Looking for a beautiful spot to commune with nature or just get away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy some time alone? These Nature preserves offer quick getaways where you can leave your troubles behind for an hour or two and just walk among the wildlife, taking in the natural beauty of Long Island in Nassau County.
Leeds Pond Preserve - This hilly, 35-acre preserve overlooks Manhasset Bay, with the Victorian mansion on the property serving as home for the Science Museum of Long Island. Nature trails traverse a wooded valley with majestic tulip trees and oaks, while a stream flows through a wetland into Leeds Pond. Location: 1526 N. Plandome Road, Plandome, (516) 627-9400.
Wawapek Preserve - A 32-acre preserve opened to the public in June 2015; predominantly forest with a central trail and contains remnants of a Colonial garden with specimen trees. Small parking area on Mowbray Lane North in Cold Spring Harbor. Take a stroll and you might catch a glimpse of some of the animals that live there like foxes and state-protected Box Turtles. A fallen but living black walnut tree that delights children who scramble onto its trunk, lady fern, chestnut oak, Location: Mowbray Lane North, Cold Spring Harbor, (516) 922-1028.
Planting Fields Arboretum - A 409-acre estate with trails and an arboretum. There’s also an old mansion on the grounds that looks like a castle. Location: 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay.
Stillwell Woods Preserve - A 270-acre preserve and multiple-use area, Stillwell Woods offers a blend of old field and oak barrens communities, the latter of which includes plants and animals that are more typical of habitats farther east on Long Island. The Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail for hikers runs through the preserve; there are also bicycle trails and equestrian trails. Location: South Woods Road, Woodbury.
Muttontown Preserve - Comprising 550-acres of fields, woodlands, ponds and estate grounds, Muttontown is Nassau County's largest nature preserve and one of the most beautiful settings on Long Island. Location: Muttontown Lane, East Norwich, (516) 782-0174.
Norman J. Levy Park - Located alongside the Meadowbrook Parkway, the park and preserve's most visible symbol is the windmill, which is used to circulate the water in the two man-made ponds that provide a fresh-water habitat for wildlife. An exciting feature of the park is the kayak launch into the original Meadow Brook. The site also includes three miles of hiking and jogging trails with exercise stations along the trails. The preserve's highest point of 155-feet produces tremendous views of the Jones Beach Tower, the New York City skyline, and numerous coastal treasures. The 52-acre facility also features a 500-foot fishing pier into Merrick Bay. Location: 1600 Merrick Road, Merrick, (516) 804-2000.