Many people who live in New York City and own or rent a vacation home on the East End often view central Long Island as little more than a land bridge to be traversed (or helicoptered over) as quickly as possible.

In addition to its monumental natural beauty, the often-ignored stretch between Elmont and East Moriches has a vibrant history and plenty of stories to tell.

So, instead of jumping on the LIE or Southern State and blowing straight across the Island with a “Sag Harbor or Bust” sign in your window, check out this highly opinionated list of five of our favorite central LI day-trip destinations.

All the places suggested here are easy to get to via a quick detour off your regular route to or from the city – and they’re close enough to each other so you can hit more than one in a single day and still make it home in plenty of time for happy hour.

Start early and set your GPS for one of these great spots. You’ve got nothing to lose except your preconceived notions:

Old Westbury Gardens: Our first stop is in Nassau County, about 25 miles west of Manhattan. Set on 200 gorgeously cultivated acres and watched over by a century-old mansion, Old Westbury Gardens is a special place. Explore the lush formal gardens, woodlands, ponds, and lakes surrounding the grounds, then take a tour of Westbury House, a Charles II-style mansion built in 1906 by the renowned English designerGeorge A. Crawley.

There are many ways to take in the stunning beauty of the house and grounds. But for an experience that resonates a little differently, try the Secrets of the Service Wing tour. On an hour-long trip back 100 years to the dawn of the Progressive Era, you’ll become a member of the house staff prepping for a party. Hit the butler’s pantry and the silver-cleaning room, then head down the creaky service staircase to the kitchen, scullery, and wine storage room as you prepare the mansion for the season’s social event.

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site: About 13 miles north and east of Old Westbury, you’ll find Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in Oyster Bay, where you’ll discover the legacy of one of history’s most popular and colorful U.S. presidents. Theodore Roosevelt lived at

Sagamore Hill from 1885 until he died in 1919. Known as the Summer White House during his presidency, the house and grounds offer 83 acres of unspoiled natural surroundings, historic buildings, and trails to explore.

Though tasteful, stately, and historically significant, Teddy Roosevelt’s house was never intended to be a grand mansion on the scale of some of Long Island’s Gold Coast homes. As the National Park Service notes on its website, Sagamore Hill was designed to be a home for a growing family. The best way to experience it is by channeling the history of its famous former occupant and his family. Guess which balcony of the house Mrs. Roosevelt used to retreat to. The site suggests. Or “imagine President Roosevelt sitting on his porch while reading a book and quietly watching the sunset.”

Source: LI Press