1. Marriott Long Island Hotel & Conference Center
City: Uniondale, NY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (516) 794-3800
Address: 101 James Doolittle Blvd.
Description: Having recently undergone a massive, $21 million renovation, this three-star Marriott now features newly designed and decorated guestrooms, plus plenty of available meeting space. It’s been designed to be a business-friendly hotel that also offers leisure travelers the comforts and conveniences they’re looking for. This hotel is located within Nassau County, close to the Nassau Coliseum, Hofstra University, Eisenhower Park, and the Roosevelt Field Mall. On the property you’ll find several full-service and fine-dining restaurant options, including Champions Sports Bar & Grill, Prime Seasons Steak House & Seafood, and the Skylight Lounge. In addition to offering a great location within Nassau County, this hotel features comfort at an affordable price. The guestrooms are consistent with what you’d expect from any full-service Marriott hotel.
2. Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
City: Uniondale, NY
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (516) 794-9303
Address: 1255 Hempstead Tnpk.
Description: With its 17,500-seat capacity, this is the largest concert, show, and sporting event venue on Long Island, attracting a wide range of high-profile shows and concerts featuring big-name acts throughout the year. A few of the family-friendly shows that appear here annually are Disney on Ice, the Harlem Globetrotters, and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. See the Web site for a complete list of events and shows. This venue, also known simply as Nassau Coliseum, is home to the New York Islanders NHL hockey team. For Islanders ticket information, call (800) 882-4753 or visit www.newyorkislanders.com.
3. New York Islanders
City: Uniondale, NY
Category: Spectator Sports
Address: 1255 Hempstead Tnpk.
Description: Out of all the professional sports teams based in New York, the Islanders are definitely the most popular on Long Island, in part because this NHL team is based here and plays its home games at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The team is part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the NHL, and is one of three NHL teams in the Tri-State area (the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils are the other two).The Islanders were founded in 1972 and won four consecutive Stanley Cup championships between 1980 and 1984. Over the years a handful of Islanders team members, including Al Arbour, Mike Bossy, Clark Gillies, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Bryan Trottier, Bill Torrey, and Pat LaFontaine have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Between 2000 and 2006 the Islanders had a change in ownership, but along with that came a return appearance in the playoffs. For the 2007–8 season, the team redesigned their well-known royal blue, white, and orange striped jerseys. To help draw crowds, in addition to offering the high-speed action the NHL is known for, during television breaks the beautiful Ice Girls perform. Young fans of the Islanders can join the official Kid’s Club by visiting http://islanders.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43391. Membership is free, but there’s also a Slap Shot membership package that has an annual fee of $39, and a Hat Trick package with an annual fee of $99. The Hat Trick membership includes four tickets to an Islanders game, a team photo, a yearbook, an Islanders calendar, and an Islanders practice jersey, along with a bunch of other perks.The regular NHL season runs from late Sept to mid-Apr. On game days, you’re sure to find massive crowds at sports bars throughout Long Island as they cheer on their true home team. Home games are broadcast on MSG+, a Long Island–based sports television cable network. You can listen to evening games on 94.3 WMJC and 90.3 WKRB. All afternoon games can be heard on WHLI 1100 AM.
4. New York Islanders
City: Uniondale, NY
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (800) 882-ISLES, (516) 794-930
Address: 1255 Hempstead Tnpk.
Description: For young hockey fans, experiencing a New York Islanders home game can be a thrilling experience, not to mention a great way for parents to spend quality time with their kids (assuming, of course, they’re hockey fans). The NHL season typically runs between Oct and Apr. Visit the team’s Web site for a schedule of home games and to purchase tickets online. Single-game tickets range from $19 to $140 through the box office. However, there’s also the TicketExchange (available through the Islanders’ Web site) that allows ticket holders to resell their unwanted tickets. Prices for these tickets are set by the ticket holders and will sometimes be offered at a significant discount (or sold at a premium, if a game is sold out and tickets are in demand).At the Broadway Mall in Hicksville (516-935-2213) and the Westfield Sunrise Mall in Massapequa (516-795-0131), you’ll find official New York Islanders Stores, where merchandise and other items of interest to fans are sold.
5. Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus
City: Uniondale, NY
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (516) 794-9300
Address: 1255 Hempstead Tnpk.
Description: Throughout the year a variety of kid-friendly touring shows and concerts are presented at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (also known simply as the Nassau Coliseum). For example, in Mar the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (www.ringling.com) comes to town. Other touring, kid-oriented shows that visit the coliseum include Disney on Ice, Smucker’s Stars on Ice, and the Harlem Globetrotters. Visit the coliseum’s Web site for a complete listing of events. Ticket prices vary, but the kid-oriented shows seldom sell-out, so same-day tickets are often available.