There&#39;s a chill in the air, but that doesn&#39;t mean you have to stay inside. Browse our guide to Long Island&#39;s outdoor activities this winter, from ice skating to sledding.&nbsp;Call ahead to make sure these spots are open, as many are weather dependent.

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Things to Do

Recreation

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<div class="description"> 
 Caumsett is a favorite because of its outstanding views of Long Island Sound, said George Gorman, regional director of New York State parks on Long Island. 
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<footer> 
 <address> 25 Lloyd Harbor Rd., Huntington </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-423-1770">631-423-1770</a>
 <a href="http://parks.ny.gov/parks">parks.ny.gov/parks</a>
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snowshoeing

Snowshoeing at Caumsett State Historic Park

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<div class="description">
 Sledding What's so cool about sledding at Bethpage? You get to glide downhill in the footsteps of some of the world’s most famous professional golfers. No, you can’t toboggan the famously challenging Black Course, where Tiger Woods won the 2002 U.S. Open. But you can glide over the 460-yard fairway leading to the first hole of the Red (second-most-difficult course). The historic Green course also is open to sledding. Both fairways start behind the clubhouse. No snow tubes, inner tubes, discs or saucers.
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<div class="description">
 Snowshoeing Bethpage State Park offers somewhat hilly terrain.&nbsp;
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<footer> 
 <address> 99 Quaker Meetinghouse Rd., Farmingdale </address> 
 <a href="tel:516-249-0700">516-249-0700</a>
 <a href="http://parks.ny.gov">parks.ny.gov</a>
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Sledding

Sledding and snowshoeing at Bethpage State Park

BethpageSledding

<div class="description"> 
 A CRESLI scientist leads a two-hour expeditions to view, photograph and gather information about the diversity and distribution of the seals on the Riverhead Peconic around Shinnecock Bay. Meet and board 30 minutes before the listed departure at the dock area of the Stony Brook Marine Station. Spaces are limited and registration is required. 
 Season 10 a.m. Jan. 25, 10 a.m., Feb. 8, 2 p.m., Feb. 15, 9 a.m. Feb. 22, noon March 1, 10 a.m. March 8, 2 p.m. March 15, 9 a.m. March 22, 10 a.m. April 6 
 Fee $40. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> Stony Brook Marine Station, 8 Little Neck Road, Southampton </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-319-6003">631-319-6003</a>
 <a href="http://cresli.org">cresli.org</a>
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Seal walks 

CRESLI seal cruises

SealCruise

<div class="description"> 
 65 Arrandale Ave., Great Neck 
 Season Through early June. 
 Cost Residents with park pass: $9, $7 ages 16 and younger; nonresidents: $15, $11 ages 16 and younger; $6 skate rental. 
 Hours Public session hours vary. 
 More info Public sessions are open to Great Neck Park District residents and nonresidents. Skating programs/private lessons are available.516-487-2975,&nbsp;<a href="http://gnparks.org">gnparks.org</a> 
</div>

Holidays

Winter Holidays

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Skating

Andrew Stergiopoulos Ice Rink at Parkwood Sports Complex

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<div class="description"> 
 The slope is short and not very steep at Hempstead Lake State Park, but it’s scenic. The hill begins where Lake Drive meets Peninsula Boulevard and ends with a view of human-made (and most likely frozen-over) McDonald Pond. It’s pretty much a bunny hill, best for families with young children. Park in Field 3 for easy access to the sledding area. And not to worry: A safety fence installed by park workers at the bottom of the slope keeps sledders from overshooting into the pond. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 1000 Lake Dr., West Hempstead, Southern State Parkway Exit 18 (Eagle Avenue) </address> 
 <a href="tel:516-766-1029">516-766-1029</a>
 <a href="http://parks.ny.gov">parks.ny.gov</a>
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Sledding at Hempstead Lake State Park

<div class="description"> 
 &nbsp;&quot;The preserve has 50 miles of hiking, bridle, cross country, cross-country skiing ski and nature trails, all good for snowshoeing,&quot; says Jessica Anderson-Ruiz, Connetquot park manager. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 4090 Sunrise Hwy., Oakdale </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-581-1072">631-581-1072</a>
 <a href="http://parks.ny.gov/parks">parks.ny.gov/parks</a>
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Snowshoeing at Connetquot River State Park Preserve

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<div class="description"> 
 Short and steep, the lone hill gives some of the best sledding. It’s a round hill, allowing sledders to slide down in any direction. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 2600 Newbridge Rd., Bellmore </address> 
 <a href="tel:516-783-2500">516-783-2500</a>
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Sledding at Newbridge Road Park

