Photo L.I. HOME
You don’t have to travel far for a great vacation. Long Island is a year-round destination for international visitors, so let’s take a moment to stop and reflect on how lucky we all are to be able to call this place home. Now, let’s take a few more moments to think about the fact that another holiday weekend is almost upon us, and start planning that staycation itinerary with inspiration from winners of the Long Island Choice Awards.
BEST BED AND BREAKFAST/INN
Southampton Inn
91 Hill Street, Southampton
(631) 283-6500
southamptoninn.com
Located just a mile away from stunning beaches and walking distance from Main Street and Jobs Lane, where there is plenty of shopping, art and cultural experiences. With the personal attention of a bed and breakfast and hotel-like services, this 90-room inn is charming and welcoming to family and pets. Each room is decorated differently and has memory foam mattresses, and the inn also has an event venue and five acres in the historic Southampton Village. Jump in the 50-foot heated outdoor pool during the summer seaxon, play croquet, volleyball or tennis at one of the courts, or check out the game room for all ages.
BEST HOTEL
Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa
290 Old Montauk Hwy, Montauk
(631) 668-2345
gurneysresorts.com
The only luxurious hotel located directly on the beach in Montauk, with 158 rooms, suites and beachfront cottages offering incredible panoramic ocean views and access to The Beach Club — which is 2,000 feet of private beach with plenty of space to lounge and indulge in drinks and food. Check out pop-up boutiques and a number of fun events throughout the year, relax at the spa or bathhouse, lounge by the indoor pool, walk the beach, sit by a firepit, dine at the award-winning Scarpetta, take a drive to the Montauk LIghhouse…The End is your oyster.
BEST EVENT VENUE
Epic Escape Rooms LI
357 Hempstead Tnpk, West Hempstead
(516) 427-5977
epicescaperoomsli.com
Epic Escape Rooms Long Island offers guests a thrilling and challenging experience in a live escape game. Each themed room has to be solved with team work to find clues and solve riddles in 60 minutes or less. Choose from six adventures: Forbidden Forest, Killer Feature, Disorderly Conduct, Vanished and The Pazziolis—whether you’re new or a returning escapee you are guaranteed for a fun adventure. Birthday packages are available or if you’re looking for a unique team building event, Epic Escape Rooms will be sure to keep things fun and exciting.
BEST PARK
Planting Fields Arboretum
1395 Planting Fields Rd, Oyster Bay
(516) 922-9210
plantingfields.org
Interested in connecting with nature? This gorgeous historic park offers more than just a visual experience, choosing activities such as Forest Therapy Nature Walks, Yoga in the Garden and various other events, tours and activities. From gardens to greenhouses to the incredible architecture and stunning art, this Gold Coast Estate built in the 1920s boasts an incredibly rich history. The staff strives to preserve and spread the heritage of the fields to the community as a coexistence of the natural and built world.
BEST LOCAL TOURIST ATTRACTION
Jones Beach State Park
1 Ocean Pkwy, Wantagh
(516) 785-1600
parks.ny.gov
On Long Island, everyone knows about Jones Beach, with 6.5 miles of soft sandy shores along the Atlantic Ocean and 2,400 acres of maritime environment on the South Shore. The beach offers many activities, from walking the boardwalk or shorelines, grabbing a bite at the cafe, swimming in the ocean, the WildPlay Adventure Park, mini golf and so much more. There are also educational activities where you can get to know the local marine life, plus the well-known Northwell Health Theater, home to countless concerts during the summer season.
BEST LONG ISLAND SINGER/BAND:
Elizabeth Edquist
Royal Princess Prep Party Company
(516) 639-3939
elizabethedquist.com
Singer, actress, dancer, author, makeup artist, cosplayer and so much more — this Long Island native loves to entertain. She graduated from NYU Tisch’s New Studio on Broadway and Stonestreet Studios in 2016. Shortly after she started her 13x award-winning company Royal Princess Prep Party Company. If you like what you see or hear, Elizabeth also teaches classes via Zoom: childrens yoga, children’s ballet and more!
BEST MUSEUM
Long Island Children’s Museum
11 Davis Ave, Garden City
(516) 224-5800
licm.org
Long Island Children’s Museum builds children self-confidence through dancing, crafting and moving through their multisensory programs. They are exclusively tailored for young minds and bodies to develop communication and cooperation skills in a loving environment. Even adults of any age can benefit from the interactive programs. From theatre and music to storytelling and art, children will become well rounded curious individuals.
See all the Long Island Choice Award winners here, and click here to nominate your favorites for this year’s contest!
