Visiting New Places on Long Island, and Beyond, this Summer

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SKYLARK'S FEATURED ARTICLE - VISITING NEW PLACES ON LONG ISLAND, AND BEYOND, THIS SUMMER

Estate (Summer in Italian) is the best time of year to travel around Long Island and beyond. If you're staying local this year, like me, Long Island has some of the best places to visit, especially our beaches (spiaggia in Italian). Each summer, I try to visit places that either I've never been to or places I haven't been to in a while. Long Beach is one of those places. I used to go there a lot in my 20's when Long Beach was fairly exclusive to outsiders. It is a beach community accessible by car or via the Long Island Railroad. Few people in the city knew about this hidden gem, except for the surfers. They always know where the best beaches are. Parking has always been tough, though. My niece lives right on the board walk, so I go here often. I love the drive along Ocean Parkway, and it's just 30 minutes from Bay Shore where I live. This is a dreamy destination. It will cost you. Non-residents have to pay $10 to walk onto the beach, unless, of course, you know someone who lives there.

Here are some benefits of visiting new places (nuovi posti in Italian):

We can all agree that visiting new places is fun. If you travel outside of the country, or even to certain neighborhoods, you get to learn about different cultures, try things you've never tried before, and discover new cuisines. And you don't have to go far to experience something very different than your own familiar turf.

Whether it's a quick weekend getaway, a round-the-world trip, or a new local destination, your adventures will also do wonders for your health too! 

Here's how:

1. It's great for your mental health.

One of the main reasons for getting away from it all, even if it's just an hour ride, is to de-stress. You can relax by the ocean or a pool, depending on where you go, or take in some fresh countryside air. Whatever it is, studies suggest it only takes a little bit of time of switching off for you to leave your troubles behind.

Too much stress isn't good for your mental health and taking a break once in a while can protect you from further mental health issues, such as depression.

Visiting new places is also a great way to keep your brain active. When you're young, you're learning all the time. Mainly because you have to go to school. However, as you get older, your brain doesn't always get as much exercise as it used to. Unless, of course, you go back to school as I did at age 62. It's never too late to learn!

2. Getting away, even for a day, can improve your physical health. 

If you visit one of the many beaches on Long Island, you'll notice that they are bigger than they used to be. Since Hurricane Sandy, the Corp of Engineers rebuilt a lot of our beaches, dredging up sand from the ocean and making our beaches much wider and deeper. The walk from the parking lot can be longer to get to the ocean. That's my favorite place to sit. You'll get plenty of exercise, especially if you're carrying a beach chair and umbrella.

3. If you go away for a few days, it may encourage healthy eating.

Bored of eating the same meals over and over again or ordering bad take-out? Getting away can introduce you to new foods and broaden your culinary horizons. It can encourage you to eat healthier, too. And, you won't have to cook.

4. You'll improve your self-esteem by celebrating a recent success.

Maybe you've recently accomplished a goal you set for yourself, and you want to celebrate by visiting a new place. Maybe it's a new restaurant that you've been meaning to go to. Now's your chance. This is one of the best ways to boost your self-esteem. If you have a low opinion of yourself, this can have an effect on your mental health and prevent you from reaching your full potential. Honoring yourself is a great way to boost self-esteem. 

5. Learning a new language is great for your brain. You know how much I love the Italian language (bella lingua means beautiful language in Italian).

Going abroad? Try to learn a bit of the local lingo before you arrive. Not only will your hosts appreciate it, there's also evidence to suggest that being multilingual improves your memory, attention span, decision making and ability to multitask. It could even give you a bigger brain (cervello più grande in Italian). 

6. Travel can help you live longer (maggiore durata means longer life in Italian).

As health benefits go, it doesn't get much bigger than this one. Exploring and learning can lead to less stress, better heart health, better physical fitness and a healthier diet. What do all these things add up to? That's right, a longer, better life!

Whether you're staying put, or putting a new destination on your list, getting out and about is good for your overall health! Let's go! (andiamo in Italian)

Peace and Love,

Skylark

At 60 and Beyond, continuing to learn new things into older age can increase life expectancy. In other words, you should keep going on adventures whenever you can!

SKYLARK'S PICK OF THE WEEK - LONG BEACH

Long Beach is an oceanfront city in Nassau County. It takes up a central section of the Long Beach Barrier Island, which is the westernmost of the outer barrier islands off Long Island's South Shore. The Long Beach Barrier Island is surrounded by Reynolds Channel to the north, east and west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. In 2022, Long Beach was named the best East Coast beach town for a summer getaway by Time Out Magazine. Check out Long Beach, NY (longbeachny.gov)

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SKYLARK'S SONG OF THE WEEK - SURFER GIRL BY THE BEACH BOYS

Little surfer, little one
Made my heart come all undone
Do you love me, do you, surfer girl?
(Surfer girl, my little surfer girl)
I have watched you on the shore
Standing by the ocean's roar
Do you love me, do you, surfer girl?
(Surfer girl, surfer girl)
We could ride the surf together
While our love would grow
In my Woody I would take you everywhere I go
So I say from me to you
I will make your dreams come true
Do you love me, do you, surfer girl?
Surfer girl, my little surfer girl
Little one (girl, surfer girl, my little surfer girl)
Little one (girl, surfer girl, my little surfer girl)
Little one (girl, surfer girl, my little surfer girl)