NewbridgeSledding

<div class="description"> 
 Two-hour cruise aboard the Captain Lou VII or Starstream VII leaves out of Freeport. A naturalist onboard discusses the behavior and biology of seals and other wildlife you’ll see. The two-hour tour includes an open discussion. Heated cabin and food for purchase (cash only). Reservation required for boarding times and dates. 
 Season Jan.-April. 
 Fee $39, $34 ages 12 and younger 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 31 Woodcleft Ave., Freeport </address> 
 <a href="tel:516-544-6698">516-544-6698</a>
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Seal-watching cruises aboard Captain Lou VII

FreeportCaptLou

<div class="description"> 
 Cedar Creek’s sledding hills are easy to find. They’re next to parking fields at the south end of the park. The sledding is intermediate, on hills bordered by tall trees, including some evergreens. One of the hills is bowl-shaped, offering an up-and-down roller-coaster ride. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 3340 Merrick Rd., Seaford </address> 
 <a href="tel:516-571-7470">516-571-7470</a>
 <a href="http://nassaucountyny.gov/2792/Cedar-Creek-Park">nassaucountyny.gov/2792/Cedar-Creek-Park</a>
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Sledding at Cedar Creek Park

CedarCreekSledding

<div class="description"> 
 About 4 miles&nbsp; 
 Take a round-trip hike to the tip of the Jessup’s Neck peninsula or a self-guided Wild Birds Nature Trail loop. 
 The Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge can make hikers feel like they’ve gone off the Hamptons map. It’s a wildlife wonderland just a few miles from the nightlife of the East End. The refuge encompasses &quot;pretty much every coastal habitat&quot; including maritime forests, tidal wetlands, ponds, beaches and lagoons within its 187 acres, park ranger Ann Marie Chapman says. &quot;Depending on how late it is in the year, I’ve heard loons calling in the bay,&quot; Chapman says. Trailheads are located near the refuge entrance fee station and public restrooms. 
 Getting there: From Route 27, turn north onto Sandy Hollow Road in Tuckahoe, turn left onto North Sea Road and then right onto Noyac Road. Follow Noyac Road to the refuge entrance. 
 More info: The refuge is open from &frac12; hour before sunrise until &frac12; hour after sunset; $4 parking fee, $2 pedestrian/bike fee. 
 Shorter routes: 
 1.2 miles: Wild Birds Nature Trail 
 A must for bird watchers, this trail loops over relatively flat terrain, crossing through milkweed meadows and woods and over bridges spanning tidal creeks. About midway through the loop, an observation deck overlooks a scenic freshwater pond. Bring binoculars to spot songbirds and monarch butterflies on their annual fall migrations. 
 0.27 miles: Beach Trail 
 You’re bound for the beachfront on Little Peconic Bay, where Chapman says hikers often find large whelk sea snail shells and spot (and report to wildlife authorities) cold-stunned sea turtles. When you reach the entrance to the beach, be sure to use the free scope on the recently constructed elevated platform for a 360-degree panorama of Jessup’s Neck, the bay and tidal flats, Chapman says. 
 2 miles round trip: Jessup’s Neck 
 The tip of Jessup’s Neck, the peninsula that separates Little Peconic Bay and Noyack Bay and comprises most of the refuge, is closed to humans during the from April to August during bird nesting season. But it reopens in the fall for that hiker’s end-of-the-earth vibe. 
 The end of this trail can be breathtaking. &quot;When you are walking out to the end of the peninsula, you are walking at the foot of 50-foot bluffs for a sweeping panorama of the North Fork and surrounding bays,&quot; Chapman says. 
 Although you’re actually just midway through your hike, looking at that dramatic seascape, Chapman says, &quot;It’s kind of like you’ve reached the edge of the world. It’s a window into what the area looked like since time immemorial.&quot; 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 2595 Noyac Rd., Sag Harbor </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-286-0485">631-286-0485</a>
 <a href="http://fws.gov">fws.gov</a>
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Hiking

Winter hike: Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge

MortonRefuge

<div class="description"> 
 A two-hour seal-watching and eco-tour on a 44-foot enclosed boat departs weekends at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Reservations required. 
 Season Mar.-Apr. 
 Fee $35, $25 ages 12 and younger. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 211 Woodcleft Ave, Freeport </address> 
 <a href="tel:516-521-7744">516-521-7744</a>
 <a href="http://freeportwatertaxi.com">freeportwatertaxi.com</a>
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Freeport Water Taxi & Tours seal watching

