Readers' Choice: Top Staycation Spot in RVC Announced

After one week of and 21 votes, Hempstead Lake State Park is the winner of the readers' choice for best staycation spot in Rockville Centre.

The local park garnered 38 percent of the vote, slightly edging the RVC Recreation Center, which tallied 33 percent.

According to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation:

Hempstead Lake State Park is a multi use facility. Included are 20 tennis courts, children's playgrounds, basketball courts, bridle trails for horse back riding, biking and hiking trails, shaded picnic areas and a historic hand carved wooden carousel. There is a picnic pavilion available for large parties. In addition to a pavilion rented through the Permit Department, Hempstead offers rental of the Carousel party-room done in-house at the park.  For a rental fee of $350 for a three-hour event, guests are also offered unlimited carousel rides during their event.

There are three ponds that are accessible for fishing. On Hempstead Lake, the largest lake in Nassau County, you are permitted to use car top boats with an annual permit issued from the Park. McDonald Pond, South Pond and Hempstead Lake are stocked with trout in the fall and you may target trout year-round. Other species present include large mouth bass, chain pickerel, black crappie, perch, tiger muskies, carp and sunfish.