Get to Know Locust Valley

Locust Valley, a small hamlet on Long Island’s North Shore, is also often used as a name for the entire region between Glen Cove and Oyster Bay. Located on the far eastern edge of Nassau County, Locust Valley was known as the spot for country homes for the fabulously wealthy in the early and mid-1900s. During that period, a culture of socializing at the area’s prestigious country clubs developed, and though they’re not quite as dominant as in the past, the clubs still constitute a big part of Locust Valley life. In the summer, members golf and sail, and in the winter, locals turn to hockey or figure skating at the two ice rinks at the Beaver Dam Winter Sports Club. Locust Valley has one of the longer commutes for Nassau County, with a train ride of slightly more than an hour to Penn Station.

Living in Nassau County

Nassau County’s North Shore, also known as the Gold Coast, is where to go to live the good life. Here, you’ll find waterfront towns filled with splendid real estate, and all located just a short train ride away from New York City. In the early and mid-1900s, the Gold Coast was home to palatial properties, inspiring F. Scott Fitzgerald to set The Great Gatsby in his fictional versions of Great Neck and Sands Point, describing houses where the lawn stretched from the beach to the front door. Those estates are mostly gone, many transformed into nature preserves, museums, and in one case, into the grounds of the North Shore University Hospital. The lure of living on the North Shore is still strong though, as newcomers and natives alike are drawn to the prospect of backyards with enough space for a playset, warm and welcoming communities, and a quick commute to Manhattan.