One of LI's hidden gems - also happens to be free. Well kept trails and birds of prey you can check…read moreout before talking a nice walk. Trails are very easy to walk, even if you have a stroller with you. Easy beginner hike or leisurely stroll for just about anyone.

4.5 Stars.    I love…read morethe Long Island Pine Barrens Region. So much so, that in Las Vegas, I have had dreams that I was hiking in Sears Burrows County Park. A few forested miles southwest of it, my dream kind of came true when we visited the Quogue Wildlife Refuge. My stepmother, who is familiar with the Refuge encouraged my dad and I to join her there on a nature walk.    The Quogue Wildlife Refuge has been protecting this 305 acre naturescape since 1934. It is a naturescape adorned with pine forests, fields, the rare dwarf pine forest, bogs, swamps, a pond, and pine oak forests.    Contrary to how I envisioned the Refuge, it was not this difficult to find place. Parking was right off Old Country Road. Across from the unpaved parking lot were the attractions that serve as a trailhead to the four color coded trails (please see the map proceeding the review) that range from a 0.8 mile hike on the Green Trail to a 2.5 mile hike on the Blue Trail. Welcoming us was the Outdoor Wildlife Complex where injured wildlife are well taken care of thanks to the kindness of people that care. One of the acts of kindness are the Visitors who donate money at the entrance. This leads to the point that admission is free, yet a donation is the right thing to do. I took some time photographing the animals that included owls, foxes, raccoons, and Giant African Spurred tortoises in the nearby greenhouse. Although these aren't grand habitats that would be found in the Bronx Zoo, I appreciated that the animals had a home. In the shadow of the Outdoor Wildlife Complex and pine trees was the full service restrooms. All the way to the left was the Old Ice Pond.    My Dad, stepmother, and yours truly engaged in a relatively short walk in the southeast corner of the park where a pine oak forest interspersed with fields dominate. My Dad's knees bother him, so we engaged in a shorter hike with breaks on the benches breathing, hearing, and sightseeing the pine barrens. We'd see a deer and birds up on the pine trees. Our ears would also take in the sound of the nearby train. Our experience leads to the point that the seven miles of hiking trails appear to be more relaxing than strenuous.    The Old Ice Pond framed by a mature forest is the picture postcard centerpiece of the landscape. There are hiking trails that overlook it. We took in this picture postcard from a bench and inside the Charles Banks Belt Nature Center, which looks like an inn overlooking the pond. We shared the panoramic spectacular views of the ice pond with several volunteers who were sending out materials that we assumed were promoting the Refuge. Within this building that reminds me of a lodge, is a museum of neat nature related stuff. Some were real like the lizards. The preserved butterflies were really cool. This is a neat place to check out when it os open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.    Our visit ended with the three of us taking in the springtime scenery of the Old Ice Pond.    I do have a concern that is causing me to leave my rating at 4.5 instead of 5 stars. That has to do with the east preiphery fence. When we walked along the southeast border there was a fence smack dab in the middle of the pine forest. My concern is that this is unprotected land that can fall victim to the bulldozer. If that were to happen, it would ruin the experience on account of a truncated forest causing the Refuge to feel more like a caged in 305 acre yard than a part of a pine forest. I really hope that the other side of the east periphery fence is a protected forest. My concern is merited from seeing a before and after picture inside the Nature Center of rapid sprawl along nearby County Route 104.    On the future, I would love to return to Quogue Wildlife Refuge. Especially in the Fall when the trees change colors over the pond. Until then, I hope to have more dreams about the Pine Barrens.

A beautiful park with an even more amazing beach…read more Today I did a beach clean up with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society leading me through it all. We discussed the importance of keeping our beaches clean and how they find, autopsy, and care for sea creatures, specifically sea turtles! We were given shirts for participating since it was national parks day, and complimentary bagels and coffee were handed out beforehand. It was a beautiful day and the walk and clean up was about 2 hours. A little under 2 miles. Not to brag but I found the most garbage with 5lbs in my pail, not pictured (but I swear it's true!) It's a beautiful place and I look forward to coming back either for more cleanups or to enjoy the view.

