Early in the new year I had the pleasure of returning to my hometown for a day of family-friendly activities along the Oyster Bay shore. Oyster Bay was one of the runners-up in our Best Harbor 2019 competition and has been on a campaign to revitalize the downtown over the last few years. Unlike the nearby villages of Port Washington, Huntington and Northport – Oyster Bay requires a 10 minute detour off Northern Boulevard to take advantage of everything the downtown has to offer.
A few of the highlights from our trip are listed below:
The day began at the recently opened IT BGL on East Main Street. IT BGL features a morning menu of bagels and Jewish deli items and then shifts gears midday to serve wood-fired pizza into the evening. The location also features live music on Friday nights along with serving a well-curated selection of wine and beer. The everything bagel I ordered was exactly what a NY bagel should be and a great start to our day.
19 East Main Street, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
Following our bagel breakfast, we headed a few miles up the road to Sagamore Hill; the former summer White House of Theodore Roosevelt. The extensive grounds and detailed house tour provide several hours of entertainment for all ages. After a lengthy $10 million dollar renovation, the house reopened in 2015 to much fanfare and excitement from the local community. We took a tour of the house and then walked around the lawn before being pushed back into the car by the frigid temperatures. Adults $10 / Children under 16 are free
20 Sagamore Hill Rd, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
After the quiet of the Sagamore Hill tour it was time to burn off some steam so we headed back into town to the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park. The large park features a smooth walking/biking path that runs along the with views across to Centre Island and the Bayville Bridge. There are several climbing structures and fenced in playgrounds along with a handful of well-maintained public fields, basketball and tennis courts all located conveniently near public restrooms and summer time concession stands.
Town of Oyster Bay seasonal parking sticker is $60 or park at the Oyster Bay train station and walk across the tracks.
25 West End Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
As we walked along Audrey Ave. on our way back to the car we decided to stop at the Oyster Bay Brewing Company. In 2015, the brewery moved into the building formerly occupied by the beloved Buckingham’s Variety and has been credited with helping bring business back to downtown. The cavernous space offers little in the way of ornamentation – a basic bar, a handful of TV screens and the beer vats are the primary focus. The Oyster Bay Brewing Company is a great place to have a quiet drink, enjoy a game or watch the raucous post Oyster Festival revelers. The brewery is also an official partner of the NHL and created the Barn Rocker Session Ale to be the “perfect hockey beer” to consume while watching a NY Islanders game.
36 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
Although it was closed for the season during our visit, the Bonanza Italian Ice stand has been a beachside favorite of Oyster Bay residents since 1897. Hot dogs, fries and a selection of over 100 flavors of ice make this the perfect spot to grab a post beach snack. In the heart of the summer, the long line of barefoot customers moves quickly but you may have to wait for one of the handful of seats behind the ice shack. My personal favorite is a scoop of their homemade lemon ice (pits and all) served alongside their homemade strawberry ice.
25 Shore Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
We hope you take the time to visit this quaint North Shore community and let us know your favorite places to visit.
Image Courtesy of Lorraine Baldwin.
