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Health & Fitness

A Detour or a Destination --- Find Time to Enjoy a North Shore Treasure

Looking for something to do? Have a few minutes, a few hours or a few days, check with Stephanie first.

The Where: Roslyn Harbor, North side of Northern Blvd  two traffic lights west of Glen Cove Road

The What: Nassau County Museum of Art and Sculpture Garden
Visit  nassaumuseum.org for directions, closing days, special events and current exhibits

The Why:  A "take me away" moment, something to do with the kids, a place to "hand-hold" (people still do that, don't they?) a power walk with a friend,  lunch or coffee on a bench surrounded by nature and art (instead of sipping our coffee staring at a computer screen or smart phone---oops, sounds a little drastic, take the phone, leave the laptop in the car.)

This is truly one of the most beautiful places on Long Island to walk, sit, read, explore, find peace or make your heart beat a little faster.  If there is any way you can get there once a week then make a determination to find even five or fifteen minutes to do just that.

The When:  Definitely now! (I always say that). Spring is my favorite because of  the blooming gardens. The grounds are equally beautiful in mid-summer, fall and even in the dead of winter when everything is covered in snow.
Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 4:45 pm

The Cost: Grounds, Parking, Sculpture Garden, Nature Trails
$0.00 (zero) - Weekdays  (Closed Monday)
$2.00 - Weekends

The Cost: Museum Entry
Free with a Museum Pass available by request at libraries county-wide  nassaulibrary.org (click on "visit your library" to choose your local library website and contact information)
Or without a pass, regular Museum Admission is  $10 adults,  $8 seniors,  $8 students, $4 children 4-12 years of age

The "Take Me Away" moment: You are at a traffic light on Northern Blvd wondering why there is so much congestion this time of day (probably holds true any time of day.) Tired, stressed, need a moment to escape?  Turn onto Museum Drive on the north side of Northern Blvd directly across from the former Pall Corporation headquarters building.

If it is a weekday between 11:00 am and 4:45 pm  you can simply make a  five-minute detour and drive along the loop around the museum, passing amazing sculptures by Richard Serra, Fernando Botero, Chaim Gross among the 40 outdoor works of art. Or, drive to the parking lot, park, and walk a few steps to a bench or patch of manicured lawn, enjoy the surroundings and just 'be'.  The short break, even if it is for five minutes driving around the site, will change your perspective.

The Take the Kids Time: Kids like to run free around giant outdoor sculptures, guaranteed. Every Sunday the Museum offers family events starting at 1:00 pm with gallery talks and supervised activities for kids and the adults with them.  Many events are hands-on and interactive.  Check museum website for details.

The Art lovers: Browse the permanent collection as well as current exhibits. The Museum is small, just two floors and the gallery rooms can get crowded quickly on busy days. Try to visit weekdays when there are fewer visitor and take a spin around the rooms once and then once again.  Now through  July 8, 2012: 

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A 125-acre site of natural beauty, outdoor serenity, formal gardens, natural gardens, nature trails and paved walkways and many of us are driving past it each and every day (in my case definitely more than once a day).
Here is the link with a map of the sculpture garden  http://www.nassaumuseum.com/webdocuments/NA

http://www.nassaumuseum.com/webdocuments/NAS110811-Outdoor_Scultpure_Map.pdf

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