West Neck Beach

After a day of rain and wind on Saturday, we were itching to get out of the house. Luckily, Sunday was gorgeous and we headed to Caumsett State Park, and then to West Neck Beach.

Like most North Shore beaches, West Neck has its share of rocks and shells along the shoreline, but we like this beach for swimming, paddle surfing and kayaking. West Neck beach is not as protected as some other North Shore beaches because it opens directly into the sound. This makes for a few more waves (definitely not like the South Shore but perfect for getting some exercise). 

The surrounding area is also great for walking, biking or running. Directly outside of West Neck Beach there is a walking path that goes along the causway that leads to Caumsett. The walk provides great views of beautiful birds on both sides (like Egrets and Osprey) as well as nice views of the water. On sunny days folks are almost always fishing on the rocks. 

A walk on the causway, along the beach or in Caumsett State Park is a great activity for any time of the year but, at least for now, we're holding on to summer as long as we can. 

WEST NECK BEACH LOCATION:

off West Neck Road

Lloyd Harbor, NY 11724

631-261-7574

Coffee Break

THIS LOCATION IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED

If you like little secrets then you might like Tillie's Eatery. Located in one of the alleys off of Main Street in Cold Spring Harbor, this hidden coffee shop is a good place for a break on a sunny day. Sit under one of the umbrellas outside and enjoy tea, coffee and a snack.

We've heard that Tillie's is owned by Trattoria Grasso's Restaurant (which is more prominently located along Main Street in Cold Spring Harbor). While this coffee shop does serve breakfast and lunch, seating is very limited. We've only had the coffee and tea (Green Mountain Coffee and assorted bagged teas from other vendors). For a more serious meal, we suggest going to nearby Huntington. But, if you're craving a cup-o-joe and you want some charm to go with it, Tillie's is worth the stop.

CAFE LOCATION:

181 main Street

Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724

631-367-1219

Cold Spring Harbor

There's definitely too much to say about Cold Spring Harbor in a single blog post, but we'll do our best to give you an overview. Having mainly been a port town (well, hamlet really) in the mid-nineteenth century, Cold Spring Harbor became a tourist location after the whaling economy began to dwindle around 1860. Located on Long Island's North Shore, Cold Spring Harbor was originally named for the natural spring that still flows there. And, if you like to hit the bottle (the water bottle that is), you can fill your empties with the stuff. We can't promise any fountain of youth or anything (honestly we really don't even know for sure if the water is clean), but c'mon, a natural spring right here on Long Island, that's cool, don't you think? 

We've also heard that, at one time, Cold Spring Harbor had several hotels. Today it seems the Swan View Manor Bed & Breakfast Inn is the only one. The size and style of each room varies - we've had a tour. If you will be staying here, you should visit first. Since the hotel is convenient to Northport, Huntington and Laurel Hollow, it could be a good place to book for guests attending a local wedding in these nearby towns. 

More recently, Cold Spring Harbor has become known because of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory - the place where THE noble laureate JAMES WATSON was director! If you're unfamiliar with Cold Spring Harbor Labs, we suggest you check out their website and visit them for a tour. The details may be found at their site.

Cold Spring Harbor is also home to the Dolan DNA Learning Center, the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum and the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium so there are some big lessons to be learned in this tiny little town! But, if you're too cool for school, you may choose to hike, dine or shop instead.

You can take a hike in Cold Spring Harbor State Park. The entrance, with its steep, hilly steps, is reminiscent of the Dipsea Trail in Mill Valley, California. Home to great horned owls, red-tailed hawks and other interesting birds, this park is a nice place for birders. The park is also the start of the northern trailhead of the Nassau/Suffolk Greenbelt Trail, which extends for 19.2 miles to end on the South Shore of Long Island. That's right, you can walk from the North to South Shore (you would definitely need more than a day for this)! 

If you'd rather chill instead of trek, spend a few hours on Main Street where you'll find interesting shops and restaurants. 

Gourmet Goddess (which also happens to be one of our favorite places in Cold Spring Harbor) is worth visiting for the decoration alone. The store sells very unique adult and kid's clothing as well as specialty sweets. 