FreeportTaxiSeals

<div class="description"> 
 Meet at the park office in the lower lot next to the playground for this two-mile, round-trip hike to see seals and learn about their habits, behaviors and population trends. 
 Season Nov. 16-April 13 
 Fee $4 ages 3 and older plus $8 vehicle fee through-Nov. 17, reservations required; call to schedule. Dress warmly. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 2000 Montauk Highway, Montauk </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-668-5000">631-668-5000</a>
 <a href="http://parks.ny.gov">parks.ny.gov</a>
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Montauk Point State Park guided seal walks

MontaukSealWalks

<div class="description"> 
 Meet at the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center to learn about seals and follow an educator in their vehicle to the seal-watching location at Jones Beach for a guided walk. 
 Season Jan.-March 
 Fee $4 ages 3 and older reservations required. Visit jonesbeachenc.org for program sign-ups. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 2400 Ocean Parkway, Wantagh </address> 
 <a href="tel:516-809-8222">516-809-8222</a>
 <a href="http://parks.ny.gov">parks.ny.gov</a>
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Jones Beach State Park guided seal walks

JonesBeachSeals

<div class="description"> 
 There is a 6-mile loop around the emptied Stump Pond, so you start and end in the same place. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> Veterans Memorial Hwy., Smithtown </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-854-3712">631-854-3712</a>
 <a href="http://alltrails.com">alltrails.com</a>
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Snowshoeing at Blydenburgh County Park

<div class="description"> 
 40 Station Dr., Wyandanch 
 Season December through first weekend in March, weather permitting. 
 Cost $8, $5 ages 17 and younger. Price includes skate rentals. 
 Hours 4-8 p.m. Thur.-Fri., noon-8 p.m. Sat., noon-6 p.m. Sun. No double blades permitted on the ice. Brief intermissions will be held for ice resurfacing. 
 More info Offers public sessions and learn to skate. 631-643-2050,&nbsp;<a href="http://TheRinx.com">TheRinx.com</a> 
</div>

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The Rinx at Wyandanch Plaza

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<div class="description"> 
 Tour departs from the area near the fence at the western end of the parking lot. The walk is about 1.2 miles round trip and takes about 90 minutes; weather permitting. Meet 15 minutes before departure. The path is not suitable for strollers. Online reservations are required. There are no bathroom facilities available at this park during the winter. 
 Season Late Nov.-Early April 
 Fee Suggested donation: $5, $3 younger than 18. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> Cupsogue Beach County Park, at the Western end of Dune Road, Westhampton Beach </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-319-6003">631-319-6003</a>
 <a href="http://cresli.org">cresli.org</a>
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CRESLI seal walks

Cresliwalk

<div class="description"> 
 There’s no need to travel upstate to go sledding alongside hardwood forest. Wildwood is about as wild as wilderness gets on Long Island. There’s no particular area set aside for sledding, but that’s actually an advantage, opening up the park’s 769 acres to sledders. Just choose a hill and turn it into your own private downhill run. Many sledders gravitate toward the campgrounds, or roadways, which are closed in winter to campers and vehicular traffic, park officials say. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 790 Hulse Landing Rd., north of Sound Avenue, Wading River </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-929-4314">631-929-4314</a>
 <a href="http://parks.ny.gov">parks.ny.gov</a>
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Sledding at Wildwood State Park

Wildwood

7.6 miles 
Belmont Lake is your classic walk in the park. A flat path loops through the woods and then wraps around the lake, making it an easy jaunt for hikers of all ages. The trail passes benches for impromptu rest stops and a pair of cannons captured from a British warship during the War of 1812, and then goes over a bubbly waterfall at the south end of the park. 
<footer> 
 <address> Southern State Parkway Exit 38, North Babylon </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-667-5055">631-667-5055</a>
 <a href="parks.ny.gov/parks/belmontlake">parks.ny.gov/parks/belmontlake</a>
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Winter hike: Belmont Lake State Park

BelmontLake

<div class="description"> 
 Riverside Boulevard, Long Beach 
 Date Feb. 8 at 1:30 p.m., merchandise sales at 10 a.m., festivities begin at noon. 
 Cost Donations accepted. 
 More info Benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation. 212-957-9474 ext. 4583,&nbsp;<a href="http://wish.org/newyork">wish.org/newyork</a> 
</div>

