Such charms soon wear thin. To preserve your sanity, we strongly suggest you get out and about. Long Island (the Island) has outdoorsy stuff, while anything that can be done indoors can be done in New York City (the City).
For a really excellent guide to life at the Lab, see here.
On Sunday, in the Long Island Section of the New York Times there is also a guide to local events.
For events at Stonybrook, see: USB campus calendars. The Staller Center, in particular, often has excellent concerts, etc.
The nearest beach is at Smith Point. Take the William Floyd Parkway all the way south until it ends. This is a good beach, but crowded on the weekends.
A great day trip if you have two cars is to walk from Smith Point to either Watch Hill or Davis Park and then take the ferry to Patchogue. About a 6-8 mile walk.
Fire Island is spectacular; see this home page for information about ferries, restaurants, events, etc. Ocean Beach is nice, Matthew's is a famous restaurant there.
A beautiful, relatively isolated beach is at Sunken Forest. To get to it, take a ferry from Sayville, which is about twenty minutes from Brookhaven on the South Shore. Ferry information is available from the home page above, or by calling the Sunken Forest Ferry Company at 589-8980, The ferry trip from Sayville to the Sunken Forest takes about twenty minutes. The beach is beautiful, and there is a snack stand on the Island. There is also a wonderful walk, about a mile in length, through the ``Sunken Forest''. The walkway is elevated, with a canopy of trees above. Hanging from the trees are strange plants with tendrils reaching down. Very pretty. This is nice because it has both the beach and the walk.
LI has many good sites to launch a windsurfer.
Nice beaches farther away include:
Westward, Robert Moses is a large, wonderful beach. Again, you can drive to it, so it gets crowded on the weekends.
Eastward, all the way at the end of the North Fork of the Island is Orient Beach State Park. All the way at the end of the South fork is Montauk Point State Park. There is a lighthouse at Montauk. Both are gorgeous, about an hours drive from the Lab. The view from the lighthouse at Montauk is worth the drive alone.
Smaller beaches include:
Cupsogue: Go to Westhampton and then west on dune road to the end. A nice walk to moriches inlet.
There is a park with barbecues at the end of Belleview Ave. in Center Moriches. This is a good windsurfing spot on a southwest wind. No good for other swimming. Parking is free.
Just before entrance of E. Moriches coast guard station is a NYS public access site with a good exposure for east winds. Water very shallow: good for kids but not for other swimming. Parking is free.
Hiking: The best place is to go to Shelter Island from Sag Harbor. You need to take a five minute ferry to get to Shelter Island. The ferry ride is about $5 one way, $5.25 round trip. After getting off the ferry at the south end of Shelter Island, you're on Route 114. About one mile north, on the right (east) side of the road, you'll see a SMALL sign for Mashomack preserve. The sign is small, so be on the look out. Anyway, this is a very nice area which is run by the Nature Conservancy. There are hikes of 1, 3, 6, and 12 miles in length, along paths which are mowed (so ticks are NOT a worry). The hikes are fine for children of any age. Great birding, no beach. Also, when you enter, the Nature Conservancy has a store with wonderful T-shirts, jewelry, etc., all at very reasonable prices. This is a trip worth making! Hours are 9-5.
Mountain biking: there is a 12 mile mountain bike path in Rocky Point. There are two parking lots: off 25A, on the south side, by Albo Realty, east of Route 21. Also, on Rocky Point Road, just north of Whiskey Road. For trail conditions, call 271-6527.
Kayayking and canoeing: at Southold, Eagle's Nest, 765-3502. In Riverhead, along the Peconic, there are kayaks and canoes available at the U-Haul, 727-3060.
The book "Short walks on Long Island" has lots of other hiking suggestions.
Amaganset is nice, small. It has the Stephen Talkhouse, which is a great place for rock and blues. This is a small place, but has killer acts. Rumor has it Billy Joel sometimes stops by late at night, but he never did when I was there.
East Hampton is the toniest town of all. The Barefoot Contessa is the most expensive deli I have ever seen anywhere. Go there and nibble. There are also a few nice places to have tea. I would go there in the middle of the afternoon, have tea, and then eat somewhere else, like Sag Harbor or Southampton.
Southampton is nice, more little art galleries, fancier than those in Sag Harbor, a good coffeehouse, some outlet stores.
Westhampton is close, but small, not that much. There is a nice store with ethnic art on the second floor near an ice cream store, Artisans International. A very hot club is Marakesh, lots of twenty somethings burning their parents money. $15 just to get in.
Hampton Bays is on the South Fork, but too proleteriat to be real South Fork. The Canoe Place Inn is the biggest club around there, five bands, lines a block long to get in, if that's your scene, enjoy.
On the North Fork there are lots of vinyards, driving along either Route 48 (which is faster) or Route 25 (which is slower, but more scenic, through a lot of little towns). Island wine is pricey, nowhere near as good as California, but you can go to the winery's, try some for free, and get plowed. The management of Brookhaven National Laboratory strongly recommends that you have a designated driver when doing this.
*Brookhaven, (631) 286-9569, 2109 Montauk Hwy. (bet. Bellport Ave. & Cemetery Rd.). Good seafood. Bridgehampton: H.S.F., 537-0550. On Montauk Hwy, Rte 27, on the south side; real easy to miss, as the sign is pitch black. Very good chinese. Nice interior. Entrees about $10.
*Coram: Cafe Stephano's. On Rte 25 by Rte 83, at the southeast corner. Nice Italian. Pasta about $10.
*Coram: Mike's Place, sports bar, good burgers.
East Marion: Hellenic Restaurant, 477-0138. On Sound Ave, Rte 48, on the north side. Very good greek, informal atmosphere, great with kids. Have outside patio to eat in summer. Try their fresh lemonade, spanakopita, baklava, etc. Cheap.