After an area winery visit and a quick drive through some local towns, we were ready to stretch our…read morelegs a bit before heading back to the 'burbs, and this hidden gem was a GREAT choice!! BEAUTIFUL trail to the water's edge, just a BIT hilly, but very manageable, and SUPER scenic. I love going to parks like this "off season," you just feel like you're the first person to have ever "discovered" it, and it's really just YOU (and in my case, my brother and S.I.L.) and NATURE at its finest.... We only had time to take the one tail to the water's edge, but even in semi-overcast, chilly late fall weather, it was slightly challenging, scenic, and DEFINITELY worth a detour, if you're in the area (and just MIGHT need to hike off a BIT of local wine and cheeeeeese!!)

I started coming here recently for the sunrise and it is my new favorite thing to do! So peaceful,…read moreserene, stunning views, just all the things. This afternoon I brought the Christian Singles Hub to have an apple picnic. Everyone in the group was just as impressed with the views. It was also great to see that the facilities are well kept. I also loved and appreciated having a garbage so close to the grill!

Came on a cold Wednesday. We walked Indian island park. We…read morewalk to the stairs to the water. Walk back. Some people go faster than the 10mph speed limit.

I will give this park four stars for what it is, a nice place to take a walk or do laps in the…read moreneighborhood. The paved asphalt path is stated to be 1,820 feet, 0.35 miles. The path is a much more enjoyable walk then going to the local High School track. There are also trails into the woods. They intersect at a geometric pattern made from slate stone with with three stone benches.

Visit Date: July 17, 2020…read more I came here to go on a hike. I use hiking, biking and roller skating on quads to cross train cardio for when I run. I also do dessert fairy dusting so I plan out my hiking visits to coincide some dusting drops. I loved this park but I had no idea it was so small. The cement trail is only .4 of a mile. By the time I drive to a new trail to check it out I usually don't have much time to hike on it before I should head back home, take a shower and do whatever else I'm doing for that day so I usually will only get a mile maybe two on a trail but for this trail I had to walk around it multiple times, weaving in and out of the wooded side paths in order to make at least one mile of hiking. Other than it being so tiny it was a nice little well maintained park. If you're a novice hiker or a runner looking for a fairly safe place to do hikes this park is good for you.

Avalon Nature Preserve is a nice place to go hiking. I've always enjoyed being outdoors, taking in…read morethe scenery, listening to the birds, and meeting others who share my love for mini adventures. Upon arriving, my husband and I parked in the Forest parking lot, which had ample parking spaces and a map, laying out available trail options. We began with the Hilltop Meadow, which we completed fairly quickly. After, we thought we'd challenge ourselves a bit more by taking on the Forest Sanctuary. We enjoyed this trail, although we sometimes had to look over our shoulders to investigate the noises around us. Everything kept us on our toes, from squirrels to deer, chipmunks, and other wildlife. The terrain may be difficult for some, due to the tree roots and the uphill climbs, but other than that, it was manageable. We appreciated that there were several signs posted throughout the park, helping us to keep track of our location. Additionally, there were warning signs reminding us of the possibility of tick exposure. One thing is for sure: we kept it moving and thoroughly checked our clothing afterwards. My favorite trail of the day was The Mill Pond. I loved the well-paved paths and the overall layout. I could've spent hours here. I highly recommend this park for those who enjoy the outdoors.

Gorgeous place! Lot's of cool trails to go through and has so many separate areas! First you have…read morethe lake area, then the meadow, then the forest...etc Avalon has lot's of variety!

This is such a lovely little park which can accommodate many interests from a little playground for…read morethe kids to viewing ducks on the beautiful lawn. I truly enjoyed the tranquil moments that I had chilling with my family here today. What extraordinary find to get some relaxation. Please note all signs were obeyed by people with social distancing and people wearing masks.

Beautiful little park in Southampton right along Agawam lake is a nice spot to come sit and relax…read more In the summer they host an outdoor concert series on the lawn. There's even a pretty big play ground for the kids. If you're in the area and need a rest then this park is just right.

Big playground with lots of shade, plenty of parking, and loads of different play structures. A…read morecouple minutes from a few hotels in the area or the beach. There is a playground on the beach about two minutes away, but this one is much nicer for actually playing on (Charlotte Bacon's playground).

