"A car is useless in New York, essential everywhere else. The same with good manners." Mignon McLaughlin
Aside from having one of the hardest to pronounce names in New York (really, try saying that three times fast), Ronkonkoma --shortened to Ronk, to make it easier -- is also one of the furthest cities from what you'd think a New York town would look like. This town is located on the island of Long Island next door to Hicksville and home to Ronkonkoma Lake. This area was once known as a farming town in the mid 1800s, but in the 1900s the lake became a tourist attraction transforming the town from boring and stale to lively and fun. However, this area hasn't always been known as a place people would want to get to. In fact, most people were scared to step foot in Ronk, thanks to the mystery surrounding Lake Ronkonkoma. Legend has it that this lake is actually cursed and hell bent on taking a man to his early demise each year. Strangely enough, the locals don't seem to be bothered by this legend one bit, so they tempt the lake each day with laughter, fishing and fun in the sun. That proves that either the legend is a myth, or the lake only has a taste for a handsome stranger from out of town.
So, despite the haunted lake and the fact that Ronk has a name that is virtually unpronounceable, you've decided that it's still worth a shot to move here
"A car is useless in New York, essential everywhere else. The same with good manners." Mignon McLaughlin
Aside from having one of the hardest to pronounce names in New York (really, try saying that three times fast), Ronkonkoma --shortened to Ronk, to make it easier -- is also one of the furthest cities from what you'd think a New York town would look like. This town is located on the island of Long Island next door to Hicksville and home to Ronkonkoma Lake. This area was once known as a farming town in the mid 1800s, but in the 1900s the lake became a tourist attraction transforming the town from boring and stale to lively and fun. However, this area hasn't always been known as a place people would want to get to. In fact, most people were scared to step foot in Ronk, thanks to the mystery surrounding Lake Ronkonkoma. Legend has it that this lake is actually cursed and hell bent on taking a man to his early demise each year. Strangely enough, the locals don't seem to be bothered by this legend one bit, so they tempt the lake each day with laughter, fishing and fun in the sun. That proves that either the legend is a myth, or the lake only has a taste for a handsome stranger from out of town.
Moving to Ronk
So, despite the haunted lake and the fact that Ronk has a name that is virtually unpronounceable, you've decided that it's still worth a shot to move here. Well, we admire your courage, so we'll help you by telling you a few things to keep in mind before your search.
When it comes to finding places for rent in Ronk, you need a car. There is public transportation in the area, but if you're looking for multiple rental apartments riding the bus may take up a lot of time.
To find a location that best suits you, don't rely on Google Maps, get out and explore -- don't be afraid. Walk around the areas that interest you and have a peek at the local amenities. You might also want to ride a bus through the area to get a good visual of the neighborhood.
There really isn't a perfect season to begin your search in, but traditionally, vacancies begin to dwindle down between July and September and November through January. If you want to secure a place during these times, it's best to start your search early and leave a deposit to secure your spot.
Also, as a rule of thumb in NY, there are a few documents you need to have on hand before applying for any apartment, townhouse or condo for rent in the area: lease and reference letter from your current landlord, contact details from all of your references, utility bills and identification documents, bank statements, hire letter with salary included in the letter, tax returns, deposit, and the application/key fee.
The Cities that Couldn't Stay Away
Since Ronk is a CDP (census designated place) there aren't any neighborhoods located within it (although Lake Ronkonkoma itself is a city to some), but there are a few neighbors that just didn't feel like moving away and leaving the entire area to Ronk. These areas include Bohemia, Central Islip, Holbrook, Lake Grove and Hauppauge.
Of the above listed cities, Holbrook and Bohemia are the most popular for dining out, night life and work. However, many of the locals also work in central Long Island.
Explore the Otherworldly Appeal that is Ronk
Ronkonkoma is located just north of Long Island Airport and south of Lake Ronkonkoma (which may or may not be haunted, remember). Being that the entire town is situated right off of the 495, there are plenty of things to do in this area.
One of the attractions of Ronk is the humongous chunk of land that is Bohemia, County Park. This beautiful park has plenty of room for biking, jogging, hiking, fishing (at the Main Pond located within it) and picnicking with loved ones. It takes quite some time to walk through and around the entire park, but if you choose to show off your superb and better-than-everyone-else walking skills, travel a bit south of the park to the Connetquot River State Park for additional scenery.
If you want to get around without paying out money to gas up your car, hop on a bike and explore the neighborhood. There are multiple biking trails around the area. Most of these biking trails are located near the Connetquot River State Park and Long Island MacArthur Airport. In fact, you can bike from neighboring Hauppauge all the way to Oakdale.
While there aren't many malls of shopping centers in the area, there are loads of places to spend, spend, spend. If you want to do a little mall shopping, head south to Sun-Vet Mall in neighboring Bohemia.
Long Island has always been known for its many restaurants and the Ronk area is no different. If you're looking for some finger-licking meals, stop in at Phayathai, Mesoyios Greek-Cypriot, Crystal Garden or Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill restaurants.