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Plunges

Long Beach Polar Bear Super Bowl Splash

<div class="description"> 
 About 1 mile 
 An easy route follows a dirt path through woods, a grass trail along the beach, packed gravel in the parking lot and some rocks at the point. Not wheelchair accessible. 
 Getting there: Take Route 25 East to the end. Turn left at the break in the trees across from the ferry entrance and park in the small dirt lot. 
 The North Fork’s glorious scenery climaxes here in a spectacular Long Island Sound seascape. &quot;You just walk and enjoy nature … without any disturbances from the outside world,&quot; East Hampton artist Ewa Banas says of her hikes here for creative inspiration. 
 More info: Open 8 a.m. to dusk. Free parking. 
 Shorter routes: 
 0.25 miles: Into the woods 
 The trailhead enters a fairy tale woods full of birdsong, wildlife and native plants. Forge ahead for breathtaking scenery. 
 0.52 miles: Long Island Sound 
 Choose from two byways paralleling this pristine stretch of Long Island Sound: a well-maintained grass trail on the bluff, or a white stone beach, where you can picnic under an endless sky while watching cormorants dive for a fish dinner. 
 0.14 miles: The end 
 The trail ends as Orient Point narrows to a strip of land a few hundred feet wide. It’s mostly a parking lot with a million-dollar view, where anglers surfcast off the rocks and beach. (Fishing regulations: suffolkcountyny.gov) Local anglers say there are days when seals outnumber human visitors. Walk around the fenced-in area marked &quot;Cable Crossing,&quot; for a lands-end view of Plum Gut. Beyond, hikers can see the Orient Point &quot;Coffee Pot&quot; Lighthouse and the mysterious Plum Island. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 41425 NY-25, Orient </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-852-3232">631-852-3232</a>
 <a href="http://suffolkcountyny.gov">suffolkcountyny.gov</a>
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Winter hike: Orient Point County Park

<div class="description"> 
 2 miles 
 An easy to moderate loop runs mostly on sand with a possibility of marshy sections through the dunes area. Not wheelchair accessible. 
 Getting there: Take Bay Parkway to the end and follow the curve in the road to the parking field. 
 A century ago, the West End 2 area was an &quot;open ocean,&quot; but nature and humans gradually extended the 17-mile barrier island to its current footprint, according to Mia Ramirez, educator at the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center in Wantagh. 
 The end of the 6.5-mile beach is quiet and often deserted, especially during the offseason. &quot;It’s the closest you can get to being on the moon while being only a half-hour from the house,&quot; Michael Diaz, 53, of Massapequa, a surfcaster, says before hitting the beach trail. 
 More info: Open sunrise to sunset. Free parking. 
 Shorter routes: 
 0.4 miles: Trail through the dunes 
 The main trail to this lonely strand begins at the southwest corner of the West End 2 parking field. You’ll be immersed in a dune ecosystem where bayberry bushes and seaside goldenrods flourish, marsh hawks and ospreys fly overhead and a toad was seen hopping by on a recent hike. Turn right at the fork. The wind-swept beach will peek through the dunes as the trail opens up on a 360-degree panorama of wild Long Island. 
 Walk 0.6 miles: The jetty 
 Crashing surf serenades you west to the jetty. Avoid walking on the slippery rocks jutting into the Atlantic, but do point your field glasses seaward from the beach for humpback whale and cargo ship sightings. 
 Walk 0.6 miles: Jones Inlet 
 Walk north beside the rock wall paralleling Jones Inlet, a major navigation route and surfcasting destination known for striped bass and solitude. On a recent day, surfcasters described the beach as a peaceful and serene spot to try their luck with rod and reel. (Fishing regulations: dec.ny.gov) Across the Inlet, look for Point Lookout and, on a clear day, the Manhattan skyline and One World Trade Center. 
 Walk 0.4 miles: The end 
 Turn right at the break in the dunes marked by sand fencing, and follow the trail back to the parking lot. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 150 Bay Pkwy., Wantagh </address> 
 <a href="tel:516-809-8222">516-809-8222</a>
 <a href="http://jonesbeachenc.org">jonesbeachenc.org</a>
</footer>

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Winter hike: Jones Beach State Park West End 2

winterjonesbeach

<div class="description"> 
 7.4 miles 
 Had enough of the treadmill? You can burn calories amid actual scenery, hiking the rolling hills of Trail View State Park in Woodbury. Trail View, a narrow 400-acre belt of green space, sends hikers along wooded hills on the north and past ponds and streams near its south end. With comparatively rugged terrain — for Long Island at least — and some hills rising to several hundred feet above sea level, it can be challenging for inexperienced hikers, Gorman says. 
 More info&nbsp;Access at 8101 Jericho Tpke., Woodbury, and near Cold Spring Harbor Library. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 8101 Jericho Tpke., Woodbury </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-423-1770">631-423-1770</a>
 <a href="http://parks.ny.gov">parks.ny.gov</a>
</footer>

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Winter hike: Trail View State Park

Trail View

<div class="description"> 
 North Hempstead Beach Park, 175 W. Shore Rd., Port Washington 
 Date Feb. 7, registration at 9-10 a.m., plunge at 10:15 a.m. 
 Cost $25 suggested donation 
 More info Benefits the athletes of the Special Olympics. Raise at least $150 to receive an official plunge sweatshirt. 631-254-1465,&nbsp;<a href="http://events.nyso.org">events.nyso.org</a> 
</div>

