Cruising around Cold Spring Harbor

Northport Historical Society & Museum, Whaling Museum, and the locally known Billy Joel Park, are but a few of the myriad reasons to take a time-trip back into this hamlet's past.

Quick Tips:

There's a local Bed & Breakfast that overlooks the harbor, a wonderfully quaint Main Street teeming with antique shops, collectibles, and old-fashioned penny candy-type treats.

Best Way To Get Around:

Once you get here (there's a LIRR train stop at Cold Spring Harbor on the Pt. Jefferson line) that brings you a quick cab ride away. Once here, take your time, eat brunch at the Trattoria Grasso, have an ice cream at a local sweet shoppe and check out the animal fancier's store. The Mouse House is especially geared towards those with a disposition towards these tiny poseablely cute creatures (not the real thing,which I never found cute or poseable). It's scenic, bucolic and all those things you thought found only in the mid-west.

This is the kind of place that you immediately fall in love with and want to move in. The olive oils on display, the friendliness of the staff and owners and the overwhelmingly delicious food is enough for me to pack my bags. I'm kind of a fussy eater (I can see my family) making faces behind my back, and they're not even here. I prefer to call myself, 'selective,' not critical. Whatever. This place works for me--fresh pasta, not too overwhelming on the sauce, great meat and to-die-for desserts (which you're going to walk off later, right?). Closed Tuesdays, open for brunch on Mondays (that's weird, right?), I'd call and make a reservation to be on the safe side. And I was told that come fall, there will be a jazz brunch!

Long Island has a vast maritime history and this tiny museum crams alot of information in a relatively small space. Kids will enjoy seeing New York's only fully equipped 19th century whaleboat (which a docent will happily explain so you don't have to), and a scrimshaw collection that might be the envy of all New England. My favorite place is the whale gallery, where you can actually listen to the song of the humpback whale (which, if you listen real closely, sounds a little like Van Morrison's, 'Brown-Eyed Girl.' Just kidding.) But you'll discover all kinds of minutiae kids love to spout (get it?) and there's a hands-on activity center where kids can make their own versions of what they've seen and learned. For exact hours and special events, call (631)367-3418.

It will give you greater appreciation for the scientists and researchers who devote their lives to splicing genes and growing their hair weirdly long. I made that last part up. Another info-packed exhibit centers around the work of Dr. Barbara McClintock, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist who was studying genes when your mother busy yelling at you to do your homework. I enjoy bringing young girls here (I taught creative writing once upon a time) and inspire them to consider science as a career. In another part of the museum you can relax in an auditorium and learn about the wonders of Long via a film presentation, "Long Island Discovery" narrated by our local baymen booster himself, Billy Joel. It's worth the 20 or so minutes of your time, to help acquaint you with the region. (Or give you a good excuse for a cat-nap.)

This is a great toddler place because they can run around outside and make as much noise as they want, check out the many fish ponds, look for the giant turtle and buy fish food to throw at the hungry feeders in the water. It's an old favorite among residents but be forewarned about the inside exhibits. As one young man succintly put it,'It stinks like fish in here.' Boy was he right. You do get used to it and small children tend to overlook bad smells for obvious reasons--so you might have to grim and bear it for a few minutes. There's alot to see inside, little turtles, fish, more fish and some other variety of fish. But this is an actual-reality experience, so take advantage of it before the kids get too hooked on their kiddy computers. An insider's note: if you saaw that great Kevin Kline/Joan Cusack movie, 'In & Out,' the 'wedding' scene was filmed up the hill from the hatchery at the beautiful church overlooking a lake. Take a walk up--the view (espcially when the leaves turn) is breath-taking. In fact, fall is a good time to go, it's not too stinky inside and the colors are terrific. And if you want to hear a Ripley's type story, ask about the time "Junior" the turte was kidnaped. Talk about weird science.

This is an old-world kind of place and has gotten a tad touristy in the past 5 years. But it still has many charms, among them an old-fashioned toy store with inexpensive doo-dads and candy to please any discerning palate. There's a educational toy store, specialty antique stores and an animal-lovers store. If you're into classic snob-clothes, there's a Talbots, which is popular among residents. I'm more of a vintage clothes lover. We don't call them thrift stor clothes anymore, now they're "Vintage Classics." Whatever the nomenclature, I like a quality bargain and I'll let you in on a secret. I have dressed my kids in creme-de-la-creme sturdy overalls, playclothes and the occasional dress-up outfit only because I'm thrifty. Some call it mendacious, frugal. Whatever. I'm talking Osh Kosh, Gap, Old Navy, stuff that has natural kid-puke resistance. You get the picture. How did I manager this on my meager salary? By frequenting the best thrift store in the world, Holiday House, technically in Huntington (74 Huntington Road, (631)427-2944, but spiritually in Cold Spring Harbor, one of the weathiest suburbs on Long Island. Evidently, people of wealth deign to wear things very briefly and don't sweat much and people like me benefit. And the best part--all the proceeds go towards transforming this oddly shaped antiquey homestead into a summer camp for underprivileged youth! So you're getting some Donna Karan and a kid goes to camp at the same time! I've helped outfit school plays, bought umpteen Halloween outfits and have a number of classic suits I'm still waiting to wear. But they'll never go out of style so there's no need to worry! Now you know. Open October through May, some of the best stuff goes for a mere $1 when Mickey and Linda are absolutely sick of it all and are ready for vacation. Tell them Naomi sent you and maybe they'll tell you about the midnight-madness sale. (I'm making that part up. Or am I?)