Huntington
Huntington is a town in Suffolk County on Long Island, New York. It is on the North Shore (or Gold Coast) of the island, famous for its lavish estates along the Long Island Sound and its affluent residential communities. The town is large with a population of over 200,000, and many neighborhoods in town having their own distinct identities. Four villages in the town even have their own level of autonomy, with one of them, Northport, having its own article.
Understand
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Huntington is centered around Huntington Village, the commercial core of the town along Main Street (25A) and New York Ave which has the urban feel of a small city. Moving south along New York Ave brings you to Huntington Station, where the main LIRR station in town is located. Huntington’s large area consists of everything from shopping malls, strip malls, and office space along the LIE, to the village, to the large estates and beaches along the coast. In general though, a trip to Huntington would mean a trip to the village or one of the nearby neighborhoods.
Get in
editHuntington is easily accessible by car or train. The Long Island Rail Road from Manhattan stops in Huntington Station about a mile south of the village. Route 25A runs directly into Main Street and Route 110 North goes into the village as well. Route 110 is accessible by the Long Island Expressway and Northern State Parkway. It's a great day trip for anyone on Long Island, Manhattan, or Connecticut.
Get around
editHuntington Village is completely walkable. Parking can be tight on a nice summer night, but generally there are enough parking spots to leave your car and walk around. The town also runs buses, but for people of normal fitness, there is no real need to take one ever.
See
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Although Huntington has a lot of history, little of the sites remain. However, the old cemetery on Main Street can be interesting to wander around. Several beaches and natural areas can be found on the town’s north coast, including Caumsett State Park and Target Rock.
- 1 Hecksher Park, Main St. Hecksher Park is a nice place to wander for a little bit. Occasionally, concerts are held there. Be sure to check the Huntington Folk Festival (usually in August). Free.
- 2 Caumsett State Park, 25 Lloyd Harbor Rd, ☏ +1 631 423-1770. M-F sunrise to 5PM; Sa Su sunrise-8PM. "Caumsett State Historic Park, situated on a scenic peninsula extending into Long Island Sound, offers miles of bridle paths, walking, jogging, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and nature trails over acres of woodland, meadows, rock shoreline and salt marsh. The park has beautiful gardens, excellent fishing and scuba diving by permit." (from website) $8.
- 3 Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge, 12 Target Rock Rd, ☏ +1 631-286-0485, longislandrefuges@fws.gov. Target Rock is a beautiful nature refuge close to Caumsett State Park (about 15 minutes by car from Huntington Village). If you follow the trail to the beach, you'll see the 14-foot rock from which the refuge derives its name. Local legend says that the rock was used for target practice by the British army during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. The refuge is a prime place for bird watching. In spring, it isn't unusual to see horseshoe crabs.
- 4 Walt Whitman Birthplace Historic Site, 240 Old Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station, ☏ +1 631 427-5240. This is the only New York historical site open to the public on Long Island. You can walk through the restored house in which Walt Whitman lived.
- 5 Oheka Castle, 135 W. Gate Drive. The second largest residence in the United States. It was built to be the home of financier Otto Hermann Kahn. It was completed in 1919 and is now a hotel.
- 6 Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport. The estate of William K. Vanderbilt II. The mansion is now a marine, natural history, and ethnographic museum open to the public. There is also a planetarium on the grounds.
- 7 The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 301 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor. A maritime museum dedicated to the local history and impact of the whaling industry, emphasizing cultural, scientific and environmental aspects of the relationship between humans and whales
Do
editCinema Arts Center - Fun independent theater showcasing independent movies. On Main Street across from Hecksher Park.
The Paramount - In the center of Huntington Village, you can enjoy top bill concerts and comedy acts. A wide variety of music acts from Pitbull to the Monkees to Citizen Cope have been seen here. On New York Avenue.
Buy
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- 1 Walt Whitman Mall, 160 Walt Whitman Rd, South Huntington, ☏ +1 631 423-5497.
- Marshes - Marshes on Main Street, close to the intersection of New York Ave., is known for high-end fancy men's clothing.
Eat
editHuntington is a paradise for food. The town offers more pizzerias and Mexican food than most other towns of its size, as well as numerous ethnic and "American" restaurants. Food can range from $2 to $40 or higher per person.
- Faz's Tex-Mex. The food is great and super affordable (for $5 nachos you can easily feed three people). It's one of many Mexican food restaurants in Huntington and almost as good as Pancho's.
- Little Vincent's, 329 New York Ave, Huntington (at the corner of Main Street), ☏ +1 631 423-9620. Italian food, pizza - make sure to ask for a cold cheese slice – they're amazing.
- Oaxaca Mexican Restaurant, 385 New York Ave., ☏ +1 631 547-1232. A small but friendly place with the some of the best authentic Mexican food on Long Island. Prices are cheap ranging from $1.99 tacos to the more expensive seafood dishes that go for $17 at most. The staff is really friendly so expect to have a chat with your waiter about any question you might have on the menu.
Drink
editHuntington has a vibrant bar scene. Most bars are on New York Ave. between High Street and Elm Street. Others can be found within wandering distance of Main Street.
Sleep
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- Oheka Castle, 135 West Gate Drive, ☏ +1 631-659-1400, fax: +1 631-692-7712, reservations@oheka.com. 1919 hotel and wedding venue that's listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
- Huntington Country Inn, 270 W Jericho Tpke, Huntington Station (20 minute drive by car), toll-free: +1-800-739-5777. A nice motel. $79.
