthetic and daytrippers likewise .

Riverhead

Why it ’s so great : Whether your booze of selection is beer or wine-coloured , this outpost sandwiched between the Peconic River and Long Island Sound has you cover . On the doorstep of North Fork wine country and laced with beautiful arcadian scene , a journey along Sound Ave reveal vineyard after vinery , construct it easy to try out every varietal . For beer lovers , Riverhead is also home to three famed craft breweries –Long Ireland , Crooked Ladder , andMoustache Brewing . What to do : Trek E along scenic Sound Ave , alternate stops between farm standstill and wine tasting . Martha Clara Vineyardsis a favored point , thanks to its bountiful outdoor seating area , upscale nutrient motortruck , and frequent resilient music . For homemade yield Proto-Indo European baked with local green goods , be sure to also strike Island institutionBriermere Farmsto take home a strawberry rhubarb or a peach cherry tree . If short on time , theNorth Fork Tasting Roomoffers a wide survival of the fittest of local wine and beer for one - stop sampling . But true craft beer aficionados should manoeuvre business district rather . The soft ( and most entertaining ) way to confab all the breweries is via aBrew Crew Cycles hitch . There ’s nothing like pedaling a 14 - someone radical bike to form off all that alcoholic drink .

Greenport

Why it ’s so not bad : The temptingness of this North Fork hamlet is that it still remain comparatively unexplored by the horde of summer visitant that derive on the Island every weekend . A former shipbuilding center , Greenport ’s marine history is notable all over town . It ’s home to theSeaport Museum and Marine Foundation , abide by the arena ’s plenteous maritime tradition . The historic hamlet even has a working blacksmith , house in a replica of the original building from the 1870s . All of this surround the town ’s waterfront epicenter of Mitchell Park . What to do : Wander the streets around Mitchell Park for shopping at independent boutiques and antique stores . For lunch , go for a classic Long Island staple fiber – a phonograph record of local soft-shell clam enjoyed dockside – atClaudio ’s Clam Bar . If you require a change of scenery , take the shuttlecock to Shelter Island for further explore ( it leaves every 12 minutes ) or stick around for dinner at theFrisky Oyster . The sea - to - table restaurant is lauded for its interesting twists on fresh seafood . fetch up the mean solar day with a cocktail atBrix & Rye , a legal profession that direct to advance classics like the gin screw auger or Sazerac to new heights .

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Fire Island Long Island

Fire Island|Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Moment/Getty Images

Long Beach, NY boardwalk

sangaku/Shutterstock

Oyster Bay NY Teddy Roosevelt

littleny / Shutterstock.com

Prime - An American Kitchen & Bar

Prime - An American Kitchen & Bar

Verde Kitchen Long Island

Vicki Jauron/Verde Kitchen

Blue Point Brewery

Courtesy of Blue Point Brewery

fire island new york

Pri Ma / Shutterstock.com

Long Island - Riverhead: Briermere Farm

Flickr/Wally Gobetz

Greenport Long Island Claudio’s

Flickr/pixonomy