In terms of restaurants, Trattoria Grasso has a small, but nice bar and live jazz in the evenings. The oysters, drinks and desserts are good (we like them better than the meals). 105 Harbor is a little pricy, but the view of the harbor makes a seafood meal worth it if you're sitting in front of the window. 

And, for those of you who live in the area (or just really love libraries), Cold Spring Harbor Library is the nicest one on Long Island (we're not fooling around).  Sporting a huge reading room, a lovely fireplace and rows of windows, this library makes you feel like you're in the reading room of a Long Island Gold Coast mansion (nothing wrong with pretending). Curl up with a book and stop every so often to take in the beautiful views of the water.

SUP, Dudes?

Possibly dating as far back as ancient Polynesia, Stand Up Paddle Surfing or SUP, was documented in the 1940's and became popular in the 1960's when the Beach Boys stood on their longboards and used outrigger paddles to paddle out and take photos of tourists learning to surf. Several years ago, Laird Hamilton, Dave Kalama, Brian Keaulana, Archie Kalepa and other surfers from Hawaii began to use SUP to train when the surf was down. SUP can be done on any large body of water, with small or large waves. That means that there are some great Paddle Surfing opportunities right here on Long Island!

Serious SUPs like Paddle Surfing because they catch waves earlier, get to waves easier and find surf that is rarely ridden. Paddle Surfing on large waves can also make for longer rides because you can stroke through certain sections of the wave. While on the wave, the paddle can also be used to help engineer cool turns. 

In areas where there are few or no waves, the sport is a little like kayaking, but it also provides a serious full-body workout where balance is key. In fact, Paddle Surfing is growing in popularity among celebrities because it is a great way to cross-train and improve core strength.

A board and paddle can run around $1,000 to $1,500. The Board Shop in Huntington recently had a SUP day in Cold Spring Harbor so beginners could test their Paddle Surfing skills. To learn more about boards available in the area call The Board Shop at 631-424-7873. 

See you on the water!

 

Daytrippin in Caumsett State Park

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located on Long Island's North Shore, in the village of Lloyd Harbor, Caumsett (meaning "place of sharp rock,") is the perfect daytrip destination. With over 1,700 acres, there are plenty of places to hike, bike, relax or reflect. The problem - with only 12 hours in the day, it's difficult to do everything!

Before giving you some ideas, we're providing some background. This is for the history buffs (and you know who you are). 

In 1654, 3,000 acres of present-day Lloyd Harbor was sold to English settlers by the Matinecock Indians. In 1676, James Lloyd purchased the land. His son farmed there and built a home that still stands today. Then, Lloyd's grandson eventually erected the Joseph Lloyd Manor house, where he remained until he was forced away by the British during the Revolutionary War. The last of the Lloyds to own the estate, around 1841, was Henry Lloyd IV.  

By the 1880's visitors from New York City arrived in Lloyd Harbor by steamboat. In the 1900's wealthy families began building their Gold Coast estates. In 1921, 1,750 acres of land was purchased by Marshall Field III. He built the estate he named "Caumsett." The park was aquired by New York State in 1961. 

In the twenty-first century, visitors (that includes you), can come to the park to cross-country ski in winter, scuba dive and fish (with a permit) in summer, view rehabilitated wildlife at the rescue center, or bike, walk and hike anytime.  Choose to remain on the park's main, paived road or venture on to one of the many off-road trails. 

Also look for the Willow Tree Farm Equestrian Center, which provides lessons and boarding at the polo pony barn. For further information about this, you can call 631-423-1770. 

For all of you planners, there is also a calendar of organized events. Some of these include wilderness survival classes, evening hikes to search for owls, fox and deer and the Caumsett Cultural Arts Festival. 

If you come for the day, you can bring your lunch and eat on the green or at the beach. After leaving the park, stop in neighboring Huntington Village or Cold Spring Harbor for a bite to eat at one of the many top-notch restaurants.

PARK LOCATION:

25 Lloyd Harbor Road 

Huntington, NY 11743

631-423-1770

New York State Parks

caumsettfoundation.org