There are many things to consider when planning a vacation - transportation, accommodations, car rentals, places of interest to visit, etc. There is a lot to do in Stony Brook if you are to vacation here - visit museums, historical landmarks and scenic parks, see an art gallery, or enjoy a theater performance. Stony Brook is primarily known for its State University of New York Stony Brook campus, responsible for most of the local recreation, activities and events. The town is populated largely by students. Tourists can take advantage of a few local attractions, such as a visit to Sand Street Beach, a peaceful duck pond, a historic grist mill from the year 1751, the Long Island Museum of Art, History and Carriages, and Avalon Park, which has a scenic boardwalk and trails. The town is constantly filled with concerts and performances at several venues, including the Charles B. Wang Center, The Staller Center for the Arts. You can also enjoy performances by the Stony Brook Jazz Ensemble, the Stony Brook Opera, the Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra and the University Wind Ensemble.

Mostly commercial hotel chains such as the Holiday Inn surround Stony Brook, but if you are looking for a more special and intimate place to stay, you can visit the historic Three Village Inn, across from the Stony Brook Village Center. Other quaint bed-and-breakfasts and inns can be found in nearby Port Jefferson, South Setauket and St. James. Stony Brook is only about an hour's drive from LaGuardia airport, but can also be reached by train via the Long Island Railroad, on the Port Jefferson line to Stony Brook, by car or ferry, using the Bridgeport, CT - Port Jefferson or New London, Connecticut - Orient Point, Long Island ferries.