Northport, Long Island: Clams, Beats & Wine in a Day, or Longer!

Northport, Long island, is a little bit New England, and a little bit Napa Valley barely 45 miles from Penn Station. Northport counts both actresses Edie Falco and Patti Lupone as native daughters, graduated from Northport High. Jack Kerouac lived here for six years after his second-published novel, “On the Road,” became a best-seller.

Getting to Northport is relatively easy on the Long Island Rail Road or by car. The train station is a two-mile plus walk or taxi from station to the village. Local bus service is minimal.

Northport’s downtown, compact and entirely walkable, is a mix of non-chain restaurants and bars, art galleries, bookstores, a hotel and live theatre, accentuated with a small craft harbor. If you are trying to locate a town with a 1950’s vibe in 2026, this is the place.

Northport Village

Traveling with two friends, Straus News tried to visit as many Northport sites as possible that those of a certain “seasoned” age would enjoy. While we didn’t visit every venue, it was an all-too-short and fun eight hours. A return trip has already been mooted.

Once in the village, consider walking to the shaded gazebo in Northport Park, on the Northport Harbor dock at the foot of Main Street. It’s a quiet respite with harbor views from one end to the other. Bring a snack or lunch and picnic in the park—setting the tone for a casual day.

Picking local restaurants is a challenge. Proximity drew us to the Copenhagen Bakery, filled with everything from rolls to full breakfasts and lunches. Want fancy? The Northport Hotel features an elegant dining space and full-service menus featuring seafood favorites. Many downtown food venues are wallet friendly; try the Shipwreck Diner, a local favorite, whose menu includes clam strips on a roll.

If booze is the answer, Gunther’s Tap Room, formerly the no-name bar is the spot; Kerouac used to hoist a few when he and his mother lived in town from 1958 to 1964. After a bad fire in the 1980s, Gunther’s was rebuilt with a long bar and tables for sipping and talking, less so for dining. Bring a copy there of “Dr. Sax,” published in 1959, to read, perhaps.

Need to walk off that meal or beverage? Sashay along Main Street from Northport Park to the Engeman Theatre. Among the many stores, a pal suggested Nest for new and used furniture, Jones Drug Store for souvenirs, Northport Books, The Olive Tree for unique olive oils and vinegars; and Soothery, a place for creams and lotions.

In the same area The Firefly Artists Gallery has been open for 15 years, showcasing 50 local artists with over 1,000 different artworks in most artistic mediums on its walls. While galleries in Manhattan conjure visions of Swiss bankers following you for loans to cover that Klee print you must have, this gallery has reasonably priced works that can fit in a backpack or purse. It’s a bonus that The Firefly staff, like other local establishments, is Northport nice.

Mooooo-ving to September...

September 19 and 20 is Cow Harbor Weekend, a unique Northport celebration that starts with Saturday’s Great Cow Harbor’s 10K race. At 5,000 runners strong, this event nearly doubles Northport Village’s population; sadly, at press time, the race is sold out! Still, it’s a great event to see and cheer and run along with before or afterward, plus that evening there’s a free concert and a lighted boat competition. On Sunday, there’s a parade, followed by a sidewalk sale with local merchants, arts and crafts vendors, and rides and games for the kids. If that’s not enough, visiting boats and a Crazy Boat Race will be part of the second day’s activities.

And Beyond

In close-by Centerport (a taxi or car ride), a must-see is the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium, spread over 43 hilltop acres, affording great views of Long Island Sound and Connecticut. It was here in 1910 that William K. Vanderbilt II built a post-gilded age mansion; fittingly, his mother, Alva, is the model for Bertha Russell’s character in “The Gilded Age”). Built as a small English cottage, Eagle’s Nest evolved over the next 30 years and the current 24-room Spanish-Revival mansion.

The mansion’s house and museum rooms are well preserved and can be seen on guided tours. We were lucky to have Theresa as our guide and if you live in a typical Manhattan apartment, the rooms in their size and appointments will boggle your minds.

Outside, much of the land is available for short hikes. There’s also a planetarium with shows available to the public, a cafe serving snacks on weekends and in the summer, there are musical concerts.

Another spot to consider for the last stop of the day?

Just a couple miles of east of Northport Village, the Del Vino Vineyards contains grape vineyards, a garden, and a renovated 90-year old farmhouse that serves as a tasting room, retail store, and dining space.

Opened by owners Fred and Lisa Giachetti in 2018 with more than 10 acres in Fort Salonga hamlet, visitors are advised to make an advance reservation as it’s a very popular place to sip, sample and consume some really amazing food.

In Vino Veritas

Straus News sat down with Fred Giachetti to chat about the Vineyards. A real estate attorney by trade, fascinated by Italy, his wife grew up there in a family that has had a winery in the Campania region of Italy, for more than 150 years. The Vineyard’s production of 10,000 cases a year are modeled after Lisa Giachetti’s family’s recipes as Fred Giachetti pointed out. “The wine bottle label artwork is akin to the ones of Italian wineries”, he noted.

The grapes are produced on-site for their chardonnays, sauvignon blancs and pinot noirs; a 30-acre grape vineyard for their red wines in Riverhead was started a few years ago. The wines and foods available at DelVino Vineyards verge on a splurge, but well worth it as a finishing touch to a spectacular day in a surprising destination, much closer than the other wineries on Long Island.

With all these activities, you won’t want to leave Northport!

Please note that unlike many tourist destinations, open hours for the venues vary seasonally, and you’d best look at the websites or call to verify before you start out. Most should be open fully during the summer season.