What to do near Hempstead Long Island About This Page:

[tinker_me_happy]

So my DD has decided to go to Hofstra University in Hempstead Long Island. Her orientation is July 8-10. She has to stay in the dorms. I am MORE FREAKED OUT about that than her moving in for the semester in September. The plan is supposed to be me dropping her off on the 8th and me going to parent orientation (UGH!). Then driving home and returning on the 10th to pick her up. We live about 3 1/2 hours away. (For the two trips we have taken so far it took 4 hours to get there and 3 hours to get home). I am considering just staying down there in a hotel, but I will be alone. I really don't want to do the drive home and back again alone, but it would be silly for me to sit in a hotel room alone for 3 days.
Any one have any suggestions for what a freaked out mom can do to pass the time? I know the sensible thing would be for me to learn to let go a little bit now, and just go home. BUT I am not really being sensible. I don't really understand why this orientation stay over is freaking me out so much!

[emtpej]

There is lots of stuff on LI. There are wineries, the seaport. Parks out at Montauk. Beaches, lighthouses, etc.
You could stay at a B&B and go to a spa... They probably have special programs for parents.

[Colexis Mom]

All that EJ mentioned above applies. Montauk is probably a good 90-120 minutes from Hempsted. The wineries are great as well (we've been to a few). There's an outlet mall in Riverhead. You could take the train into NYC.....should be less than an hour train ride

[Mulan2]

Hempstead is in a good location to travel west into NYC or travel east out to Montauk. Take the Long Island Railroad either way for both trips. If you stay locally, there is Roosevelt Field Mall nearby as well as the Fortunoff Source Mall with plenty of restaurants in the area. Be warned that there is lots of traffic especially on weekends. Depending on what you like to do there are plenty of options. I used to live in the area so if you have any more questions, just ask.

[LBAK]

Hi again-

There's a lot to do around LI. I would use your car. Don't take a train out of Hempstead. The area that Hofstra is in is fine but west of there is not. I have lived within 10 minutes of Hofstra all my life and the neighborhood where the train station and buses are is BAD.

South shore beaches are great. Shopping is great. Roosevelt Field is beautiful, an easy 45 minutes drive east on the LIE until the end finds you with some great otulet shopping at Tanger. 20 minutes further then that are the wineries.

PM me and I'll be glad to meet you and we can do something. There's lots to do.

Lynn

[jimmymac]

That's mid-week so you can get a relatively good price on a hotel out in the Hamptons and explore from there

[Dave Marx]

Depending where you're traveling from in Mass., you might consider taking the ferry. I've had very enjoyable times on the North Fork of Long Island visiting the wineries, etc. It's a whole lot more low key than the Hamptons. From there, you'd catch the Orient Point ferry to New London.