Discover Nassau: Coast, History and Parks

Nassau County offers beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and a coastline along Long Island Sound. Historic sites, museums and recreational areas complement this waterside landscape. To plan your trip, you can start by choosing the experiences you want to shape your stay: history, outdoor activity or things to do on the water. These priorities can guide you later as you match the location of a vacation rental to your planned itinerary.

History in the Village and at Sagamore Hill

The Theodore Roosevelt Home at Sagamore Hill was home to Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, from 1885 until his death in 1919. The house can only be accessed as part of a guided tour; tickets must be purchased in advance. Tour policies may change, so check visitor information before planning your visit.

Old Bethpage Village Restoration recreates a mid-19th-century American village across 209 acres, with homes, farms and shops. Here, the focus is on a village from that era, while Sagamore Hill tells the story of a specific former residence and its occupant. The Long Island Fair is held at Old Bethpage Village Restoration every fall. Check the current event calendar before your trip so you can include the dates in your plans.

Parks, Trails and Water Activities

Nassau County manages more than 70 parks, preserves, museums, historic estates and sports facilities across a total of 6,000 acres throughout the county. Eisenhower Park is a 930-acre public recreation area with sports and family activities.

The outdoor activities described here also vary. Wantagh Park is a launch and docking site on the South Shore Blueway Trail for non-motorized boats. Hempstead Lake State Park has bridle trails, as well as biking and hiking trails. This puts outings on the water alongside activities on trails, whether on foot, by bike or on horseback. When planning your day, you can decide whether water or trails should be the focus of your outing.

Fishing is permitted at the Congressman Lester Wolff Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge; a permit from the Town of Oyster Bay is required to collect shellfish. Regulations and permits may change, so check the current requirements before planning such an outing. Garvies Point Museum and Preserve features permanent exhibits on regional geology and Native American archaeology. These exhibits complement historic sites with a natural and cultural history perspective on the region.

Getting There and Trip Planning

Nassau County is about 20 miles from Manhattan and can be reached by plane, train, bus and other forms of transportation. Nassau Inter County Express provides bus service on fixed routes in Nassau County. Routes and schedules may change; check them for your specific journey. Plan your destinations and the most suitable way to get to each one separately.

When choosing a vacation rental, it helps to first decide on the kind of day you want: should a historic visit be the focus, or would you like to plan outings with exercise and water activities? Then match the accommodation’s location to the specific destinations that matter to you. This makes the wide range of things to do a practical basis for choosing where to stay.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Roslyn, Great Neck, Woodbury, Plainview, Rockville Centre, Freeport, Long Beach, Inwood, Westbury, Floral Park, Uniondale, Farmingdale, Garden City, Hicksville, Port Washington, Lynbrook, Syosset, Carle Place, Hempstead, Island Park, Seaford, Massapequa, Bethpage, Baldwin, Locust Valley, Jericho, Levittown, Glen Cove, Mineola, Oyster Bay, Searingtown, Valley Stream, East Norwich, Lido Beach, Manhasset, Massapequa Park

For the main travel overview: New York.