Everything You Need To Know About Summer In Long Island, New York #LongIslandSummer

LONG ISLAND’S 2017 SUMMER LINE-UP

Wine Tastings, Surfing Lessons, Fire Works and More From New York City’s Beachfront Backyard

 Memorial Day Weekend is the official kick-off to the summer season and no one knows how to summer better than Long Island. From picturesque seaside villages to lively boardwalk scenes, Long Island is the ultimate East Coast sun, sand and surf destination. This season, summer like a local with these must-try experiences that highlight the region’s pristine beaches, fresh catch and farm-to-table fare, rich history and famed wine country.  

	LONG ISLAND WINE COUNTRY: Rated by Wine Enthusiast as one of the ‘Top 10 Wine Regions’ in the world, Long Island has over 60 vineyards for visitors to experience on its iconic East End. From crisp white varietals to versatile rosés, for more than 40 years Long Island has grown award-winning, high quality wines. Those looking for an upscale experience can head to Bedell Cellars or for a more artisan experience check out Sherwood House Vineyards.  There are also single varietal producers like Sparkling Pointe, which produces exclusively sparkling wine.
CALLING ALL SEAFOOD LOVERS: Enjoy some of the best farm-to-table fare and fresh catch seafood in the United States courtesy of Long Island’s incredible farmlands and bountiful surrounding waters. From raw bars to lobster rolls, West Sayville’s Seafood Festival is serving up an array of locally sourced seafood this August 26th  & 27th.  Held at the Long Island Maritime Museum revelers can enjoy live music and local fare as well as games and entertainment. Blue Island Oyster Company and Claws Seafood Market will have favorites at the ready and land lovers can enjoy a variety of non-fish options as well.
	SURF’S UP! With pop-ups in Long Beach, Atlantic Beach, Nickerson Beach, Rockaway Beach and Jones Beach, the crew at Skudin Surf make riding waves easy to learn. A heritage of lifeguards, swimmers, and surfing champions, this brood knows their way around the water and are dedicated to making your summer dream come true. Starting April 1st, summer camps and lessons are available 7 days a week for children and adults.
OFF TO THE RACES: The final and longest leg of the Triple Crown will take place at Belmont Raceway this June. Dubbed the ‘Run for the Carnations,’ the premiere horse-racing event of the season will have races kicking off on June 8th and the 149th running of the Belmont Stakes on June 10th.  Not-to-be-missed, three-day festival passes are currently available with grandstand access and views of the paddock.
	DRINK LOCAL: Long Island is experiencing a craft beer renaissance with small-scale breweries popping up across the region. A few stand out micro-breweries not to miss: With over a dozen beers on tap daily, Great South Bay Brewery in Bay Shore is a mecca for local brews. Favorites include Blood Orange and Snaggletooth. Greenport Harbor Brewing has two brewing locations to choose from – its original on Carpenter Street in Greenport and a bottling plant/tasting room in Peconic. New this is season is Summer Ale in a can – the perfect summer party accessory. Since 1998, Blue Point in Patchogue has been setting the standard for beer in New York and beyond. It’s legacy, Toasted Lager, is a smooth amber lager that pairs perfectly with fresh seafood and a view of the water.
PRIDE ON THE BEACH: This June 9th-11th, Long Island Pride moves to Long Beach for the annual Pride on the Beach event. The three-day destination weekend will include numerous exciting events, a pride market and fair, a concert on the beach and the 27th Long Island Pride Parade.
	CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY: If you’re looking for the ultimate spot to view fireworks by land or sea this summer, then Long Island is the place to be.  Whether on the beach, in a boat or on a grassy knoll in one of our many parks, Long Island offers a one-of-a-kind red, white and blue experience that your family won’t forget. Visit www.discoverlongisland.com for a listing of 2017 Independence Day Firework Shows.
HISTORIC BEACONS:  Long Island invites travelers to visit our shining beacons in honor of National Lighthouse Day on Monday, August 7th.  Many are open to the public seasonally; from Montauk Point to Fire Island and beyond, locals and visitors can explore 19 lighthouses across the region.
	ONE BY LAND, TWO BY SEA: General George Washington’s Setauket Spy Ring comes to life with a “Tri-Spy” outdoor adventure. Historian Margo Arceri guides cyclists, walkers and kayakers through actual trails where the British and Patriots once roamed during the Revolutionary War on Long Island. Follow in the footsteps of the famous men and women of the Culper Spy Ring who helped change the tide of the American Revolutionary War and inspired the popular AMC series TURN. September 16th marks the 2nd annual Culper Spy Day, a festival celebrating the historic impact of Long Island’s famed spies.
LONG ISLAND’S PREMIERE VENUE RETURNS: NYCB LIVE’s Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum recently underwent a $165 million renovation and has reopened to host world-class sports and entertainment that kicked off with an April opening concert from Long Island’s own Billy Joel. The venue’s 2017 event lineup boasts some of the biggest names in the music and entertainment industries.

