As summer heats up, what better way to cool off outside than a visit to Long Island’s Splish Splash Waterpark?
Splish Splash Waterpark, in Calverton, is over 96 acres of wet and wild attractions including rides, slides, waves, pools, climbing ropes, live shows, food, shaded cabanas and so much more.
Did you hear about the sighting of three beluga whales near Long Island’s North Fork last week? Pretty exciting stuff – but we see all kinds of marine life on the North Fork!
Beluga whales primarily live in arctic waters, so seeing them this far down the Atlantic coast is a rarity. There is a small community of beluga whales that call the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada home, though. There have also been several sightings of beluga whales off the Maine coast and as far south as southern New Jersey over the last decade.
As you walk along the Greenport Village waterfront, a beautiful, red ship draws your eye. It’s Greenport’s Fire Fighter Fireboat Museum!
The Fire Fighter Fireboat Museum is a fireboat that was used in front line service for over seven decades in New York Harbor. During her time in service, she was the most award-decorated fireboat in the world and, at the time of her decommissioning, she was the second oldest fireboat in the world still active in front-line service.
If you find yourself anywhere near Greenport Village on Long Island, give yourself a treat by visiting Mitchel Park and take a ride on Greenport’s antique carousel!
As the term “antique” implies, this is not your average attraction. Housed in a specially built glass pavilion, the Jess Owen Carousel House is a ticket back to the golden age of carnival rides.
Long Island’s North Fork is home to the only astronomical observatory on the island – The Custer Institute and Observatory.
With the first building going up in 1939, The Custer Institute has been Long Island’s gateway to the stars for almost 80 years. From the first day, they drew public interest – and why not? Those stars up there are not just beautiful but mysterious!
The Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center is, as the name implies, two great family attractions in one!
First is the full-scale aquarium, themed around the “Lost City of Atlantis” and blending natural science with fanciful legend for an entertaining and educational experience for all ages.
The Long Island Aquarium features, among other things, one of the biggest, live coral reef displays in the western hemisphere. There’s also a 120,000-gallon shark tank that, if you’re feeling gutsy, you can enter … in a shark-proof cage, of course!
This is the last post of our Tour the Long Island Gold Coast Mansions. There are some more of the amazing mansions on the Gold Coast of Nassau County that are open to the public. We continue the list in this week’s blog post.
Chelsea Mansion: This is ‘modest’ home has 40 rooms and was built in 1924. It is an excellent example of the leading architectural styles en vogue at the time. Not-to-be-missed: the moat!
Mill Neck Manor: This property continues to serve a purpose as a primary facility run by the Lutheran Friends of the Deaf.
It has a state-of-the-art Deaf Education Center, Early Childhood Center, community audiology center and facility as well as administrative offices where work is done to serve those who are deaf all over the world. This 86-acre estate also includes the historic Sefton Manor House and formal sunken gardens.
Cedarmere: This charming property is dwarfed by its neighbors and is slightly older. Originally the home of American poet William Cullen Bryant, he lived here for over 30 years, until his death in 1878. The property was bequeathed by his family to Nassau County as memorial to Bryant. Enjoy a Gothic-style mill and adorable stone bridge over a small pond.
Planting Fields Arboretum State Park: This was the home of Standard Oil heiress Mai Rodgers Coe. Enjoy the Camellia House, which contains the largest collection of flowering camellia bushes in the Northeast.
The de Seversky Center: This Georgian neo-calssical mansion was commissioned in 1816 by the inventor and philanthropist Alfred I. DuPont. Its name come from the famous Russian aviator Alexander P. de Seversky.
Lodging for your Travels on Long Island
Our Bed and Breakfast is located in the heart of beautiful and scenic Long Island wine country. In our semi-rural locale, you can walk to the beach, partake in the local farmer’s market and avoid the crowds. Escape from overpriced and pretentious areas of the island – you won’t regret it!
When visiting New York, tour the Gold Coast Mansions in Long Island. The homes of the Gold Coast will transport you to the opulent palaces of Europe. Grand entrances, even grander staircases, tinkling chandeliers and ballrooms fit for Gatsby-esque parties are what you will find in these mansions. Today, these lavish mansions’ gates are open to the public, allowing we commoners to tour the interiors, stroll in the gardens and step back into another era in the American story.
Nassau County Gold Coast History
The Gold Coast was coined during the Gilded Age. Estates with ornate designs and gardens were the weekend and summer homes of the wealthy East Coast elite. Some of their owners included Morgan, Woolworth, Chrysler, Vanderbilt, and Phipps. Their lifestyles and parties are legendary.
