Hempstead

Just half an hour by train from Manhattan, the Town of Hempstead opens the door to Long Island's world of suburbs, beachfront boardwalks, and seafood restaurants. A trip to Hempstead is especially worthwhile in summer, when the Atlantic beaches beckon, and as a quieter, often more affordable base for a vacation in New York. With nearly 800,000 residents, the town is more populous than many American cities.

One of New York's Oldest Communities

Hempstead was founded in 1644 by English settlers who acquired land from the Native inhabitants, and it is among the oldest communities in the state of New York. St. George's Episcopal Church in the Village of Hempstead dates back to a colonial-era founding. For centuries the region was rural, with farms and the vast Hempstead Plains prairie. In the 20th century, the railroad, highways, and the building boom after World War II transformed Long Island into one of the first major suburban landscapes in the US—the famous Levittown, the model for housing developments across the country, lies within the town. Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field in 1927 on his nonstop flight to Paris.

Beaches and Sights

With its miles of sandy beaches, its boardwalk, and its striking Art Deco water tower, Jones Beach State Park is the best-known destination; in summer it hosts concerts at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater and a big air show. Long Beach, an independent city on the edge of the town, is just as popular, with its boardwalk and surf spots. Point Lookout at the island's eastern end draws visitors with seafood restaurants and sunsets. At the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, airplanes and a lunar module recall the aviation history of Long Island, once known as the "Cradle of Aviation." Belmont Park in Elmont is a racetrack with a long tradition.

Neighborhoods and Daily Life

The Town of Hempstead encompasses numerous villages and hamlets, each with its own character: the Village of Hempstead with Hofstra University, elegant Garden City with its shopping streets and cathedral, Freeport with its harbor district known as the Nautical Mile and lined with seafood spots, Levittown, Baldwin, Oceanside, and Valley Stream. The Roosevelt Field mall is among the largest in the US. The restaurants in Hempstead and the surrounding area are diverse: fresh clams and lobster rolls at the harbor, New York-style pizza, bagels, and a wide selection of Salvadoran, Haitian, and Italian eateries.

Getting Around, When to Go, and Day Trips

JFK Airport lies just a few miles west of the town line, and LaGuardia is also easy to reach. The Long Island Rail Road connects many communities directly with Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, and NICE buses supplement the network; for beaches and excursions, a car is handy. The best time to visit is summer, from June to September, when the water is warm enough for swimming; fall is mild and quieter. Day trips lead to Manhattan, to the North Shore with the Gatsby mansions of the "Gold Coast," to the wineries of the North Fork, and to the Hamptons.