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North Hempstead Polar Plunge

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<div class="description"> 
 &quot;It’s like being in an upstate area, without the intrusion of residences. You see nature at its best with a beautiful snowy landscape,&quot; said&nbsp;George Gorman, regional director of New York State parks on Long Island. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 581 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-265-1054">631-265-1054</a>
 <a href="http://parks.ny.gov/parks">parks.ny.gov/parks</a>
</footer>

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Snowshoeing at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve

<div class="description"> 
 Season October through April 
 Hours&nbsp;1-3 p.m. Mon., Wed., Sat., 1-3 p.m. and 3:30-5:30 p.m. Fri. 
 Cost Nassau County residents with Leisure Pass $10, $6 ages 4-17; nonresidents: $15, $10 ages 4-17; $5 skate rental. 
 More info Offers public sessions, hockey program and lessons. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 480 W. John St., Hicksville </address> 
 <a href="tel:516-571-7058">516-571-7058</a> 
 <a href="tel:516-571-7056">516-571-7056</a>
 <a href="http://nassaucountyny.gov">nassaucountyny.gov</a>
</footer>

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Cantiague Park Indoor Ice Rink

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<div class="description"> 
 150 W. Bay Dr., Long Beach 
 Season All year. 
 Cost $10, $5 skate rental and $5 walker rentals. $20 for figure skating freestyle and hockey programs. 
 Hours 12:15 p.m.-1:45 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Additional holiday hours. 
 More info Offers public sessions, skating lessons, an adult and youth hockey program and freestyle sessions for figure skaters. 516-705-7385,&nbsp;<a href="http://longbeachny.gov/icearena">longbeachny.gov/icearena</a> 
</div>

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City of Long Beach Ice Arena

<div class="description"> 
 130 E. Merrick Rd., Freeport 
 Season All year. 
 Cost Residents with Freeport Activity Card $4, nonresident with Activity Card $8, nonresident guest $10, puck shoot $10, skate rental $4. 
 Hours 3:30-4:45 p.m. Thurs., 7:30-9 p.m. Fri., 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sun.; puck shoot 1:15-4:15 p.m. Fri. Public sessions Nov.-March; puck shoots Sept.-June. 
 More info Offers public sessions, puck shoot, youth hockey, skating academy and birthday parties. 516-377-2314,&nbsp;<a href="http://freeportny.gov">freeportny.gov</a> 
</div>

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Freeport Recreation Center

XLWINTER_Freeport

<div class="description"> 
 3345 Hillside Ave., New Hyde Park 
 Season All year. 
 Cost $15, $12 ages 10 and younger; $6 skate rental. 
 Hours Open Sat.-Sun., weekdays during holidays and school vacations. Call for hours. 
 More info Offers group lessons, hockey clinics, public sessions, figure skating and hockey games.516-746-1100,&nbsp;<a href="http://icelandlongisland.com">icelandlongisland.com</a> 
</div>

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Iceland

IceSkateStock

<div class="description"> 
 &quot;Heckscher has 25 miles of trails. It’s pretty much flat,&quot; says park manager David Auguste. &quot;We also have a beach environment because we’re on the Great South Bay.&quot;&nbsp; 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> Heckscher Parkway Field 1, East Islip </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-581-2100">631-581-2100</a>
 <a href="http://parks.ny.gov/parks">parks.ny.gov/parks</a>
</footer>

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Snowshoeing at Heckscher State Park

<div class="description"> 
 Eisenhower County Park, East Meadow 
 Season All year. 
 Cost Public sessions $16; $7 skate rental. 
 Hours Public skating Fri.-Sun., additional dates and hours added based on availability. 
 More info Offers indoor rinks and one outdoor rink where visitors can join learn-to-skate programs, take lessons or participate in hockey leagues and clinics.516-441-0070,&nbsp;<a href="http://northwellhealthicecenter.com">northwellhealthicecenter.com</a> 
</div>

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Northwell Health Ice Center at Eisenhower Park

<div class="description"> 
 <address> Veterans Memorial Park, 5789 Middle Country Rd., Calverton </address> 
 Season All year. 
 Cost Public sessions: $14, $11 ages 5-12; $7 skate rental. 
 Hours Public skating: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri, 3:50 - 5:50 p.m. Wed., 1:30-3:00 p.m. Sat. through Nov., 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sat. beginning Dec.; 10:15-11:15 a.m. Mon.-Fri. adult only; 8:30-10:30 p.m. teen night. 
 More info Indoor and outdoor rink with learn-to-skate and learn-to-play programs, clinics, youth and adult hockey leagues, special events. Outdoor ice programs in winter. Deck/roller hockey, soccer, basketball programs during fall, spring and summer. 631-953-6300,&nbsp;<a href="http://peconicicerinks.com">peconicicerinks.com</a> 
</div>

