Best Things to Do on Long Island

Long Island is a vast landmass just east of New York City. Home to Hofstra University, the island has some of the best things for students to do without taking a trip to the city.

Enjoy the many beaches the island has to offer

One of the perks of living on Long Island is being in close proximity to a variety of beaches, such as Jones Beach State Park, Robert Moses State Park and Coopers Beach. Entry typically requires a small fee, making the beaches accessible to students.

Local museums

A short drive from Hofstra, there’s a stretch of land nicknamed “Museum Row.” While not as large as some of the museums in Manhattan, the Cradle of Aviation Museum and the Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center offer interactive exhibits and experiences at a low price.

Enjoy local parks and nature reserves

There are multiple great parks in close proximity to Hofstra, including Eisenhower Park, Hempstead Lake State Park and Tanglewood Preserve. Eisenhower Park is the largest of the three, where visitors can make use of basketball courts, baseball fields and bicycle paths. Other parks like Tanglewood Preserve offer lush scenery with scenic trails.

Attend a Hofstra basketball game

Buy tickets to see the Hofstra Pride, the University’s Division I basketball team, with former professional NBA player Speedy Claxton as its coach. Students can enjoy low-priced tickets open to the public with food, drinks and school spirit.

Visit an event at Nassau Coliseum

Within walking distance from Hofstra, Nassau Coliseum was founded in 1972 with a capacity of about 14,000 and is home to the Long Island Nets basketball team. The stadium also hosts other events, including the Professional Championship Bull Riders and the Harlem Globetrotters.

Visit Roosevelt Field Mall

Roosevelt Field is the largest mall on Long Island and one of the largest in the state of New York. Featuring more than 240 stores spread across three floors, this classic option for students has a wide selection of clothing, jewelry and food about seven minutes from Hofstra’s campus.

Local cuisine

Visit Witches Brew Coffee House, a unique coffee shop just 12 minutes from Hofstra. The local coffee house offers a cozy gothic atmosphere and vegan-friendly options for guests to choose from. Another hot spot just a few minutes from Hofstra is Ben’s Crab in Uniondale, a seafood restaurant with an affordable menu and friendly local staff.

During the spring and summer seasons, locals love Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices, a seasonal store founded in Staten Island in 1951. With most locations operating mainly on Long Island, the chain is known for its wide variety of Italian ices, shakes and ice cream.