Ronkonkoma, NY

The hamlet of Ronkonkoma shares a similar history with the neighboring Lake Ronkonkoma. Early settlers founded a quiet farming community in the area, which eventually gave way to a summer resort location for wealthy and famous people from New York City by the early 1900s. After an exodus of these vacationers to aid in efforts toward World War II, Ronkonkoma achieved a population escalation by the mid-20th century that has persisted for decades.

The Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society Museum honors and proliferates the storied history of the Ronkonkoma area through exhibits and tours. The museum offers free tours to the public every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by appointment from its location on Hawkins Avenue. The museum features over 1,000 Indian artifacts from Lake Ronkonkoma's original inhabitants, an 1898 school registry and mementos from some of the area's most famous and prominent 20th century residents.

For the most part, dining in the immediate Ronkonkoma area features a mixture of Italian, Mexican and Asian cuisine options. Many locations around Veterans Memorial Highway make for great family dining, featuring reasonable prices and good food. When in the mood for a main course and dessert, visit Habanero Tex Mex for a cheesy California burrito stuffed with steak and potatoes and an apple cinnamon empanada topped with ice cream and powdered sugar.

Get your fix of Dominican fare at Caribeno, a casual eatery where you can order a menu plate or fill up a takeout tin with beans, rice and meat at the food bar. Stop by during your lunch hour for a refreshing salad loaded with juicy shrimp, tomatoes, cilantro and onions. For a hearty dinner that can keep your appetite satisfied for hours, try a chicken, fried pork or oxtail platter with plantains on the side to sweeten up your meal.

Make your way through the cafeteria-style line at Hummus Mediterranean Grill to craft the perfect salad bowl or rice plate. Choose your favorite meat from delectable options such as roasted lamb, shrimp kebab and chicken gyro, and finish off your creation with feta cheese, hummus, grape leaves and other classic toppings. The kitchen serves up pita bread all day to balance the delectable jumble of flavors on your plate.

Nightlife in the hamlet of Ronkonkoma settles into a modest selection of local bars and pubs. Brownstone Brewing Company serves above-average pub fare, including burgers and wings, and a decent selection of beers and a relaxed atmosphere. The karaoke area provides ample entertainment and multiple televisions let patrons watch their favorite sports. Deeply ingrained into the community, this pub provides a great setting to enjoy a casual dinner with friends or to meet up at night for a beer or two.

Transportation in the hamlet of Ronkonkoma consists of car, cab, bus, train and air travel services. By car, Ronkonkoma sits right off New York State Route 495, the Long Island Expressway. This major highway in Long Island takes commuters and travelers to destinations near and far. Veteran's Memorial Highway, which can take you to other major roads such as Sunrise Highway and the Northern State Parkway, borders south Ronkonkoma. While some of the surrounding roads of Ronkonkoma may have biking lanes, biking and especially walking along most of them proves an unsafe practice due the lack of sidewalks.

For travel by cab, Uber and Village Taxi serve as the local taxi services. Suffolk County Transit bus services pass through the Ronkonkoma and surrounding areas via several routes. Across the intersection of Hawkins Avenue, Ronkonkoma Station of the Long Island Railroad carries a significant number of travelers to work destinations, with 63 trains connecting to New York City stopping at the station every weekday. There are 6,100 parking spaces at the station, a number of them free of charge. In southeast Ronkonkoma on Arrival Avenue, the Long Island MacArthur Airport services the hamlet of Ronkonkoma and central Long Island in general for air travel needs.

Most of the parks around the hamlet of Ronkonkoma are actually located more toward and into Lake Ronkonkoma. The most well-known in the area, Lake Ronkonkoma County Park at the north shore of the lake, features an immense expanse of sports courts, playgrounds and picnic areas. The park also permits lake activities such as canoe and fishing areas, and has many parking spots available, with free parking on weekdays and a minimal fee on weekends. This park serves as a great destination for individuals, families and children looking for outdoor fun and recreation, and feel free to bring the family dog as well, although a leash will be necessary.