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Peconic Ice Rinks

<div class="description"> 
 660 Terry Rd., inside Hidden Pond Park, Hauppauge 
 Season All year. 
 Cost $13 weekdays, $15 weekends, holidays and school vacation; $11 weekdays, $12 weekends, holidays and school vacation, ages 11 and younger. $16 on Fri. nights. $7 skate rental. 
 Hours 12:30-2:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 4-5:45 p.m. Tue.-Wed., 8:15-10:15 p.m. Fri., noon-3 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Check website for additional public sessions on holidays and school vacations. 
 More info Offers public sessions, skate lessons, hockey, figure skating, camps, birthday parties and private rentals. 631-232-3222,&nbsp;<a href="http://TheRinx.com">TheRinx.com</a> 
</div>

XLHOLIDAY_HiddenPondIce

The Rinx At Hidden Pond Park

<div class="description"> 
 .5 mile It’s about a half mile to the beach over easy, tree-shaded terrain, on dirt paths with added wood chips. In another area of the preserve, a loop trail for the visually impaired is equipped with a guide rope and Braille signage. 
 The Garvies Point Museum and Preserve opened in the late 1960s on land where the Matinecock tribe sheltered millennia ago, and the Scottish immigrant Garvie family settled in the early 1800s. But a much older story draws scouts, field trips and hikers to its dawn-of-time evoking beach. 
 More info The preserve is open daily, dawn to dusk. Free parking. 
 Shorter routes: 
 0.16 miles: A new beach route 
 To get to the beach, also known as the Shoreline Trail, take one of the two paths that begin behind the museum. If you choose the left fork, turn right at the bluffs and head north. The path eventually merges with the Old Woods Trail for the remainder of your northward walk. 
 0.23 miles: Lunch and a landmark 
 At the end of the Old Woods Trail, turn right to a deck overlooking Pioneer Pond, which is fed by a natural spring. Picnic on the deck to a chorus of bullfrogs, before resuming your walk to the beach. 
 0.01 miles: Cretaceous Park 
 Take a sharp left, walk a few steps and you’re walking a beach that’s also a geologic time machine. 
 0.35 miles: Shoreline Trail 
 As you walk south on this trail along the Hempstead Harbor beachfront, observe the clay cliffs above to your left. They are one of the few places where the rock formed under Long Island 70 million years ago during the Cretaceous period can be seen. Those hulking boulders strewed in your path? They were carried by glaciers to Long Island at the end of the last ice age, about 20,000 years ago. 
 The beach gravel under your feet also contains a science lesson: plant fossils with fragments of Earth's oldest flowering trees. 
 &quot;A few years ago I was just walking the beach, and I looked down and there was this big chunk of red shale imprinted with a magnolia leaf fossil, which dates to 65 million years ago,&quot; says Veronica Natale, museum director. 
 If you find a fossil, bring it to the museum, Natale says. Cretaceous period plant fossils are among the artifacts in the museum’s exhibits on geology and Native American archaeology and culture. (The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; $5/adults, $3 children ages 5 to 12.) 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 50 Barry Dr., Glen Cove </address> 
 <a href="tel:516-571-8010">516-571-8010</a>
 <a href="http://garviespointmuseum.com">garviespointmuseum.com</a>
</footer>

xlwinter_GarviesPoint

Winter hike: Garvies Point Museum and Preserve

GarviesPoint

<div class="description"> 
 70 Seaview Blvd., Port Washington 
 Season All year. 
 Cost $18; $7 skate rental. 
 Hours 2:30-4 p.m. Mon., 2:25 p.m.-5:15 p.m. Tues., 1-4 p.m. Fri., 2:15-3:45 p.m. Sat. and Sun. Reserve tickets in advance and register for time sessions on website. 
 More info Offers public sessions, classes, clinics, birthday parties, private lessons and hockey leagues. 516-484-6800,&nbsp;<a href="http://pwskating.com">pwskating.com</a> 
</div>

XLHOLIDAY_PortWashIce

Port Washington Skating Center

<div class="description"> 
 270 Indian Head Rd., Kings Park 
 Season All year. 
 Cost $10; $15 Fri. nights; $5 skate rental. 
 Hours 8:30-10:30 p.m. Fri., 12:30-2p.m. Sat.-Sun. Additional public sessions on holidays and school vacations. 
 More info Offers public sessions, hockey, lessons and parties, pro shop and snack bar. 631-269-3900,&nbsp;<a href="http://superioricerink.com">superioricerink.com</a> 
</div>

