Part II: Long Island, NY - Discover 10+ Great Reasons To Visit the North Shore

By Jacquelin Carnegie

Oheka (photo: Stefen Turner)

While The Hamptons is considered the hotspot, there are so many wonderful areas to explore on Long Island that you can visit time-and-again and still find more cool places to discover. The North Shore of Long Island was home to some of the wealthiest Americas, known as the "Gold Coast." (Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby takes place here.) These are some spots that are definitively-worth seeing:

THRILLS FOR KIDS & ADULTS
Cradle of Aviation
51 Charles Lindbergh Blvd, Garden City, NY; Tel: 516/572-4111; www.cradleofaviation.org
This terrific museum chronicles the history of aviation from hot air balloons to space travel. With over 75 real airplanes and spaceships, plus docents that have flown in war time and/or as commercial pilots, a visit to this museum is truly an inspiring, educational experience. In addition, Long Island’s contribution to aerospace, science, and technology is highlighted.

Long Island Children’s Museum
11 Davis Ave, Garden City, NY; Tel: 516/224-5800; www.licm.org
LICM gives kids hands-on experiences to learn and explore through fun, inventive, interactive exhibits and programs, including art and theater.

HOME SWEET MAGNIFICENT HOMES
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

(photo: Courtesy Sagamore Hill)

12 Sagamore Hill Rd, Oyster Bay, NY; Tel: 516/922-4788; www.nps.gov/sahi
Sagamore Hill was the home of Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, from 1885 until his death in 1919. During Roosevelt's time in office, it served as the "Summer White House." This magnificent house has 23 rooms, furnished with hunting trophies, gifts from foreign dignitaries, artworks, books, and other electric pieces from the Roosevelts' collection. Now on the National Register of Historic Places, it can be visited on a guided tour. Sagamore Hill sits on 83 beautiful acres that can also be explored.

Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
180 Little Neck Rd, Centerport, NY; Tel: 631/854-5579; www.vanderbiltmuseum.org

(photo: Courtesy Vanderbilt Museum)

The Vanderbilts were once the wealthiest family in America. Their fortune came from Cornelius Vanderbilt’s monopoly of the shipping and railroad industries. This magnificent, 43-acre waterfront property was once the home of William K. Vanderbilt II, Cornelius’ great grandson. Now, it‘s part of a museum complex: The Mansion – On a guided tour, visit the stunning, 24-room, Spanish-revival mansion decorated with antique furnishings and art collected during Mr. Vanderbilt’s world travels. The Museum Wings – See the impressive, natural-history items from Vanderbilt’s worldwide, specimen-collecting expeditions. The Planetarium – Exciting programs for education & exploration of the universe.

AMERICAN HISTORY ON DISPLAY
Washington Spy Trail: During the American Revolutionary War, under the orders of General George Washington, Major Benjamin Tallmadge formed a spy ring based on Long Island: The Culper Ring--farmer Abe Woodhull, pub landlady Anna Strong, and fisherman Caleb Brewster--an unsuspecting group of his friends, worked undercover to oppose the British occupation of New York. If you're a fan of American history, Alexander Rose’s book, Washington’s Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring, or the TV series, TURN, you’ll be thrilled to visit some of the actual sites on the North Shore such as:

(photo: Courtesy Raynham Hall)

Raynham Hall Museum
20 W Main St, Oyster Bay, NY; Tel: 516/922-6808; raynhamhallmuseum.org
Raynham Hall was the home of Robert Townsend, “Culper Junior,” who as a merchant with a Manhattan-based shipping firm, went to coffee houses and social events in the city, eavesdropping on the British without arousing suspicion.
The Brewster House
18 Runs Rd, East Setauket, NY; wmho.org

During the American Revolution, Joseph Brewster used the house as a tavern, entertaining British troops. His cousin Caleb Brewster, a frequent visitor and member of the Culper Spy Ring, was an experienced seaman tasked with transporting the intel gathered across the Long Island sound to Connecticut where Tallmadge was stationed.

MORE TO EXPLORE
Some of the famed North Shore “Gold Coast" mansions are now garden-museums:
Planting Fields Arboretum - Coe Hall, a 65-room Tudor Revival mansion, sits on 409 acres of formal gardens & woodland paths.

Coe Hall (photo: Courtesy Planting Fields Arboretum)

Old Westbury Gardens - Westbury House, a 44-room English manor house, has over 200 acres of traditional, formal gardens.
Sands Point Preserve - On the original Guggenheim Estate, there are four mansions: Castlegould; Falaise; Hempstead House; Mille Fleur.

