The Gold Coast area that stretches along Long Island’s North Shore region from Nassau County into Suffolk County, is interwoven with the history of Long Island and was once home to some of the wealthiest families in America. Just a short ride from New York City, F. Scott Fitzgerald immortalized this region in his book, “The Great Gatsby.” Many of the Long Island “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’s perusal and enjoyment. Over a half-dozen former estates have been converted to public use, many offering art galleries and tours, and others open to allow visitors to stroll the grounds and spectacular gardens to get a feel for what life was like for the privileged few.

The entire Rte. 25A corridor is also known as the Long Island Heritage Trail, and includes not just the Long Island Gold Coast region, but also the Washington Spy Trail.

The region also includes many other historic sites and stories of interest.

For example on Long Island, rum-running (the illegal transport of alcohol) moved from the South Shore of Long Island to the North Shore after 1923 because of the lack of Coast Guard patrol. Names for Prohibition activities such as rum-running, bootlegging and speakeasies came into being.

The North Shore Promotion Alliance launched an enhanced website at www.longislandheritagetrail.com focused on “Long Island’s Prohibition Secrets Revealed and Joe Sent Me” promotion. The promotion includesfascinating self-drive itineraries.

While in the area, shop in seaport villages; tour the homes of President Theodore Roosevelt or Walt Whitman; visit Revolutionary War sites; or catch a star show at the Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium.

Explore the North Shore using our Interactive Map.