XLHOLIDAY_SuperiorIce

Superior Ice Rink

<div class="description"> 
 1001 Stewart Ave., Bethpage 
 Season All year. 
 Cost Residents: $7, $6 ages 5-17, $4 ages 2-4; nonresidents: $11, $9 ages 5-17, $6 ages 2-4; $5 skate rental. 
 Hours 4-6 p.m. Mon. and Wed., 10 a.m.-noon Tue. and Thur., 4-5:30 p.m. and 8:30-10:30 p.m. Fri., 2:45-5:45 p.m. Sat., 2-5 p.m. Sun. Additional days and hours during school holiday breaks (closed Dec. 25). 
 More info Offers public sessions, ice hockey, figure skating and birthday parties. 516-433-7465,&nbsp;<a href="http://oysterbaytown.com/ice">oysterbaytown.com/ice</a> 
</div>

XLHOLIDAY_OBIceCenter

Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center

XLHOLIDAY_OBIce

<div class="description"> 
 The trail starts right off on Jericho Turnpike for the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail and continues to Cold Spring Harbor State Park. &quot;For getting into the hills, I like the northern part better,&quot; says George Gorman, regional director of New York State parks on Long Island. &quot;You’ll feel like you climbed a mountain in the Catskills at the end of it.&quot; He recommends beginners try a different park before taking on this more challenging trail. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> Jericho Turnpike (Route 25), Woodbury to Cold Spring Harbor State Park, Route 25A adjacent to Cold Spring Harbor Library </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-423-1770">631-423-1770</a>
 <a href="http://parks.ny.gov/parks">parks.ny.gov/parks</a>
</footer>

XLWINTER_TrailViewSnowshoe

Snowshoeing at Trail View State Park

<div class="description"> 
 178 Buckskill Rd., East Hampton 
 Season Nov. 23 through mid-March, weather depending. 
 Cost $35, $29 ages 5-16, $15 ages 4 and younger Fri.-Sun.; $25, $20 ages 5-16, $15 ages 4 and younger Mon.-Thur. $10 skate rental ages 16 and older, $5 ages 4 and younger. 
 Hours Vary, check website for schedule. 
 More info Outdoor NHL-size ice rink, public sessions, classes, lessons and hockey leagues. 631-324-2243,&nbsp;<a href="http://buckskillwinterclub.com">buckskillwinterclub.com</a> 
</div>

XLHOLIDAY_BuckskillClub

Buckskill Winter Club

FDMNEW241020

<div class="description"> 
 500 Searingtown Rd., Roslyn-North Hills 
 Season Early Dec. through early March, weather permitting. 
 Cost Nassau County residents with Leisure Pass: $10, $6 ages 4-17; nonresidents: $15, $10 ages 4-17; $5 skate rentals; puck shooting: $10 resident, $20 nonresident. 
 Hours 1:15-3:15 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Mon.-Wed.; 1:15-3:15 p.m., 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Fri.; 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1:15-3:15 p.m., 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Sat.; 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1:15-3:15 p.m., 4-6 p.m. Sun.; puck sessions: 5-6:30 p.m. and 7-8:30 p.m. Thur., 6:30-8 p.m. Sun. 
 More info Offers public sessions and puck shooting. 516-571-8123,&nbsp;<a href="http://nassaucountyny.gov">nassaucountyny.gov</a> 
</div>

XLHOLIDAY_ChrisMorleyIce

Christopher Morley Park Ice Rink

<div class="description"> 
 <address> Broadway and Sheridan Avenue, Hewlett </address> 
 Season Late Nov. through mid-March, weather permitting. 
 Cost Nassau County residents with Leisure Pass: $10, $6 ages 4-17; nonresidents: $15, $10 ages 4-17; $5 skate rentals; puck shooting: $10 resident, $20 nonresident. 
 Hours 1:15-3:15 p.m. Mon., Tues. and Thur.; 1:15-3:15 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Wed.; 1:15 p.m.-3:15 p.m., 4 p.m.-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Fri.; 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1:15-3:15 p.m., 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Sat.; 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1:15-3:15 p.m., 4-6 p.m. Sun.; puck shooting sessions: 4-5:30 p.m. Mon. and Thur. 
 More info Offers public sessions and puck shooting. 516-571-7821,&nbsp;<a href="http://nassaucountyny.gov">nassaucountyny.gov</a> 
</div>

