Everyone else pretty much covered it. Nassau County, LI in my opinion is the way to go. I'd stay away from Suffolk County and the city. There's plenty to do here and its easy to get in and out of the city thanks to the rail road. You can even take the Long Island Rail Road to Jamaica station, catch the Airtrain, and that will take you to JFK. Like everyone else said, you are def going to want a car in Long Island. Craigslist is the way to go for a apartment, good luck. PM me if you need specifics on a certain town or any other information.