huntington n
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by John Galluzzo
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times. There are six times as many people living in Huntington today as there were at the end of World War II. Logically, there has to be an
attraction. One could simply guess that star power begets star power. The names from Huntington’s past—Walt Whitman, Jackie Gleason, Marlene Dietrich, and even the world’s first silver screen female mega star, Mary Pickford, had connections to the town—would be enough to draw anyone in. But was it enough to bring Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Billy Joel, more than a score of professional athletes, and dozens of other big names of modern-day America to town? There has to be more to it. Huntington Bay is formed by Eaton’s Neck to the east and Lloyd Neck to the west. Together, they gradually funnel you past a red bell buoy marking Target Rock and into the greater bay. East Beach, on Lloyd Neck, is to your west; West Beach, on Eaton’s Neck, is to your east. Sliding down along the western shore, you’ll find the Huntington Harbor Lighthouse. The all-reinforced concrete tower sports more character than your average lighthouse, looking more like a castle from medieval Europe than a modern American lighthouse. Really, though, it represents the
architectural style of its day, an era when government buildings were given a little flair. Pick up the channel alongside the lighthouse and work your way between the seawall to the west and Wincoma Point to the east. Continue down the channel as it bends to the southeast, and you’ve found Huntington Harbor. Inside the harbor, you’ll find that there are plenty of docking opportunities, including the friendly Huntington Yacht Club on the eastern shore. There’s also a municipal facility at the southern end of the harbor that can take care of both you and your boat. This is the Gold Coast, where entertainers from the music, television and film industries commingle. Visit the beaches, spend time at the bars and restaurants, and you’ll see. Deeper inside Huntington, you’ll find the Gold Coast’s treasures. The Heckscher Museum of Art boasts five centuries of paintings reaching back from modern American masters to the best Europe had to offer a half millennium ago. The Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum plays the role of gatekeeper of the local past, remembering the days of wooden ships and iron men. Aside from being a celebrity hotspot, Huntington is the center of culture of the western end of Long Island Sound.
www.captainsguide.com
CAPTAIN’S SEASIDE GUIDE 2012
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