Long Island, New York

Long Island is a large, densely populated island in southeastern New York State, extending eastward from New York City into the Atlantic Ocean.

Nassau and Suffolk — suburban and more rural eastern parts.
geographically, Brooklyn and Queens are part of Long Island.
But politically and culturally, most people don’t think of them that way.

Geographically
Long Island is one continuous landmass that stretches east from New York Harbor into the Atlantic.
All four counties — Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk — sit on the same island.
So from a geologic and geographic standpoint, Brooklyn and Queens are on Long Island. Politically / Administratively
Brooklyn (Kings County) and Queens County are part of New York City, two of its five boroughs.
Nassau and Suffolk are separate counties and not part of NYC.

Fire Island, below is one of our favorite parts of Long Island. There are multiple towns and multiple ferries to get over. Each town has a distinct personality.

The island stretches about 118 miles long and up to 23 miles wide. If you include Brooklyn and Queens, Long Island has about 8 Million residents. It is huge, there is traffic, but almost nothing you cannot find. Nassau and Suffolk along are home to about 3 million people.

Nassau County: Affluent suburbs, beaches (Long Beach, Jones Beach), and Roosevelt Field Mall, Bethpage Golf Courses.
Suffolk County: More spacious and scenic—beaches, vineyards, and farms. Great private golf clubs, and east end beaches.

Beaches & Nature

Jones Beach State Park: Iconic, with a huge boardwalk and concerts.
Fire Island: Car-free barrier island with charming beach towns and dunes.
Montauk: The eastern tip, known for surfing, fishing, and the historic lighthouse, plus Ditch Plains beach which is beautiful.
Hamptons: Upscale coastal towns like East Hampton and Southampton with beaches, art galleries, and summer homes.
With all the beaches, there are also a lot of boats.