Where To Stay:
The Mansion at Glen Cove (200 Dosoris Lane, Glen Cove, NY;
www.glencovemansion.com) – This 1910 Georgian mansion, now a hotel, has 187 guest rooms & suites, a lovely pool, spa, and 55-manicured acres.

(photo: Courtesy Glen Cove Mansion)

Oheka Castle (135 West Gate Dr, Huntington, NY; www.oheka.com) – Built in 1919, this magnificent French-style chateau restored to its original grandeur, is now one of the Historic Hotels of America® and on the National Register of Historic Places. If you can’t afford to stay, come for a tour and/or have a delicious meal here.
Getting the Most Out of Your Trip: Discover Long Island – Find accommodations, places to dine & terrific itinerary suggestions.
Getting There: Each one of these places is accessible by train (LIRR) & then a taxi ride, in a succession of day trips. But, if you’d like to visit several places in one trip, it’s more practical by car.

Part I: Long Island, NY - 10+ Artsy & Cool Things To Do in The Hamptons

By Jacquelin Carnegie

Pollock-Krasner House (photo: Helen A. Harrison)

It’s time to discover or re-discover some lovely places. While The Hamptons, on the South Fork of Long Island, New York, is often thought of as just a playground for the super-rich, there’s an amazing amount of culture from great art museums to magnificent, public gardens, plus impressive, historic buildings and, also, some terrific vineyards! Here’s a sampler to get you started.

THE HAMPTONS - East Hampton, Southampton, Bridgehampton, etc.
To-Do List: Check out lovely gardens & museums; Visit local historic sites; Do a Wine Tasting; Hike in surrounding parks & nature conservancies; Go Horseback riding; or Boating & Fishing; Enjoy a Beach Day: Coopers Beach (Parking fee; facilities: concession, bathhouse, chair & umbrella rentals); Shop at local & designer boutiques; Dine in a variety of great eateries…and so much more!

EAST HAMPTON – ART & NATURE ON DISPLAY
LongHouse Reserve
133 Hands Creek Rd, East Hampton; Tel: 631/329-3568; www.longhouse.org
(Open: April-Dec: Wed-Sun, Jan-March: Sat & Sun: 12:30pm-5pm; Fee)

Buckminster Fuller's Fly's Eye Dome (photo: Gary Mamay)

Without a doubt, LongHouse is one of the most enchanting sculpture gardens you'll ever have the pleasure to visit. The fantastic variety of plantings combined with a selection of groovy artwork make for a truly divine experience. The 16-arce estate was the home of renowned textile designer Jack Lenor Larsen, hence the gardens—which he designed—have the look of expertly-patterned fabrics: a stunning mix of colors, textures, and forms. Strategically placed within the gardens are magnificent pieces by eminent, artistic creators such as Buckminster Fuller, Yoko Ono, Ai Weiwei, Sol LeWitt, Willem de Kooning, Dale Chihuly along with new artworks by Daniel Arsham, John Giorno, Beverly Pepper, & Prune Nourry. While there are several permanent pieces, the artwork changes from season to season as do the blooming plants & flowering trees. So, each time you return, you’ll see something new, but you won’t want to leave in the first place!

Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center
830 Springs Fireplace Rd., East Hampton; Tel: 631/324-4929
stonybrook.edu/pkhouse

Pollock-Krasner Studio (photo: Helen A. Harrison)

(Open: May-Oct; Thurs-Sun; Visit by guided tour only, online reservation required in advance; Fee)

This area of Long Island was once a place where emerging artists could find an affordable, tranquil spot to live and paint. In 1945, the husband-and-wife artists Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner moved into a fisherman’s house built in 1879 with no central heating or indoor plumbing. Every time Pollock sold a painting, improvements were made to the house. Eventually, he turned the barn into his studio where he did many of his famous “drip” paintings such as Autumn Rhythm, Blue Poles, & Lavender Mist. After his death, Krasner used it as her studio. If you’re a fan, it’s a thrill to be in the rooms “were it happened.” Even if not, it’s fascinating to learn more about the modern, American artists’ community in eastern Long Island.

The Leiber Collection

LongHouse (photo: Robert Fu)

446 Old Stone Hwy, Springs, East Hampton
http://www.leibermuseum.org
(Open: Wed, Sat-Sun, 1pm-4pm; Reserve Free tickets in advance)
This lovely, little jewel box gallery and sculpture garden was created for the delight of the community by the extremely-successful, handbag designer Judith Leiber and her modern-artist husband Gerson. It’s a charming spot to enjoy a moment of peace & quiet…and art!

