Hotel at a Glance: Danfords Hotel & Marina

The deep-blue waters of the Port Jefferson Harbor act as the picturesque backdrop to Danfords Hotel & Marina. The Long Island hotel lies right along the waterfront in historic Port Jefferson, and you can get 180-degree views of the bay from its 75-slip marina and the outdoor patio of its seafood restaurant. That’s not all there is to gawk at: you can window-shop the boutiques in Port Jefferson Village, within walking distance. The ferry terminal is nearby too, where you can catch a ride to and from the mainland.

• Nautical-themed rooms Rich mahogany, a blue-and-yellow color scheme, and porthole-style mirrors give a yacht-inspired vibe to the guest rooms. Choose a water-view double room for a nice view of the Port Jefferson harbor from a private balcony.
• Modern amenities in each room include a flat-screen TV, an iPod docking station, and Starbucks coffee.
• Fresh, seasonal seafood is on the menu at Wave Seafood Kitchen. Popular dishes include seared Atlantic sea scallops and shrimp crab roll.
• Indulge in a couples massage or facial at the full-service Blue Sapphire Spa.

Long Island’s North Shore: Lavish 20th-Century Estates and Art Museums Near New York City

The North Shore region of Long Island encompasses a string of coastal towns, from the Great Neck peninsula 7 miles west of Queens to Port Jefferson, a Revolutionary War village. Prominent families such as the Vanderbilts and the Whitneys began building private estates on the North Shore around the turn of the 20th century; given its high-class reputation, the area is still known as the Gold Coast today. A handful of these mansions are now open to the public, including Teddy Roosevelt’s summer home at Sagamore Hill, and Walt Whitman’s birthplace at Huntington Station.

This area also offers a number of first-class museums, including the Nassau County Museum of Art. Housed in a 19th-century Georgian mansion, the museum features a 600-piece collection with works from Roy Lichtenstein and Auguste Rodin.

There are a handful of outdoor attractions you can check out on the North Shore, too, such as the Old Westbury Gardens. Old Westbury is set on 210 sprawling acres of formal rose gardens and tranquil ponds, all surrounding a mansion built in 1906. You can stroll the grounds on your own or follow along on a 45-minute guided tour. Also worth a visit is Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay. The property is known for its walking trails and the Camellia Greenhouse, which houses the largest collection of the namesake flowers in the northeast.

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