*East Moriches: Atlantic by the Sea, 878-0700, 215 Atlantic Ave, at the very end of Atlantic Avenue right by the water. *Eastport: Triangle.
East Quogue: Michael's, 728-0500. I like their Cajun pizza (I know it sounds wierd, but try it). We normally only go for the pizza, as the pastas are about $15. But in the summer, during week they have been having a buffet for $12, which is great deal.
Greenport: Aldo's, a deli with a few tables for eating. His food is great.
Greenport: The Barge. Fish place on the water.
Lake Grove: Borders Book Store, Rte 347 and Moriches Rd., opposite Smithhaven Mall. Good bookstore, with a coffee bar which serves expresso, deserts, light salads.
*Mastic: Mike's Place Too: 1086 Mastic Road. 281-1169.
Mattituck: Ammarati's. On Love Lane off Sound Ave, Rte. 48. Mainly a deli, but great brunch on Sunday for only $7. You eat outside, though, so check the weather.
Montauk: Gossman's.
Port Jefferson: Costa de Espana, on East Main. A bit hard to find, you have to get to it from the parking lot. Good authentic Spanish food.
Port Jefferson: Hana, a very nice Japanese Restaurant near the train station.
Port Jefferson: Portico, Broadway Ave. opposite Danfords. American cuisine Rooftop tables, pleasant, unusual pizzas, fish. Entrees $10. Good for (well-behaved) kids.
Port Jefferson: Pasta Pasta, 234 East Main, 331-5335. Best Italian around. Very pleasant, we often take speakers here. Entrees $10-15.
Port Jefferson: Salsa Salsa, Main St. Countertop Mexican food. Good food; around $10/person.
Port Jefferson Station: Rt. 347, just west of 112 (in shopping plaza with Entenmann's outlet). 474-0663 Thai Gourmet. Good, inexpensive Thai food. A hole in the wall, but very pleasant.
Riverhead: Primo Pizza, 727-8763.
*Rocky Point: Diamond Wok, on Rte 25A, the south side of the street, just east of Rocky Point Rd. Good, inexpensive chinese. An old standby for speakers.
*Rocky Point: Sea Basin, on Rte 25A. Fishy.
Sag Harbor: Provisions, 725-2666. In town, near the pier. Aging hippy cuisine, but good. The portions are a bit small, so in all about $15/person. The only affordable place in Sag Harbor.
Sag Harbor: There's a great Mexican place right by the wharf. Forget the name. Killer margaritas, light tex-mex.
Sag Harbor: Spinnaker's
Sag Harbor: the Japanese restaurant on Main has good specials
Saint James: Szechuan Garden, Rte 25A. Best Chinese in the area.
Saint James: Mirabelle's. The best French restaurant in Suffolk County. I don't know, its way too expensive for me.
Setauket: Fusion, Rte 25A. Outdoor dining, pleasant, Nouvelle cuisine Expensive, but worth it. Entrees $20-25.
Shirley: Cassidy's, Montauk Highway by Titmus, about 1 1/2 miles east of the Floyd Parkway. 281-3330. Good Irish Pub.
Southhampton: La Parmigiana, 283-8030. Great Italian, and cheap. Try their daily specials on the board, or Fusili Sicilian (drowned in black olives and capers), fatten on their tirami su for desert. Very informal, great with kids, the only affordable place to eat in Southampton.
Southampton: Publick House, good microbrewery, pub food.
Stony Brook: Cafe 25A, Across from train station on Rt. 25A. Despite the dopey name, its quite nice. Pleasant, inexpensive, fairly standard American fare, around $8/person.
Stony Brook: Curry Club, 751-4845 (Rt. 25A and the corner of Nichols Rd). Best Indian food around, Pleasant, around $10/person.
Stony Brook: Eastern Pavilion, corner of Nichols Rd and 25A, 751-1888. Good Chinese, Very good sushi bar, pleasant, they like children here, Entrees around $10.
Stony Brook: Green Cactus Grill, 1099 Rte 25A (near SB Train Station) A dive, Sit at counters, Great Mexican, Cheap.
Stony Brook: Pentimento, Rte 25A, 689-7755. Outdoor dining, pleasant atmosphere, Italian/American Nouvelle, Entrees $15-20.
Stony Brook Village: Three Village Inn, Rte 25A, 751-0555. A local institution with ambiance. Take your parents when they visit. Expensive. Entrees $20-25.
*Wading River: La Plage: 744-9200. Across from the beach on Creek Road; go to the center of Wading River, then take the road going north till it veers left. Very good nouveau cuisine, but a little overpriced. Plan on around $35 for dinner and wine/person. Relaxed atmosphere in a small beach house. Call for reservations if more than six. But you can drink yourself into a stupor, and then go across the street to pass out on the beach.
*Wading River: Phils, 929-0508. Dirk's favorite place, he likes the help...
*Yaphank: Carmen's River Inn. Sometimes dinner seems to take forever (don't take the kids), but it's the best food close to the lab. Standard American fare, $20/person. Very pleasant ambiance. Across from the fire house in Yapyank.
Westhampton Beach: Belle's, 288.3927. Best damn cafe in an airport in the world. Real creole food, funk in the Hamptons, amazing.
Westhampton: Blue Moon Cafe or Half Moon Cafe, I forget. Excellent, relatively inexpensive Italian.
Port Jefferson: Main St. Starbucks Cafe. Just like all the other Starbucks.
Setauket: Cheese and Stuff, 25A and Main St., Coffee, cheeses, best baguettes around.
Stony Brook: Strawberry Fields, Rt. 25A (next to 7-11), Coffee, light meals, live music at Sunday brunch.
Stony Brook: Professor Java's, Rt 25A across from train station. Very pleasant, good cappucino, internet connections,