What is the North Shore?

Montauk Point Lighthouse overlooks the Atlantic Ocean from the easternmost tip of Long Island, where rugged bluffs meet the sea. First commissioned by President George Washington in 1792 and placed into service in 1796, the historic lighthouse remains New York State's oldest and continues to serve as one of Long Island's most iconic landmarks and enduring symbols of the East End. — Montauk Point Lighthouse overlooks the Atlantic Ocean from the easternmost tip of Long Island, where rugged bluffs meet the sea. First commissioned by President George Washington in 1792 and placed into service in 1796, the historic lighthouse remains New York State’s oldest and continues to serve as one of Long Island’s most iconic landmarks and enduring symbols of the East End. File photo: Haveseen, licensed.

Long Island’s North Shore is the region that borders Long Island Sound, extending from the western end of Long Island eastward through parts of Nassau County and Suffolk County. Known for its scenic waterfront villages, wooded landscapes, historic estates, harbors, and coastal bluffs, the North Shore is one of the island’s most picturesque and historically significant regions.

In Short

The North Shore is the northern coastline of Long Island along Long Island Sound. It is famous for its waterfront communities, historic Gold Coast estates, harbors, parks, beaches, and charming downtown villages.

What Is the North Shore?

The North Shore refers to the northern side of Long Island, where the island meets Long Island Sound. Unlike the broad sandy beaches found along the South Shore, the North Shore is characterized by rocky beaches, wooded hills, sheltered harbors, dramatic bluffs, and numerous waterfront villages.

The region includes many of Long Island’s best-known communities, including Glen Cove, Huntington, Northport, Port Jefferson, Cold Spring Harbor, and many other waterfront communities stretching across Nassau County and Suffolk County. These communities are known for their marinas, downtown shopping districts, waterfront restaurants, and historic character.

The North Shore is also home to many of the grand estates built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries by some of America’s wealthiest families. These magnificent homes earned the area the nickname the Gold Coast and inspired the setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby. Today, many of these estates remain popular attractions, museums, and public gardens.

Visitors to the North Shore enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, waterfront parks, beaches, historic sites, museums, wineries, and year-round cultural events. Combined with its scenic landscapes and rich history, the region offers a distinctly different experience from the oceanfront communities found along Long Island’s southern coast.

Quick Facts

Category	Information
Location	Northern coast of Long Island along Long Island Sound
Counties	Nassau County and Suffolk County
Known For	Harbors, waterfront villages, Gold Coast estates, boating, fishing, parks, and historic communities
Major Waterway	Long Island Sound
Popular Communities	Glen Cove, Huntington, Northport, Port Jefferson, and Cold Spring Harbor
Historic Region	Gold Coast
State	New York State

Long Island’s North Shore combines scenic waterfront landscapes, historic estates, charming villages, and a rich maritime heritage unlike anywhere else on the island. From the harbors of Huntington and Northport to the historic waterfront of Port Jefferson and the elegant communities of the Gold Coast, the North Shore remains one of the most distinctive and beautiful regions of Long Island.