Oyster Bay

The northern half of the Town of Oyster Bay has long been known for its large estates, rolling hills, and rural & rustic feel. It is in stark contrast to the portions of the town south of the Long Island Expressway. Many famous people have called this portion of Oyster Bay home over the years – perhaps most famously U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt (whose Sagamore Hill estate in Cove Neck is now a public museum operated by the U.S. National Park Service).

For the most part, you will need a car to travel around this portion of the Town of Oyster Bay. Except for the westernmost areas (i.e.: the areas near the shore of Hempstead Harbor) and parts of the Syosset & Woodbury areas, there are no public bus services available. Most of the downtown areas and many surrounding neighborhoods (i.e.: Greenvale, East Norwich, Syosset, the communities along Hempstead Harbor, etc.) have streets with sidewalks, but the more rural areas (i.e.: the Brookvilles, Laurel Hollow, Lattingtown, Cove Neck, Centre Island, etc.) have very few, if any. If you must travel through the areas without sidewalks and do not have a car, your safest bet is to call a taxi. Bikers should also note that many of the streets without sidewalks (especially in those more rural places) often do not have wide shoulders, and you will therefore be sharing the road with motorists.

Oyster Bay is quite an old town, having been established in the 17th century, and it is absolutely chock-full of great old buildings, only a few of which are pictured in this article.

• 🌍 Bailey Arboretum. A 42-acre arboretum known for its collection of exotic trees, including the world's largest dawn redwood. The only accredited arboretum in the New York metro area. Also contains the 200-year-old manor house, "Munnysunk". (updated Apr 2016)
• 🌍 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, One Bungtown Road Cold Spring Harbor. A research institute known for advancements in molecular biology. Offers walking tours of the campus by advance reservation. 
• 🌍 Muttontown Preserve, Jericho-Oyster Bay Road, East Norwich. A 550-acre nature preserve that contains Chelsea Estate, Nassau Hall, and the ruins of Knollwood Estate. 
• 🌍 Oyster Bay History Walk. A self-guided walking tour visiting several historic buildings and locations in downtown Oyster Bay. 
• 🌍 Planting Fields Arboretum (http://www.plantingfields.org/), 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay. The estate and home of industrialist William Robertson Coe, now a State Historic Park. The mansion, completed in 1921 and constructed in the style of an English castle, has been restored to its early twentieth century appearance and is open to the public. 
• 🌍 Sagamore Hill, 20 Sagamore Hill Road, Oyster Bay. The Visitor Center and Bookstore are open Wednesday through Sunday from 9AM to 5PM. Tours of the Theodore Roosevelt Home are offered Wednesday through Sunday, between 10AM and 4PM. The summer home of President Theodore Roosevelt. Includes tours, a museum, and a visitor center. It is run by the National Park Service. From the website: Access to the Theodore Roosevelt Home is only by guided tour. Same-day tickets can be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis from the Visitor Center. Advanced reservations to tour Theodore Roosevelt's home can be booked through Recreation.gov or call +1-877-444-6777. $10. 

There are also parks, including Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park. Theodore Roosevelt spent several summers as President in Oyster Bay (now the nearby hamlet of Cove Neck) and died and was buried there. However, if there are signs at parks saying "Residents only," you may be out of luck in that respect.

• 🌍 Bayville Adventure Park, 8 Bayville Avenue, Bayville, ☏ +1 516-624-RIDE (7433). F 6PM to 10PM, Sa noon to 10PM, Su noon to 9PM. Bayville Adventure Park features a miniature golf course, rock climbing, a bumper boat safari, a ropes course, a maze, and a funhouse. There are many restaurants nearby. Bayville Adventure Park is a good place to go for a family excursion. 

• Oyster Bay Brewing Company, 36 Audrey Avenue. Craft beers with happy hour on weekdays until 6pm. (updated Jul 2023)

In terms of crime, there really is not too much you need to worry about. Northern Oyster Bay, just like much of the southern half of Oyster Bay, is extremely safe at all times of the day and night. Just be sure to drive carefully and look out for cars when walking on streets lacking sidewalks and you should not encounter any issues. The locals take pride in their community and are very serious when it comes to crime. Any inappropriate or malicious behavior will be noticed very quickly and will not be tolerated.

In an emergency, just as you would anywhere else in the United States, dial 911.

Just like in many other places in the United States, some locals may not wish to discuss religious and political views. Similarly, 9/11 remains a very sensitive topic to many locals – being a bedroom community of New York City, many locals were killed in the terrorist attacks. Many are open about these topics while others are not and prefer to not discuss them. Unless a local is the one who brings up these topics, it is best to either ask them or avoid the topic; it is the polite thing to do.

• South Oyster Bay
• Glen Cove
• Huntington