Mariana Dominguez
Each week reporter and history-lover Mariana Dominguez visits a historical location on the South Shore or attends a local lecture on historical topics. This week, she decided to round up the best local places that she has visited since beginning this series.
Since beginning this series, I have had the opportunity to attend a number of amazing lectures as well as visit some great historical places. With spring on the way, I wanted to highlight some of my favorites, especially the ones that feature an outdoor element that allows visitors to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.
The Connetquot River State Park Preserve is one of my absolute favorite discoveries since beginning the series. As a lifelong Long Islander, I cannot believe I had never visited before last year! The site has historical significance because it boasted the South Side Sportsmen’s Club, an outdoors club for the country’s elite during the first half of the 20th century. The preserve is situated on 3,473 acres of land and is an amazing place to visit as the weather warms. One can meander around the historical buildings, including the historic Nicoll Grist Mill. The preserve features 50 miles of hiking, bridle, cross-country ski and nature trails as well as freshwater fly fishing (by permit only).
The Long Island Maritime Museum, located on the Great South Bay in West Sayville, is a great place to bring kids to explore the beautiful grounds on the water. The museum itself features tons of things children would enjoy, including boats and interactive maps. The grounds are neatly manicured and not too big, so they are perfect if you have young kids and want them to get some fresh air but also want to make sure that you can always see them. In addition, there is nothing quite as enjoyable as being by the bay on a nice day.
The Islip Grange Park in Sayville is another great place to visit with kids, as it is not very wooded and features lots of open space to run around in. The historic buildings on the site are great to explore and get close to. In addition, if you’re ever looking for a place to take great photos, the Grange is a great spot.
Sagtikos Manor in Bay Shore is one of my favorite spots that I have had the opportunity to visit since beginning this series. Not only is the house beautiful and a tour absolutely worth it, but the grounds around the building are stunning and equally historical. One of my favorite parts of the estate was walking through the walled garden, which visitors do not need to book in advance. The beautiful garden was commissioned by Sarah Gardiner and built in the 1930s. Walking through it feels like you’ve been transported to a gorgeous country home in France.
Hopefully, you get the chance to visit and explore one of these great historic sites this spring, either with family or by yourself. Getting to explore the past and get some fresh air is a win-win!
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