Free things to do in Hempstead

Outdoors

Trail View State Park

This 400-acre park has 7+ miles of hiking & biking trails running through a variety of habitats.

Outdoors

Heckscher State Park

1,600-ac. park on a 19th-century estate offers multi-use trails, sports fields & boat launches.

Outdoors

Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve

This bayfront plant & wildlife sanctuary has a working windmill plus kayaking, fishing & trails.

Starrett City

Shirley Chisholm State Park

Park on a former landfill overlooking Jamaica Bay, with trails, picnic spots & NYC skyline views.

Food & Drink

Babylon Bean Coffee House

Relaxed mainstay featuring locally roasted espresso, pastries & light fare, plus open-mike nights.

Outdoors

Massapequa Preserve

Outdoors

Caleb Smith State Park Preserve

Bucolic 543-acre preserve with a museum & nature trails plus fly fishing & cross-country skiing.

Outdoors

Hempstead Lake State Park

Tranquil park with playgrounds, equestrian, biking & hiking trails & an old-school wooden carousel.

Outdoors

Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail

Outdoors

Cold Spring Harbor State Park

Hilly 40-acre park with harbor vistas, hardwood forest & mountain laurel plus seasonal songbirds.

Outdoors

Valley Stream State Park

Community park with family & exercise nature trails plus ball fields & spots for horseshoes & bocce.

Outdoors

Lincoln Park

Outdoors

Eisenhower Park

County park covering 930-acres, a venue for golf, tennis & swimming, concerts & movies in summer.

Outdoors

Wantagh Park

Large green space featuring athletic fields, playgrounds, a fishing pier & an outdoor pool.

Outdoors

Hewlett Point Park

Outdoors

North Hempstead Beach Park

Boating, bayside paths & BBQ pits along a sandy & grassy stretch with a fishing pier.

Arts & Culture

Hempstead House

This castle-like estate from 1912 hosts cultural events & activities, along with weddings & parties.

Elmhurst

Terraza 7

Offbeat venue for live music, literary events & film screenings, with a full bar as well.

Arts & Culture

The Long Island Museum

Cluster of storied buildings & galleries displaying paintings, textiles & antique road coaches.

Outdoors

Halls Pond Park

Outdoors

Newbridge Road Park

Park offering outdoor pools & an indoor ice rink, plus sport courts, playgrounds & picnic areas.

Outdoors

Kennedy Memorial Park

Sports & Recreation

Smithtown Landing Golf Course LLC

Sports & Recreation

Harbor Links Golf Course

Golf club featuring an 18-hole course & a 9-hole course, plus a practice area, a shop & mini-golf.