The Springtime Gardens of Long Island
We were headed back to the City from the North Fork of Long Island on a beautiful spring day and we were looking to make a few stops along the way. My daughter started googling things to do and she came up with two lush gardens - with historic houses - to visit. We managed to make a stop at each and still make it back to the airport by dinner time. Come along as we visit both -
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, in Oyster Bay, New York, includes Coe Hall Historic House and Museum, an arboretum and state park. Planting Fields is the former estate of insurance magnate William Robertson Coe and his wife, Mai Rogers Coe, an heiress of the founder of the Standard Oil Company. It's one of the few Gold Coast Estates of Long Island that still retains it's original buildings and all it's acreage. Admission to the park is $8 per car and admission to tour Coe Hall Historic House is an extra $5 per person. (We elected to tour the grounds and the gardens but not tour the house this time around.) There is a cafe and visitor center in the former stables, a greenhouse to tour, walking trails, the gardens surrounding the house and the Camellia Greenhouse, famous for having the largest collection of camellias under glass in the Northeast.We strolled through the gardens, the greenhouse, the Camellia Greenhouse and around the pool and fountain in the gardens by Coe House. It's a very pleasant place to visit for a nice afternoon outside - and it looks to be a beautiful spot to take engagement or wedding photos.
Old Westbury Gardens
Old Westbury Gardens, in Nassau, New York, includes Westbury House - built in 1908 - and 200 acres of formal gardens, ponds and woodlands. The estate is the former home of John Phipps, a US Steel Corporation heir, and his family. The entrance cost is $12 for adults and you may take a guided tour of the house and gardens or do so on your own. We visited the house and gardens on our own and watched a tent being dismantled from what appeared to be a large wedding the night before. It's the perfect place to while away a sunny afternoon - either in the gardens or visiting the house to see how the other half lived a long time ago.
Jones Beach
Our last stop of the day wasn't a historic house or garden but a beach. My mother-in-law grew up on Long Island and used to frequent Jones Beach in the summer. I had heard stories of her time there so we decided we had time for one last quick stop before the city. We took a walk on a very deserted and very large Jones Beach. I can't imagine how crowded it is in the summer as there is parking lot after parking lot, but on this day there were a few walkers and a few teens throwing a football around. That's all. I got my beach fix and we needed to get back for some dinner before our flight.
Long Island has so much to offer and I enjoyed my visit there - and I can't wait to go back.
How about you? Have you ever been a tourist on Long Island?
I'd love for you to follow me on:
Instagram/Facebook
Linking up with : WATW at Communal Global, The Weekend Wanderlust Travel Blog Party and The Weekly Postcard at Travel Notes and Beyond!
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, in Oyster Bay, New York, includes Coe Hall Historic House and Museum, an arboretum and state park. Planting Fields is the former estate of insurance magnate William Robertson Coe and his wife, Mai Rogers Coe, an heiress of the founder of the Standard Oil Company. It's one of the few Gold Coast Estates of Long Island that still retains it's original buildings and all it's acreage. Admission to the park is $8 per car and admission to tour Coe Hall Historic House is an extra $5 per person. (We elected to tour the grounds and the gardens but not tour the house this time around.) There is a cafe and visitor center in the former stables, a greenhouse to tour, walking trails, the gardens surrounding the house and the Camellia Greenhouse, famous for having the largest collection of camellias under glass in the Northeast.We strolled through the gardens, the greenhouse, the Camellia Greenhouse and around the pool and fountain in the gardens by Coe House. It's a very pleasant place to visit for a nice afternoon outside - and it looks to be a beautiful spot to take engagement or wedding photos.
Old Westbury Gardens, in Nassau, New York, includes Westbury House - built in 1908 - and 200 acres of formal gardens, ponds and woodlands. The estate is the former home of John Phipps, a US Steel Corporation heir, and his family. The entrance cost is $12 for adults and you may take a guided tour of the house and gardens or do so on your own. We visited the house and gardens on our own and watched a tent being dismantled from what appeared to be a large wedding the night before. It's the perfect place to while away a sunny afternoon - either in the gardens or visiting the house to see how the other half lived a long time ago.
Our last stop of the day wasn't a historic house or garden but a beach. My mother-in-law grew up on Long Island and used to frequent Jones Beach in the summer. I had heard stories of her time there so we decided we had time for one last quick stop before the city. We took a walk on a very deserted and very large Jones Beach. I can't imagine how crowded it is in the summer as there is parking lot after parking lot, but on this day there were a few walkers and a few teens throwing a football around. That's all. I got my beach fix and we needed to get back for some dinner before our flight.
How about you? Have you ever been a tourist on Long Island?
I'd love for you to follow me on:
Instagram/Facebook
Linking up with : WATW at Communal Global, The Weekend Wanderlust Travel Blog Party and The Weekly Postcard at Travel Notes and Beyond!
Did you run into Jay Gatsby? I love the photo thru the gate.
ReplyDeleteI love that - didn't think about Jay Gatsby until you said that but he sure fits here! Thanks for visiting, Lydia!
DeleteWow! Thanks for sharing ! I had never heard of these places. They are lovely! Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting The Unpaved Road!
DeleteIs the beach well known for its white sand or is that normal for that area? It looks very inviting to take a walk along - great photos. #TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteI think the sand is refurbished over the winter and by the end of summer it's a bit less white but that's a guess. Thanks - and thanks for visiting!
DeleteBeautiful... especially the pics of the deep pink hydrangeas and the white wisteria. What a grand lifestyle to have some big gardens, ponds and woodlands as your private grounds. One can only dream! #TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteYou're right - one can only dream! Beautiful places though! Thanks for visiting The Unpaved Road!
DeleteI've never visited these gardens on Long Island although I've ben to New York so many times. What a great oasis! #TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteFinding them was quite a pleasant surprise! Thanks for the link-up - and for visiting!
DeleteIve lived on LI almost my whole life _ I am at the beach all summer, but have to admit -I've never been to these gardens! Clearly must do for spring! Happy #WeekendWanderlust
ReplyDeleteHope you make it out to see them - they're especially beautiful in springtime! Thanks for visiting, Harmony!
DeleteIve lived on LI almost my whole life _ I am at the beach all summer, but have to admit -I've never been to these gardens! Clearly must do for spring! Happy #WeekendWanderlust
ReplyDeleteI like those fabulous mansions and gardens. The spring flowers are so colourful. Kudos to your daughter for d=finding these off the beaten track gems.
ReplyDeleteShe did a good job, didn't she? Quite the unexpected surprise. Thanks for visiting, Rhonda!
DeleteIn my opinion, gardens are always a great idea. If they have historic houses, even better! There is so much to see in the New York area. I need to visit when the weather is pleasant. I have visited only in winter.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Ruth - gardens are always a good idea in my book. I'm not sure that these gardens would be the same in winter but hope you make it out sometime in the spring. Thanks for visiting!
Delete