North Shore: The Gold Coast

Luxury and legends abound on the North Shore of Long Island where the nation’s revolutionary history was shaped, and quaint harborside villages offer local flavors and New England-style charm.

Known as the Gold Coast, Long Island’s North Shore is home to stunning grand estates and rocky coastlines which served as the inspiration behind The Great Gatsby and the home of President Theodore Roosevelt.

Tour the mansions of the Roaring Twenties, stroll the magnificent grounds at Old Westbury Gardens or Planting Fields in Oyster Bay, or get pampered at The Mansion at Glen Cove Hotel and Spa. Be treated like royalty with an overnight stay at OHEKA Castle, the most recognized of the lavish estates, and a go-to backdrop for major Hollywood productions.

Or enjoy the calm waters of the rocky North Shore beaches that gaze across the Long Island sound and the nautical charm of and waterfront villages in Port Jefferson and Stony Brook. Immerse yourself in history along the Washington Spy Trail and or at the Walt Whitman Museum.

Head east and see the North Shore transform into the vast farmlands of the North Fork, featuring more than 60 vineyards.

A Life of Luxury on Long Island’s Gold Coast

Luxury and legends abound on the North Shore, the area north of the Long Island Expressway stretching from Sands Point Preserve on the west to Wildwood State Park on the east. Known as Long Island’s Gold Coast, iconic attractions include Old Westbury GardensOheka Castle and Vanderbilt Museum & Planetarium.

Tour the sites of America’s First Spy Ring which is credited by General George Washington as being a leading factor in turning the tide of the American Revolution during the 1700s. Explore the quaint harborside villages of Huntington, Oyster Bay, Stony Brook and Port Jefferson for downtown dining, shopping and incredible views.

The North Shore is also known for its rocky beaches on the Long Island Sound, upscale shopping areas including Americana Manhasset, nature parks, museums and innovation sites including Brookhaven National Lab and Cold Spring Harbor Lab.

Arrive on the North Shore car-free using the Long Island Rail Road, fly into Long Island MacArthur Airport or hop aboard the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson ferry as a walk-on or with your vehicle from Bridgeport, Connecticut.

The winding roads, high bluffs and historic villages of Suffolk County’s North Shore meander through a history filled the whispers of spies during the Revolutionary War; the shadowy dealings of rum-runners during Prohibition; and the exuberant parties of New York’s elite in the mansions and castles of Gilded Age Long Island. It’s also a place where visitors will find trendy villages, historic sites and a myriad assortment of parks and beaches.

Also known as the George Washington Spy Trail, the area is rich with history. Travel along Rte 25A, which originated in the early 1700s and was used by President George Washington in a 1790 horse-drawn carriage tour to thank his Long Island supporters and spy ring for their help in winning the American Revolution. Sites and markers along the way. Get a taste of Long Island history at the Huntington Militia Arsenal. The eastern end of the trail winds through Smithtown, Stony Brook Village and Setauket, and is considered the best historically preserved portion of Route 25A. This is where you can see a number of sites that Washington encountered on his own journey more than two centuries ago. See www.longislandheritagetrail.com

In the 1920s rum-running (the illegal transport of alcohol) moved from the South Shore up to the North Shore purportedly due to the lack of Coast Guard patrol here. By many estimates New Yorkers allowed themselves to be little affected by Prohibition, but many pubs and restaurants (still standing) along the North Shore required the secret password to enter.
Also called the ‘Gold Coast,’ the North Shore region was immortalized in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book, “The Great Gatsby.” Many of the Gold Coast mansions that grace this scenic coastal area, so-called due to the huge concentration of fortunes once held here, are open for the public to explore.

Local North Shore Resources

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