Awesome park!!!!!! Lots of things for kids to play on!!!! Plus a spot for parents to sit onread more

I went here last week for a hike with family where there would be not be a lot of people and it was…read moresuccessful. We did pass by a couple of groups on the trail, but had spent most of the time alone. There were only a handful of spots in the parking area so that limits the amount of groups that can be there at one time. The trail itself was a easy flat one mile loop around a lake/bog. It was previously used for farming Cranberries as the name suggests. You can even see the leftover of an old pump house used in the process on the side of the trail. Plenty of scenic views of the bog and two bridges that need to be crossed to complete the trail. A few signs from the parking lot to guide people to the main trail and a map at the beginning would be helpful. There was a couple of trails that led away from the main loop, but we did not check it out since we did not know where they went.

Do not let bad reviews discourage you from this park. Cranberry bog is a wonderful place to go if…read moreyou want to explore nature and the remnants of the cranberry harvesting industry. You will find several interesting plants from cedars to sundews to other types. The animal and insect life is also varied, you can expect to see different colored dragonflies, snapping turtles, sunfish and a whole host of other critters to keep your interest. If you look really carefully you can see tree stumps sticking out of the water from long cut down trees from when the place was flooded and industry took over. Bring a field guide and if you go during the warmer weather, tick repellent is required since they unfortunately inhabit the area as well. As of this post the new bridge has been built over the inlet stream so you now can walk the whole loop.

These were the best eggs we ever had. Fluffy creamy bright yellow yolks. The caretaker of these…read morehens is doing a great job. Free to roam and must be a healthy diet. I will be a repeat customer , these eggs are eggsellent! Everyone is telling me you gotta check this place out. I'm curious now . I'm ready to see for myself the DisheyLand of farms!

I've come here a few times with a friend and have had the best experience every time!…read more This weekend was my first time visiting in the Autumn, and it did not disappoint. The mix of Fall foliage and greenery was absolutely beautiful. I came this time with the Christian Singles Hub, and a few people in the group had lots of questions for the employee/volunteer at the front gift shop desk. Through their conversation, I learned so much and she was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable! I've popped in before just to grab a coffee and a treat to go, but this was my first time sitting down at the restaurant. The food was great, the view out back was stunning, and the hot apple cider completely made my day.

Great off-season visit. We pretty much had the place to ourselves on a chilly mid-March weekday …read more Beautiful beach views, lots of woodsy trails (most still too muddy at that moment to check out...) a cute playground, and lots of picnic spots. We didn't check out the camping area, but I'm sure it's super busy during the summer months. Took a long walk on the beach, and loved the rocky LI Sound shoreline and the gorgeous views of the hills in the distance. First time here, I'd be happy to come back again, off season or after hours; I bet the sunsets are AMAZING!!!

Picnic site: I wouldn't recommend it if you're traveling far to come here…read more Camping site: 100% recommend to get away from your busy everyday life! Just make sure to pack your sprays for protection against bugs (ticks). Forget about firewood. You're not allowed to bring your own. You make your reservation through a link on NYS parks. You pack up your car, truck, trailer & you make your way out there! Don't forget your grill! They have sites available for tents and another section for trailers so you can cook up for water and electricity. Oh, and they have cottages you can reserve but they're booked in blocks of 7 days. What I love about wildwood state park is that it's very clean and they have great staff and the park rangers. They are very helpful and nice. They made checking in very easy. They'll give you a pass for the car and make sure it's on your dashboard so you don't end up with a ticket. The restrooms are super clean and they have shower stalls in side. They're always cleaning. I can hear them SCRUBBING the shower stalls as I use the toilet. Of course, keep in mind that during the "rush", it isn't as clean but they come and clean it. It's open 24/7. There are sinks outside of the restroom and some people use it to wash their dishes. I wish they'd clean up after their food scraps but humans are humans. Once you set up your camp, you can leave for the beach. Or you can go out to check out the local farms or shops if you're willing to drive out. It's nice. You should especially if you have little ones with you. If you don't want little creatures and critters all over your food, make sure you pack it away once you're done eating and throw out the garbage. They have dumpsters stationed through the camping grounds along with bins where you can dump your hot coals. I'm not taking chances with raccoons or squirrels so I dump my garbage at the end of the day. Wildwood state park also has a nice camp store. The gentlemen who work there are very nice so please don't be rude to them. (Someone was screaming at the poor man over chicken tenders/fingers). They sell ice cream, bags of ice, food, coffee, firewood, and fire pits for rental. Happy camping!