Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, Oyster Bay

We like this Arboretum! The ground is mostly paved and stroller friendly. Lots of different types of flowers and plants. I particularly like the fact that they label each most of the flowers and plants and provide a brief description of each along the way. My kids enjoy reading and learning about the different spices there. This place is huge and you do not feel crowded at all. My kids love running around by the lawn area and we can have a picnic there. We went in mid-April and the cherry trees were blooming at the peak. There is a rose garden as well, but the roses were not ready yet. Will definitely come back in Fall. No one is collecting the $8 entrance fee at the gate, but you will need to pay at the machine and display the receipt at your dashboard. Empire pass holder is free.

This place is nice to visit on a weekday, when it's not crowded. We'd visited the grounds and the greenhouses previously, but this was the first time we toured the mansion. It was such a treat, particularly because we were the only people in the tour, and consequently the docent Pat can tailor the tour to our interests and answer all our questions. The stories of the Cole family and the gilded age are fascinating. And this house's stories are quite different from those of the other famous houses on Long Island. Definitely recommended!