SOUTHAMPTON – HISTORY ON DISPLAY
Southampton History Museum
Tel: 631/283-2494 x 5; https://www.southamptonhistory.org

Halsey House (photo: J.Carnegie)

The “museum” is not one building, but a collection of historic sites offering insight into daily life at different periods in Long Island’s history:
Halsey House & Garden

249 South Main St (Open: July-Oct; By appointment, Fee; Currently under renovation)

Built around 1683, 17th- & 18th-century furnishings & household items are on display in this lovely, saltbox-style, farmhouse with a Colonial herb garden.
Rogers Mansion

17 Meeting House Lane (Open: March-Dec, Wed-Sat, 11am-4pm; Fee)
This Gilded Age mansion remained in the William Rogers’ family through eight generations. Today, it’s decorated with furnishings from the Victorian (1837-1901) and Edwardian eras (1901-1910).
On the grounds, an Old Southampton Village has been recreated with historic structures including: a 1790 blacksmith’s shop, an 1825 barn, an 1830 one-room schoolhouse, an 1880 paint store, an 1890 carpentry shop, and a newly-restored 1890 carriage house now a thrift shop offering vintage items, furnishings & nicknacks.

Pelletreau Silver Shop, 80 Main St (Open: Year-round, Tues-Sun, 11am-6pm)
This 1686 trade shop was made famous by Elias Pelletreau, an acclaimed silversmith and celebrated patriot. In addition to crafting tankards and flatware, during the Revolutionary War, he organized the local militia. The tradition of silversmithing carries on today with the shop’s latest occupant, metalsmith and jewelery-designer Alyssa Saccente, offering pieces for sale as well as workshops in jewelry-making.

MORE TO EXPLORE

Coopers Beach (photo: Peetlesnumber1/WikiCommons)

Parrish Art Museum
279 Montauk Highway, Water Mill; parrishart.org
(Open: Thurs-Mon, 11am-5pm; Fee) - Modern, American artists featured in a Herzog & de Meuron designed building on 14 acres with outdoor sculpture.
Dia: The Dan Flavin Art Institute
23 Corwith Ave, Bridgehampton; https://tinyurl.com/5amkhrkp

(Open: Fri-Sun, 12-3pm; 3:30-6pm; Free) - For Flavin fans: 9 fluorescent light sculptures on display.
Bridge Gardens
36 Mitchell Lane, Bridgehampton; https://tinyurl.com/yvf22k84
(Open: Daily, 10-4; Free) - Five acres of manicured gardens.
Wölffer Estate Vineyard
139 Sagg Rd, Sagaponack; https://www.wolffer.com
(Open: Daily, 11am-6pm: Online reservations in advance; Fee) - Offering casual to sophisticated wine tastings.

Where To Stay: In The Hamptons, there’s every kind of accommodation imaginable. Here’s a good place to start:
Southampton Inn

91 Hill St, Southampton; Tel: 631/283-6500; www.southamptoninn.com
This 90-room Inn is right in town, but has the feel of a resort with: all-weather tennis courts, a heated pool (May-Oct), a croquet lawn, badminton & volleyball, along with a shuffleboard court, bike rentals & a shuttle to Cooper’s Beach. The beds are Tempur-Pedic, the WiFi is free, and kids & pets are welcome. Also, Claude’s, an on-site restaurant, is open for breakfast & weekend brunch

Dine: There are all kinds of eateries offering several different cuisines. Here are a few recommended by the locals:
Union Burger Bar
40 Bowden Sq, Southampton; Tel: 631-377-3323; https://www.unionburgerbar.com

This laidback spot is a great place to hang out with the locals, enjoy a fabulous burger made from antibiotic free, 100% Black Angus Beef (as well as tasty vegan & vegetarian options), and be welcomed with open arms by the super-friendly wait staff. If you’re in the mood for sushi, there’s also the adjoining Union Sushi Steak.
Golden Pear, Southampton, East Hampton & Bridgehampton;
https://www.goldenpearcafe.com
Fellingham’s Sports Bar, 17 Cameron St, Southampton;
http://www.fellinghamsrestaurant.com
Plaza Café, 61 Hill St, Southampton; https://www.plazacafesouthampton.com
75 Main, Southampton; https://75main.com
Sip & Soda, 40 Hampton Rd, Southampton; http://sipnsoda.com
 

Pelletreau Silver Shop (photo: J.Carnegie)

Getting There: Drive, it’s about 2hrs from New York City, when there’s no traffic jams. Or, relax and take the Hampton Jitney bus. In Southampton, there’s an Enterprise car rental right at the Jitney stop (395 Country Rd, 39A). The train is less expensive, but less frequent, LIRR.

There are so many wonderful areas to explore on Long Island that you can visit time-and-again and still find more cool places to discover. Next stop: North Shore.