West Babylon, NY

The story of West Babylon began when settler Nathaniel Conklin moved into the area with his family. He established the town of “New Babylon,” which came into being in 1872 after splitting from Huntington. Once a center where people grew tulips, West Babylon later became the largest hamlet in Babylon. To this day, West Babylon folk preserve their historic traditions and maintain the various historical artifacts in their town.

While locals don’t have access to museums within Babylon, they travel to Lindenhurst for the Old Village Hall Museum and Farmingdale for the American Air Power Museum. Art thrives in West Babylon, where visitors can view a number of art galleries, such as Village Art & Frame Gallery and Sanderson Studio. Make sure to pass by the Babylon Christmas House Display in the winter, and attend events year-round at the West Babylon Library and other locations around the village.

Residents in West Babylon enjoy their proximity to a large number of local restaurants, bars and clubs. Lindenhurst and Babylon both provide residents a selection of eateries and bars, so those in West Babylon don't need to travel far to find a place to go for food, drinks and fun. You can find most restaurants in West Babylon near the Montauk Highway corridor or on Little East Neck Road.

For genuine Italian food, go to Cafe Gio and order a slice of New York-style pizza. Try a garlic knot slice for a zesty take on pizza crust, or get a deep-fried calzone. Taste some of the many classic Italian dishes available on the menu for a true Italian food experience. Top off the meal with an amazing slice of cheesecake. For those who seek a sampling of vegetarian options, head to Sake Asian, a hidden gem located in a strip mall. With hibachi, Chinese fare and Thai food as well as sushi, locals eat their hearts out in Asian cuisine. Get the affordable All-You-Can-Eat to try a variety of mixed rolls topped with tangy sauces. Long Island residents like this restaurant for fresh sushi and a range of Asian fare in West Babylon.

Head to Food Luck Kitchen for genuinely good, classic Chinese takeout. Get steamed dumplings, boneless ribs and fried rice for a quick, inexpensive meal. For a little bit of a kick, diners should try the homemade hot sauce to spice things up.

Stay in West Babylon for a beer at Sinclair's Pub, a dive bar on Great East Neck Road. Listen to punk and hardcore music and play pool. For a variety of bars and drinks, drive to Babylon's Deer Park Avenue area and enter Bartini Bar. This joint plays live music and serves up beer, wine and cocktails at its spacious bar. At Bartini, you can lounge on a couch, sip a drink and listen to some tunes.

If you need more live music in your life, try out Village Pub in Lindenhurst for rock ‘n' roll jams. Then, for larger celebrations, check out the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Babylon. Dance lovers need to head to Brooklyn or Bay Shore for dancing. The Long Island Eagle Bar & Nightclub in Bay Shore provides a fun atmosphere with music, karaoke, dancing and cocktails such as the Adult Chocolate Milk.

Most West Babylon residents use their cars to get around, but public transportation serves the area well. Suffolk County buses and the Babylon Train Station provide transit options throughout the city for many commuters to use. Locals can reach Southern State Parkway and Highway 27 just a minute or two out of the neighborhood.

To catch a ride, call Lindy’s Taxi, Best Ride Taxi or other cab services that operate in West Babylon. Although Uber does not serve Long Island, look online for ridesharing options on Craigslist or a carpool website. Residents find available parking all over West Babylon, but take caution parking at the Babylon Train Station lot, where only village residents can park.

Walking proves to be great exercise, but due to the traffic in town, locals prefer driving to get around safely and quickly. With many biking lanes and a few biking trails available, residents can get out in nicer weather to use their bicycles to shop or run errands.

West Babylon locals like to take a trip to Belmont Lake State Park to unwind, exercise and play games. The 463-acre park houses seven miles of trails circling Belmont Lake. Equestrians, bikers, hikers and even cross-country skiers wander the lake to take in nature. Rent paddle boats in the summer to get close to Belmont Lake’s features and enjoy the water.

Play games with children on courts and fields, or let them play on the playgrounds while walking on-leash dogs on the miles of trails. Many waterfowl birds make their home at Belmont Lake State Park at certain times of year, drawing in bird-watching enthusiasts from all over Long Island. Remember to pay $8 to enter the park with your vehicle, and then have fun all day.

West Babylon locals travel to Belmont State Park for a few festivals every year. They come to watch the Holiday Tree Lighting in the winter, participate in the egg hunt in the spring and attend the fishing expo to watch the fish-catching action.

West Babylon and the entire Babylon area have a substantially higher cost of living than the national average. Plan to pay around $1,721 each month for a one-bedroom apartment in West Babylon.

To get to the Babylon city center with Suffolk County buses, expect to pay $2 on a one-way fare. By contrast, most people pay $14.75 for a one-way trip to New York City on the Long Island Railroad. The average price of gas in West Babylon costs 5 percent more than the national average, and an average beer at a Babylon pub costs about $4.

West Babylon residents can find shopping in the strip malls on Deer Park Avenue, but one of the nearest shopping malls, Westfield South Shore in Bay Shore, hosts a much larger variety of retailers and specialty stores. Visit Burlington Shoes, Guess and Macy’s for an all-inclusive shopping trip. Stop by Kristin’s Fine Jewelry and Windsor for high-end shopping, and eat at The Cheesecake Factory when the day ends.

Locals who prefer a more personal and smaller shopping experience head to local stores such as Argyle Jewelers. For custom jewelry and personalized service, work with the jewelers to resize your ring or find a perfect gift for a special someone. Pandemonium Boutique in Babylon gives locals the chance to purchase fashionable clothes and accessories without spending an arm and a leg, and workers at Chocolate by Morgans Bay serve up truffles, molasses and more to finish out the day.

Grocery stores such as Stop & Shop and ShopRite serve the West Babylon area with budget shopping choices. Those looking for organic and healthy food choose Sherry’s The Healthy Gourmet as their go-to grocery store. For those planning an Italian meal, Joe’s Italian Food Market makes fresh goodies and delectable meats easily available.

If you love farmers markets, mark a date in your calendar to visit the Babylon Village Farmers Market. Pick out pickles, artisanal breads, soaps, empanadas and more for a unique meal using organic ingredients.