Fall has just arrived, and though the weather still feels a bit warm for this time of year, you can already see the leaves starting to change color amongst the trees in Suffolk County around your Ronkonkoma apartment. If you’re looking to get out into nature this fall, try one of these locals places for the best fall colors.
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve – A mere 20 minutes Northeast from Ronkonkoma apartment, nestled in the heart of Smithtown, this local park is one of only four state nature preserves on Long Island. Within its 543 acres are a variety of habitats offering guests picturesque views that change with the seasons – and boy do they look splendid this time of year! With a nature museum, educational programs and a river for fly fishing, this local park is also great for someone looking to spend the whole day.
Bayard Cutting Arboretum – If you go 20 minutes just South of your Ronkonkoma apartment, another natural oasis is sitting right off the Atlantic Ocean. Bayard Cutting Arboretum was donated by a wealthy Long Island family “to provide an oasis of beauty and quiet for the pleasure, rest and refreshment of those who delight in outdoor beauty; and to bring about a greater appreciation and understanding of the value and importance of informal planting.” Utilizing plans by the famous Frank Law Olmstead, this local park is full of old specimens of dozens of trees, as well as the historic mansion owned by the former owners of the land, William Bayard Cutting. Located in the former Cutting residence are magnificent fireplaces, woodworking, stained glass windows and a small natural history display. The manor house also contains a café with an open porch overlooking the Connetquot River, for when your phone dies after all those fall foliage photos. 😉
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve
581 West Jericho Turnpike
Smithtown, NY 11787
Bayard Cutting Arboretum
440 Montauk Highway
Great River, NY 11739.