Indeed, F. Scott Fitzgerald captured the spirit of the Gilded Age in his classic American novel, “The Great Gatsby,” which fictionalized Kings Point and Sands Point as West Egg and East Egg.
Tour the Gold Coast Mansions in Long Island Open to the Public
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site: From 1902 to 1908 Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States and this was the “Summer White House.” He lived there until his death in 1919 and the interior remains exactly the same as it was during his lifetime.
Old Westbury Gardens: Tour the Charles II style mansion where the family of John S and Margarita Phipps lived for 50 years. The property is 160 acres and includes renowned gardens, lawns, woods, ponds, lakes and over 100 species of trees.
Sands Point Park and Preserve: This park includes three castle-like mansions: Hempstead House, Castle Gould and Falaise. Falaise was built by Harry S. Guggenheim and it a unique structure with think walls, steeply pitched roofs and a round tower that reminds one of where Rapunzel was kept.
Come back later in the month for additional Gold Coast villas to explore!
Lodging for Your Long Island Adventure
Our bed and breakfast is perfectly situated for day tripping all over Long Island. Located in the scenic North Fork Wine Region, we hope you will come and explore the island and its history!
If you are planning a summer vacation to New York City, make sure you save a couple days for Long Island and the Hamptons. This fabled region of luxury and elite residences is also a destination for those a little closer to the median income. Let me explain how you can have an amazing two-day vacation in the Hamptons, without spending like a pop star.
There’s lots of buzz in right now in Montauk, the most Eastern point on Long Island.
A beautiful drive around the Great Peconic Bay from our Bed and Breakfast near Greenport, shabby motels and down-home restaurants are being remodeled into “boho-chic” establishments.
In East Hampton, a gaggle of luxurious boutiques and restaurants have opened. Older hotels and beloved barrooms have been renovated. This is a great place to window shop, grab delicious bites and learn more about what’s happening in the Hamptons.
What’s Going on in the Hamptons While I’m Visiting?
Want to get a jump on what’s going on in the Hamptons during your visit? Grab the free glossy magazines — Social Life, Hampton Life, Hamptons, Hampton Sheet, Dan’s Papers — for the scoop on charity events, screenings and other happenings. You can find them at the doorways of many boutiques in East Hampton.
Speaking of a Scoop…East Hampton Bites
If you have a sweet tooth or need a cold treat during a hot afternoon, the new spot is Scoop du Jour, (35 Newtown Lane, East Hampton) an ice cream parlor where waffle cones are stacked high and flavors like Monster Mint Oreo and Toasted Coconut tempt even the supermodels. You can also get Dreesen’s doughnuts here, a Hamptons institution since the 1950s.
For dinner – two East Hampton restaurants are on the radar: Serafinas (104 North Main St.), a pizza oven and Italian seafood restaurant. Dinner for two runs around $100. If American cuisine and a more moderate price is your preference, check out Bostwick’s Chowder House (277 Pantigo Rd.).
Come back next week for more insider tips on a great trip to the East End of Long Island!
Manhattan may be an island, but it certainly doesn’t have much in the way of beaches. Sure, there’s always Coney Island, but maybe you want something a bit more serene?
If you are visiting New York, we strongly recommend you take a couple days to get out of the city and explore a different face of New York state.
One of the easiest ways to do this is by taking a trip to Long Island. Less than a two hour drive from downtown Manahttan and also accessible via the Long Island Rail Road, we invite you to come and enjoy some fresh air and wide open waterfront during your NYC vacation.
North Fork Beaches
Inlet Pond County Park – One of the beaches closest to our Greenport area B&B is Inlet Pond County Park. Inlet Pond County Park is an undeveloped nature preserve with almost 33 acres suitable for nature walks and surf fishing, a large freshwater pond and beachfront on Long Island Sound with views of the Connecticut shoreline.
Gull Pond Beach – Facilities include a playground and rest room. The beach is supervised by lifeguards and attendants. Parking and boat launching by Southold Town permit only.
Orient Point County Park/ Orient Beach State Park -This is the very tip of Long Island. Nature trails in woods and along the Long Island Sound and the Peconic Bay give you the best of both shores. At the same time, the view of the Orient Point Lighthouse from the tip is as close as you can get without taking a boat. Meanwhile, Orient Beach State Park is a preserved slice of sandy beach and cedar forest on Gardiner’s Bay. It’s a great area for kayaking. There is also a playground and concession stand.
Truman’s Beach – Also very close to our North Fork Inn, this stretch of shore is flanked by huge tidal wetlands.
Come back to the blog next week to see the rest of our list!