XLHOLIDAY_GrantParkIce

Grant Park Ice Rink

<div class="description"> 
 Unqua and Merrick roads, Massapequa 
 Season Nov. 28 through late Feb., weather permitting. 
 Cost Residents: $7, $6 ages 5-17, $4 ages 2-4; nonresidents: $11, $9 ages 5-17, $6 ages 2-4; $5 skate rentals. 
 Hours 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Fri.; 1-3 p.m., 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Sat.; 1-3 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Sun. Additional days and hours during school holiday breaks (closed Dec. 25). 
 More info Offers public sessions. 516-797-7990,&nbsp;<a href="http://oysterbaytown.com/ice">oysterbaytown.com/ice</a> 
</div>

XLHOLIDAY_MarjorieIce

Marjorie R. Post Community Park

<div class="description"> 
 &quot;There are some really pretty trails overlooking Long Island Sound in the section known as The Bluffs,&quot; says Edward Moran, former president of the Long Island chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club. You can start from the picnic area inside Sunken Meadow State parking Field 4, and head east on the Long Island Greenbelt Trail, he says. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> RTE. 25A and Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-269-4333">631-269-4333</a>
 <a href="http://alltrails.com">alltrails.com</a>
</footer>

XLWINTER_SunkenMeadowSnowshoe

Snowshoeing at Sunken Meadow State Park

<div class="description"> 
 Season&nbsp;Through Feb. 25. 
 Cost $20. Skate rentals $10 are available on site. Private ice time can be reserved in advance. 
 Hours 90 minutes skating sessions. Please refer to theparkatubsarena.com for exact hours. 
 More info Northwell Presents The Park at UBS Arena is an outdoor experience for the community featuring a covered outdoor rink for ice skating and hockey. The Park also includes special amenities such as an outdoor beer garden with fire pits and lawn games, an igloo garden with six 12-foot heated and furnished igloos, interactive hockey games, the Isles Lab Swag Shack selling Islanders merchandise, and an array of food trucks and concessions options. The Great American Family Christmas Festival takes place Nov. 22 through Dec. 29. Activities include movie premieres, ice skating, visits with Santa, crafts and more. 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> 2400 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont </address> 
 <a href="tel:516-460-8599">516-460-8599</a>
 <a href="http://theparkatubsarena.com">theparkatubsarena.com</a>
</footer>

XLHOLIDAY_UBSIce

Northwell Presents The Park at UBS Arena: Ice Skating on the Northwell Pond

<div class="description"> 
 Village Center, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson 
 Season Nov. 28 through the second weekend in March. 
 Cost $15, $12 ages 11 and younger weekends and school holidays; $13, $11 ages 11 and younger weekdays; $7 skate rentals. 
 Hours Noon-8 p.m. Mon.-Thur., noon-10 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. 
 More info Offers public sessions, learn to skate, birthday parties and private rentals. 631-403-4357,&nbsp;<a href="http://TheRinx.com">TheRinx.com</a> 
</div>

XLHOLIDAY_HarborfrontIce

The Rinx at Harborfront Park

XLHOLIDAY_PortJeffRinx

<div class="description"> 
 <address> 7800 Jericho Tpke., Woodbury </address> 
 Season Nov. 28 through late Feb., weather permitting. 
 Cost Residents: $7, $6 ages 5-17, $4 ages 2-4; nonresidents: $11, $9 ages 5-17, $6 ages 2-4; $5 skate rentals. 
 Hours 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Fri.; 1-3 p.m., 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Sat.; 1-3 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Sun. Additional days and hours during school holiday breaks (closed Dec. 25). 
 More info Offers public sessions. 516-677-5990,&nbsp;<a href="http://oysterbaytown.com/ice">oysterbaytown.com/ice</a> 
</div>

XLHOLIDAY_SyossetIce

Syosset-Woodbury Community Park

<div class="description"> 
 2600 Newbridge Rd., Bellmore 
 Season All year. 
 Cost Town of Hempstead Park residents: public sessions $8 weekdays, $10 weekends; nonresidents $10 weekdays, $13 weekends; $6 skate rental. 
 Hours Winter schedule through March 1: 4-6 p.m. Wed.; 8-10 a.m. Thurs.; 8:30-10:30 a.m., 4-6 p.m. and 8:30-10:30 p.m. Fri.; 12:30-2:30 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 
 More info Offers public sessions, skating lessons, youth hockey programs and police and fire league. 516-783-6181,&nbsp;<a href="http://newbridgearena.com">newbridgearena.com</a> 
</div>

XLHOLIDAY_NewbridgeIce

Newbridge Arena

2025 ultimate guide to winter fun on Long Island: Sledding, hiking and more

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Newsday

Ultimate guide to winter fun on LI: Ice skating, sledding and more

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