Lately, our travel schedule has been a little bit quieter than before, but that's been okay since we've had a chance to check out some awesome places like the Sands Point Preserve on Long Island. Daniel grew up not far from there and it was fun to go with his mom and explore the area! I highly recommend checking it out if you want to get out of the city.
Everything you need to know about Sands Point Preserve
This guide covers what you need to know when you're headed to Sands Point Preserve, Long Island!
Map of Sands Point Preserve
How to get to Sands Point Preserve from Long Island
The best way to get to Sands Point Preserve from the city is to take the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). You can catch it at either Penn Station if you are in Manhattan, or Atlantic Terminal if you are in Brooklyn. You will want to take the Port Washington line to the final stop. From there, you'll want to take either the PWS bus to Steamboat Drive. I recommend taking a taxi instead so you can get there faster.
How much does it cost to visit Sands Point Preserve?
Admission to the preserve is $15 USD per car. If you choose to have the taxi drop you off outside the main gate, it costs $4 USD.
Sands Point Preserve hours and dates
The hours at Sands Point Preserve depend upon the dates you are choosing to visit. Conservancy members also get additional time that they can spend there, as well. Here are the hours for regular visitors:
- Wednesdays through Saturdays: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
- Summer Sundays and Labor Day: 9:00 am until 7:00 pm
- Fall Sundays and Columbus Day: 9:00 am until 6:00 pm
- Winter Sundays and Martin Luther King Jr. Day: 9:00 am until 5:00 pm
The preserve is closed on holidays such as Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, and New Year's Day.
Things to do at Sands Point Preserve
There are a lot of things to do at Sands Point, NY! Here are some of the activities you should make sure to add to your list. Keep in mind that all mansions are closed to tours due to Covid-19 until further notice. I recommend checking on the website to see if that changes.
Hempstead House
This Guggenheim mansion has been equated with Gatsby's home from F. Scott Fitzgerald's famous novel, and it's hard not to see why. The three-story mansion is 50,000 square feet, with plenty of room available to throw a party. As one of the most prominent homes on the Guggenheim Estate, it was built in 1912 and once held a number of artworks collected by the family from Europe.
During World War II, the mansion was opened to children who were evacuated from Europe until they were placed in foster homes. In more recent years, it has been a popular filming location for movies and television, including shows like Scent of a Woman, Great Expectations, and Billions.
Castle Gould
Designed after Ireland's Kilkenny Castle, the structure was completed in 1904 and has a square footage of 100,000. However, the lady of the house, Katherine Clemmons, found that she didn't like it much, which is why Hempstead House was built not long after. Instead, Castle Gould became the servants' quarters and stables. Today, you can find the gift shop there and a 7,000 square foot theater and sound stage.
Falaise
The son of Daniel Guggenheim, Harry, was given 90 acres of land to develop his own large mansion in the area. Designed after a 13th-century manor home, it included stone archways, a round tower, and brick walls. The rose garden was eventually converted into a swimming pool for Harry, who was told by his doctor that he needed some more exercise. You can hop on a docent-led tour Thursdays through Sundays from May to November.
Gardens and grounds
Of course, you don't have to just stick to the homes in order to enjoy Sands Point Preserve! Head to the Great Lawn for plenty of places for a picnic lunch and an opportunity for some super fun, fairytale-like photos. You're also going to want to sneak behind Hempstead House to see the Rose Garden, which has over 1,500 red rose bushes--one reason why there are so many Sands Point weddings here!
Hiking trails
With over 200 acres to explore, Sands Point Preserve has three distinct trails through the well-kept forest. None of them are too difficult, so if you happen to have your kids in tow, you shouldn't have a problem embarking on any of them. The longest trail is about a mile long, though you can add others and make it a little bit longer. Head here for a full trail map.
Sands Point Beach
One of the major benefits of heading to Sands Point is that they also have a beach worth checking out. Although you are not allowed to swim here, you can bring a chair and relax or walk along the shore. Remember, this was once one of the most desirable places to be in the United States in its day!
Have you ever made it to Sands Point Preserve? What was your favorite part of visiting?
Like this post? Save it for later!
Want more information on New York? Check out these articles:
No comments:
Post a Comment