While the previous park's location is in the hamlet of Lake Ronkonkoma, the hamlet of Ronkonkoma too has a well-regarded park area. A mixture of park and beach, Ronkonkoma Beach on the southwest shore of the lake on Kirk Avenue makes a great spot for relaxation and recreation. With four tennis courts and multiple park benches, the park area here provides plenty of opportunities for play and exercise. The adjacent beach gets top marks for its lesser crowds and pleasant views of the lake and scenery, particularly during sunsets. For a smaller beach, the parking proves excellent, with a decent sized lot and additional spots along the road, some of which even have grilling areas. During the summer, the groundwater-fed lake makes for a clean and refreshing swim to escape the sweltering heat.

A number of community events grace the hamlet of Ronkonkoma each year. The Ronkonkoma Annual Labor Day Street Fair stretches from Hawkins Avenue to Wittridge Road, lined with hundreds of vendors, children's rides, activities and live music. A grand family festival awaits, along with the opportunity to meet and socialize with local business owners. The community celebration honors the thriving culture of Ronkonkoma with a blast of music, food, face painting, rides and exhibits. Long Island Blood Service even takes donations during the event for those wanting to do some extra good for the community.

The cost of living in Ronkonkoma generally compares favorably to the greater town of Islip. At around 12 percent less expensive than the rest of the town, Ronkonkoma becomes a more affordable choice. However, like the rest of central Long Island, Ronkonkoma maintains a significantly higher cost as compared to the national average cost of living, with a 41 percent difference. Ronkonkoma also rates as moderately more expensive than the state average, at 16 percent more expensive. Housing costs in Ronkonkoma come higher than national and state averages, and you can generally find a one-bedroom apartment in the hamlet for rent of around $1,200 a month.

At below town averages, the relative costs of daily living needs such as groceries, services, utilities and transportation all rate favorably toward Ronkonkoma. It will only cost you a few dollars to travel to central Islip via Suffolk County Transit. Head out to the local pub, and the cost for a pint of beer will come out to about $5 or $6 on average. Finally, gas prices are generally reasonable, at just 11 percent higher than the national average.

Shopping in Ronkonkoma revolves around its nearby roads, such as 2nd Street, Lakeland Avenue and Hawkins Avenue. For high-end boutique shopping, locals jump in their cars and drive to nearby Sayville or one of the other surrounding areas.

In Sayville, Paper Doll Vintage Boutique and Ooh La La draw fashion-loving shoppers. At Paper Doll Vintage Boutique, shoppers browse through a carefully selected inventory of vintage blazers, local art and mid-mod pumps among other treats. If vintage isn't your thing, check out Ooh La La for its sexy, hip and funky clothing and accessories.

An interesting specialty store in Ronkonkoma, the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, provides a thrift-type store with a focus on home improvement products. Aptly described as "thrift store meets Home Depot," the store takes valuable home improvement items and sells them back to the public at greatly reduced prices. By selling these items, the store additionally raises money towards the noble cause of building homes for those in need. Used products abound here, but customers also find some in brand-new condition or with considerable markdowns. For acquiring tools, appliances and a whole host of random useful items, you can't beat the aggressively cheap prices and extensive inventory available at this store.

While Ronkonkoma has franchise supermarkets, such as Super Stop & Shop, for grocery shopping, it also has a number of independently owned local food stores that provide more nuanced selections. Thera Farms, a farmer's market in Ronkonkoma, has grown and sold fresh fruits and vegetables in the area since the 1970s. The Ronkonkoma Italian Pork Store on Johnson Avenue sells an assortment of meats and cheeses, with the sausage and mozzarella considered particularly exceptional. Asian One Best Grocery on Portion Road serves as your one-stop shop for authentic Filipino and Asian food, with frozen, canned and dry goods alongside fresh fruits and vegetables for sale.