Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 115 Apartments for Rent

Then I met you at the station/ In Ronkonkoma / Sweetly resonating / With the things you are - From "Like a Luminous Girl" by Mike Doughty

Lake Ronkonkoma gets its name from the lake of the same name that dominates the geography and mythology of the region. This hamlet of over 20,000 people, per the 2010 U.S. Census, lies less than 50 miles east of New York and is the perfect place to get away from Big Apple's noise, traffic and stress-inducing ways. It's quiet, affordable and close enough to NYC should you ever decide to go back to the jungle.

The Legend of the Lake

Not to spook you or anything, but local legends tell of a heartbroken Indian princess pulling men to their doom when they fall into the lake. The story goes that Princess Ronkonkoma, of the Setauket tribe fell in love with an Englishman, Hugh Birdsall. When her father forbade their union, she vowed to remain celibate. Every day for seven years, she wrote letters on pieces of bark and floated them across the lake to her lover. Then one day, Hugh disappeared and the princess, distraught, committed suicide in the middle of the lake.

According to legend, the ghost of the princess still lies in wait beneath the waters of the lake. Every year, she claims one male to comfort her in her loneliness. If that wasn't spooky enough, an abnormally high number of men have drowned in the lake ever since they started keeping proper records of things like these. But before you pull out your Proton pack and call Dr. Peter Venkman, let us assure you that all these deaths have been attributed to excessive alcohol, the lake's depth and extremely poor visibility.

Sacred Lake to Health Resort

Lake Ronkonkoma has lived through many an avatar over the years. It was once a sacred meeting point for native Indians before it was transformed into a health resort. Enterprising entrepreneurs were quick to cash in on the legends surrounding the lake and set up hotels, resorts and health spas along the shores. Some even sold "health vials" of the lake's supposedly magical waters (which, let us assure you, are more murky than magical). It wasn't until the mid-20th century that the area witnessed a population spike and became a proper hamlet.

Getting There

Lake Ronkonkoma lies almost in the center of Long Island, which means it is exceptionally accessible by both road and rail. You can hop aboard a train on the Long Island Rail Road from Penn Station in New York and reach Ronkonkoma in less than an hour and a half. If you prefer to drive, you can take the I-495 E from New York. Although the distance itself is just 53 miles, traffic conditions out of Manhattan mean you'll have to spend a good 2 hours on the road.

If you'd prefer to fly in, the nearest airport is the Long Island MacArthur Airport in Islip, New York. Even JFK is relatively nearby at just 36.4 km (or about the average daily one-way commute in Los Angeles!).

Neighborhoods

Long Island Motor Pky/Haven Avenue: Located just a few minutes walking distance from the lake, this neighborhood has large, stately homes and easy access to the Long Island Expressway. Rental apartments here are plentiful, though you should expect to shell out a fair amount to get a good place.

Long Island Motor Pky/Rosevale Avenue: Located right along the south-western edge of the lake, this is a quiet, friendly neighborhood with stately Victorian homes along with a smattering of newly constructed condos. Homes near the lake can be quite costly given the spectacular views on offer.

Lakeland: This neighborhood is perfect if you want to commute to New York, thanks to its location right along the Long Island Expressway. The houses here are more modern than the neighborhoods across the expressway.

Round Pond Road: Running along the north-east edge of the lake, this is a neighborhood of old homes with plenty of character. Many of these were built during the lake's brief stint as a health resort. Finding smaller 1 bedroom apartment or 2 bedroom apartments can be difficult as most properties tend to be larger.

Town Center: Just as the name describes, this is the actual and spiritual center of Ronkonkoma, a neighborhood of quiet avenues and narrow roads dotted with historical homes and former resorts. The Lake Ronkonkoma county park is a particular local favorite. Houses around the park are among the most sought after places to live in Lake Ronkonkoma with a great number of apartment homes available.

Things to Do

Lake Ronkonkoma is about as exciting as a town of 20,000 people 50 miles east of New York can be expected to be. This is the place you live in after you're through with your bar-hopping, brunch-hogging ways. The locals prefer a quiet pint at the pub than a romp through town.

Chan's Restaurant on Smithtown Blvd has established itself as a local favorite, thanks in no small part to ex New Yorkers craving some sushi.

Sandy & Jeanie's Hot Dogs: If there's one thing New York knows how to do well, it's hot dogs. Sandy & Jeanie's Hot Dogs on Church Street is pretty much the taste of New York in a bun (and slathered in home made mustard). That Sandy & Jeanie's operates out of a mobile food van makes them all the more special.

Flanagans Pub on Hawkins Ave is the local favorite watering hole. This is probably how you pictured your retirement days: a swirl of bourbon in your hand, a book in your lap, and the silence of the lake in the distance. That the pub serves some mean grub is just the icing on the cake!