Show us how you summer and tag your favorite summer shots on Instagram with #LongIslandSummer. Visit www.discoverlongisland.com to start planning your summer line-up today!

ABOUT DISCOVER LONG ISLAND:

Discover Long Island was established under the name Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau & Sports Commission in 1979 as the official tourism promotion agency for the destination’s travel and tourism industry. The organization contributes to the economic development and quality of life on Long Island by promoting the region as a world-class destination for tourism, meetings and conventions, trade shows, sporting events and related activities. For more information, please call 631-951-3900 or visit www.discoverlongisland.com.

Travelore News: Bahamas Repeals Hotel Guest Tax

Visitors will save 2.5% on tax on services with new regulation 

As of January 1^st 2015, visitors to the Islands of The Bahamas will enjoy a reduction in taxes on the services they use. The Ministry of Finance, in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism, repealed the Hotel Guest Tax of ten percent (10%) and replaced it with a seven and a half percent (7.5%) Value Added Tax (VAT), a two and a half percent (2.5%) saving. The VAT will be charged on hotels and home rentals as well as all other services supplied to guests.

The removal of the Hotel Guest Tax and the introduction of the VAT at a reduced rate is indicative of the government’s determination to make a vacation in The Islands of The Bahamas the best value for money for visitors, allowing them to keep more money in their pocket to spend as they wish. Tourism Minister, the Honorable Obie Wilchcombe said, “Thanks to responsible fiscal management by our government, our Ministry of Finance is are able to reduce the tax that is charged to visitors to make it more affordable to holiday in the Islands of The Bahamas. We are determined to make a Bahamian vacation the best value for money in the world for a holiday”. 

In making the announcement the Ministry of Finance stipulated that no operator or owner of holiday accommodations may collect Hotel Guest Tax in The Bahamas as of 1st January, 2015. VAT registrants must make provision to collect the tax for stays already booked for 2015 and any contract executed or reservation made after 31st August, 2014, is considered under the general transitional provision for VAT and as such will be presumed to have made provision for VAT for accommodations commencing on or after 1st January, 2015.

The legislation is very strict as to who may charge and collect the VAT and only VAT Registrants with a Tax Identification Number (TIN) displayed in the holiday accommodation will be allowed to collect the VAT.

About The Islands of The Bahamas
The Islands of The Bahamas have a place in the sun for everyone from Nassau and Paradise Island to Grand Bahama to The Abaco Islands, The Exuma Islands, Harbour Island, Long Island and others. Each island has its own personality and attractions for a variety of vacation styles with some of the world’s best golf, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, boating, as well as, shopping and dining. The destination offers an easily accessible tropical getaway and provides convenience for travelers with pre-clearance through U.S. customs and immigration, and the Bahamian dollar at par with the U.S. dollar. Do everything or do nothing, just remember It’s Better in The Bahamas. For more information on travel packages, activities and accommodations, call 1-800-Bahamas or visit www.Bahamas.com. Look for The Bahamas on the web on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. To purchase one-of-a-kind items from The Bahamas, visit www.eshopbahamas.com