Northport, New York | Courtesy of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty.Northport, New York | Courtesy of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty.
There are onlyso many days of high temperatures and warm sun left. Before we officially say so long to summer and fall makes its debut, be sure to make the most of Bostonand New York City's beachfront backyardsCape Cod, Boston's seaside playground escape, and Long Island, a true all-American summer idyll.
Stretching 120-miles in length and easily accessible from the bright lights of New York City, Long Islands sparkling beachesand world-renowned wine country are just a few reasons why visitors flock to itsshores and house hunters plant roots there for good.Long Island has served as an oasisforgenerations of Manhattanites,starved of sun, sea and sky, and there are similarities with Cape Cod in its dune-backed beaches and in the immaculate clapboard houses ofthe Hamptons.Whatever your idea of heaven, chances are you will find it in either locale, whereyou can live the high life or barely stir from your beach chair.
Cape Cod beach at dusk.
Sun, Sand & Surf
From open ocean expanses to quiet tidal beachesthere is plenty to enjoy all along the Massachusetts and New York coasts.
Coast Guard Beach in Eastham is a Cape Cod classica National Seashore beach with bikes docked in sandy racks, a solid surf, and a sea of colorful umbrellas. Dennis' Mayflower Beach is popular amongfamilies and photographerswho enjoythe expansive views and sand flats of low tide.Stay for the sunset and live music at Cahoon Hollow in WellfleetThe Beachcomber, a bar on a dune above the beach, turns into a nightclub.
Foodies, stop by Long Beach'snewly renovatedpost-Sandy boardwalk foroceanside eats. Or, pack up the family for a trip to Jones Beachthe Splash pad is the perfect place for rambunctious tykes to cool off. Nature Lovers will enjoySunken Meadow State Park's calm waters andpicturesque hiking trails offering tidal marshes, estuaries, dunes, coastal forest, and wildflowers.
Award-Winning Golf Courses
Central Nassau is home tothe Islands largest and most popular golf facilitiesBethpage State Park, where thefamed Black Course just hosted the2019 PGA Championship in May. Just north of the Long Island Expressway, you willfind the Islands densest collection of historic private golf clubs. Public golfers are served by a smaller selection of quality 18-hole courses and a few nine-hole executives. On the SouthShore of Nassau, most of the courses are municipals, but almost all of them are on or near the water and provide breathtaking views. In Suffolk Country,youll find the Island becomes more rural in nature, and courses are more spread out.
Whether you arejust beginning or a professional player, Cape Cods 27 public courses and 15 private facilities run the gamut of skill levels. Well-manicured fairways and greens beckon golfers to the area, as does this sandy spit of land's mild climate, allowinggolfers the unique opportunity to potentially play all year long. Some of the most widely renowned golf course architects have had a hand in sculpting Cape Cods scenic golf vistas, including the Bayberry Hills Golf Courseand Bass River Golf Course in Yarmouth, The Captains Golf Coursein Brewster, and theDennis Pines and Dennis Highlands Golf Courses in Dennis.
Craft Beverage Culture
Northport, NY | Courtesy of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty.Northport, NY | Courtesy of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty.
Cape Cod has become one of the hottest places in New England to pop into a tasting room, grab some craft beverages to go (or stay for a taste), and hit the sand and surf.Hog Island Beer Company is celebrating its third full summer on the Cape in Orleans. The family-friendly destination has a Bavarian beer hall-style ambiance inside and lawn games and picnic tables outside.Located on the bay side, the Lower Cape is home to First Crush Winery, an award-winning winery in Harwich that sources its grapes from Northern California. Tours and tastings are offered every day exceptMonday.
While wineries have traditionally dominated the tasting space on Long Island, small, independent breweries have popped up all over Suffolk and Nassau to bring a local flare to artisan and craft beer. From small and selectlike Northports Sand City Brewing and Farmingdales Lithologyto large operations like Blue Points second location in the newly-revitalized town of Patchoguebrewing is having an equally significant moment on Long Island.
Relax & Rejuvenate
Softrobes, seaweed wraps, and hot stone massages sound decadent?
Once the chill sweeps through the Long Island air, its toughnot to miss relaxingon the beachor sipping wineamong the grapevines. Thankfully, pampering yourself in one of Long Islands cozy spas can help you forget thefrigidtemperatures.A day at Blue Water Spain Oyster Bay is perfect for those who want to eel beautiful. In addition to facials, massges, and body treatments, this spa offers waxing, airbrush tanning, and professional makeup applications. Book a Reiki session to rebalance your body's energy, or try Cryo T-Shock, the spa's alternative to CoolSculpting. For serene pond views, opt for a hot stone massage at The Village Spa, located in Nassau Countys historic Roslyn. The Getaway Package, which comes with an hour-long massage and a trip to the sauna, will transport yourmind, body and soul to paradise.
Summer residents of the posh Falmouth swear by Relax and Renew Day Spa's personalized facials, deep-tissue massages, and creative body treatments.Hidden in the far corner of The Chatham Bars Inn is a spa oasis with its own Zen garden pool, treatment building, and special spa suites for guests seeking something restorative. The expansive spa suites each feature aseating area, sauna, steam shower,andbeautiful oval tub as its centerpiece.Friends should get their own spa suites or share a traditional cottage on the property where they cansipwine on the stone ocean-facing patios.
Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham, MA.
Epicurean Nightlife
Summer brings a new dynamic to the social scene alfresco happy hours and open-air lounges, most overlooking the shoreline.From elegant cocktail bars at hotels like the Wequassett Resort & Golf Club and Chatham Bars Inn, todive bars like Land Ho!and the Chatham Squire, Cape Cod servesup a unique blend of entertainment and spirits for tourists and locals alike.
On Long Island, the downtown areas of thecharming harbor towns areoften replete with rich history, cultural heritage, and storybook villages.Port Jeffersonis a maritime mecca, with restaurants, bars, entertainment to spare. Babylon Village is brimming with young visitors who enjoy the thriving nightlife and friendly dining scene.Downtown Mineola is filled with enough restaurants and bars along Mineola Boulevard to keep the hungry and thirsty satiated, whileGarden Citys downtown offers aconglomeration of upscale restaurantsand barsdotting Franklin Avenue. Among the South Shore hamlet of Islip's arrayof popular bars and pubs are Maxwell's, Mary Dowling's, and The Viking.
To learn more about the gracious lifestyles on Long Island and Cape Cod, contact Aimee Rideout atGibson Sotheby's International Realty at Aimee.Rideout@gibsonsir.com.
Sailing Marina on Long Island, New York | Courtesy of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty.Sailing Marina on Long Island, New York | Courtesy of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty.
