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Re: Long Island Symposium

Title: Message
Donna and all who plan on attending the Long Island Symposium, here's the scoop on travel to & from airports on Long Island.
 
There are three major airports on Long Island:
John F. Kennedy - JFK (inside the city line on the South shore)
La Guardia - LGA (inside the city line on the North shore)
Islip McArthur  - Islip (Eastern Long Island, far from the city)
 
If you drew a triangle through all three airports the Melville Marriott would be almost right smack in the middle. Airfare rates vary greatly. So. West air only flies through Islip, Jet Blue only flies through JFK. So how to decide?
 
Depending on where you fly from and what your airline of preference is you will have limited choices. Donna is correct that there is no public transportation from these airports to the hotel.
 
Taxi service is available at JFK & LGA and possibly from ISP (Islip is a small single terminal airport although it will be growing soon). Car rentals are available at all three airports. Car service is also available from all three airports.
 
If you don't want to rent a car for your whole stay my suggestion is to arrange for car service in advance. The Concierge at the Marriott will recommend a service. I've worked with them in the past and will be hosting 500 people there in 2006 for the American Hemerocallis Society. The staff at the hotel has been wonderful and it's a beautiful place to stay.
 
Ideally you should try to find others who are arriving in the same time slot as you and split the cost of the car. For people who are not familiar with our driving, getting out of JFK or LGA can be daunting. Driving from Islip to the hotel will take about 30 minutes but it's only one highway to one parkway and then you're there.
 
Driving to Long Island: Few LI's take the ferry unless they live further east of the hotel. Taking the ferry on a gorgeous day can be relaxing. It is not cheap nor will it save you any travel time. It will keep your blood pressure down if you don't like driving through New York City :-)
 
One more important note the tours planned for this convention are fabulous. Dr. Iversen's tropical garden at Farmingdale is a "must see", I've shot tons of slides there. Dennis Schrader & Bill Smith's garden out east are "to die for" and I'm praying for a cloudy day (had blistering sun there when I visited last), Conni Cross's garden is one I've been wanting to see for years, Marders Nursery is unbelievable. Old Westbury Gardens has been photographed so often you've all probably seen it in print but it's my children's favorite garden haunt, Planting Fields Arboretum is breathtaking and you will see a world class Dahlia garden there.  Personally, I've never been to Wave Hill and that's the tour I'm waiting for.
 
For any who have questions, please post me privately and I will try to help.
 
Melanie Vassallo
Garden Writer/Lecturer/Photographer
m*@optonline.net
 
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