Dinnertable conversation produced several more current Things To Do on LI:
* Touring the wineries on the North and South Forks (but
please designate a driver!)
* Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead
* For military buffs, the Tank Museum in Mattituck
* the Whaling Museum in Cold Spring Harbor; also, the Fish Hatchery not too far down the same road (Rte 25A)
* the Cradle of Aviation Museum at Mitchel Field (an airbase since the early 1900s, but goes back as far as 1776 for military uses) which is near Uniondale and Garden City.
* Antiques shows at many locations on LI throughout the summer months
* Pick your own pumpkins at farms on the East End in October
* Custom and collector car shows at various locales during the summer. Also, there are many informal weekly vintage car/hotrod get-togethers held at specific places throughout the warm months ("in the parking lot of.... on Wednesday nights from 7-10 pm" sort of thing).
* The Long Island Game Farm, in Manorville, used to be a good attraction but I've heard that it's gone downhill for the past couple of years. So I'd hesitate to recommend it unless things have or will be turned around.
* Splish-Splash Water Park, near Riverhead. This sort of attraction isn't "my thing" but apparantly it's very popular with kids and teens.
* There are many public and private golf courses on LI. The Black Course at Bethpage is legendary.
* Many of the villages and communties on LI have annual festivals. The Greenport Maritime Festival (September??) is one that's been around for a long time.
* Whale-watching tours off Montauk Point.
* Fourth of July fireworks by Grucci, especially off Jones Beach. It's even better if you can get there by boat (either yours, someone else's, or one of the many charters).
* The Shinnecock Powwow, which has been held for at least 50 years I believe, on Labor Day weekend. This is definitely one of the things unique to Long Island.
* And last but not least, don't forget The Big Duck!