Top Spots To Have A Picnic

• , 2 Prime Ave., Huntington; 631-351-3000.

Situated on about 25 acres, and adjacent to the Heckscher Museum of Art, this park has lots of scenic space to have a picnic. Try picnicking near the picturesque pond, gazebo or stone bridge, enjoy the walking paths and sculptures scattered about the grounds, or bring your tennis rackets and softball gloves or visit the playground for recreation. This park is fully equipped with picnic areas and public restrooms. 

• , 575 Vanderbilt Pkwy, Dix Hills; 631-462-5883.

Situated in the heart of Dix Hills, the Dix Hills Park provides a large picnic area complete with grills for barbequing and tons of picnic tables for large or small groups. Open fields are also available to throw down a picnic blanket. Adjacent to the picnic area is a playground and basketball courts. The park also has a 50 meter swimming pool, snack concessions, restrooms, jogging paths, two all year round indoor ice skating rinks and a 9 hole par 31 golf course and driving range. To reserve the picnic area for large groups, complete and submit the Town of Huntington's Dept of Parks and Recreation's Picnic Use Permit Application.

• , 401 Wolf Hill Road, corner of Caledonia Road, Dix Hills; 631-351-3094.

Caledonia Park has plenty of space for a picnic with many picnic tables and barbeque grills available. The park also has numerous athletic fields including baseball/softball, tennis and soccer as well as a playground and restrooms. To reserve the picnic area for large groups, complete and submit the Town of Huntington's Dept of Parks and Recreation's Picnic Use Permit Application.

• West Hills County Park, Sweet Hollow Road, Melville/West Hills; 631-854-4423.

This picturesque park offers picnicking, a playground, restrooms, the Sweet Hills Stables horseback riding facility, hiking and two dog parks, one for large dogs and one for dogs 25 pounds and under. There are numerous walking, nature and bridle trails to experience set along 900 scenic wooded acres. One such trail is the historic Walt Whitman Trail that leads to Long Island's highest peak, an elevation of 400 feet, called Jayne's Hill.  

• , 48 Threepence Drive, corner of Wilmington Drive, Melville; 631-351-3089.

This quiet park, while not having a formal picnic area, has plenty of open fields and shade trees to lay down a blanket and have a picnic. There are also playgrounds with play structures geared to children of different age groups, tennis courts, a handball court, basketball courts and a baseball diamond to keep you busy while you're there. A special addition is the , which was unveiled in June 2010, offering a place for reflection and remembrances. It features sculptures and quotes symbolizing the different stages of Anne Frank's life displayed around a symbolic circular pathway.