THat's probably as crowded. Anywhere nice is going to be crowded. How about the path along the bay between Bay Parkway and Owl's Head Park? Google maps satellite view is great for scoping out paths. Queens has a decent path system between Flushing Meadows Park and Alley Pond Park, some of it takes you on side-streets, make sure you bring a spare tube and tools for the broken glass. Further east in Nassau County is Eisenhower Park which has some nice paths, mostly shaded. On the south shore is Merrick Park off of Merrick Rd, a few miles east of that is the Wantagh Parkway path which goes all the way to Jones Beach