Things To Do in North Shore

Sunday Driving -- Once you get past the traffic-clogged areas close to the city, there are quite a few charming villages sprinkled along the North Shore's many scenic little peninsulas. Not all the towns claim huge Vanderbilt mansions or sprawling gardens, but they still are great places to take a drive. Sea Cliff began as a Methodist summer campground in 1871 and now boasts some two dozen homes on the National Register of Historic Places (as well as 900 structures built before World War II). Come to walk the steep streets and admire the Victorian homes with their gingerbread porches and Gothic gables. Grab a bite at the charming sidewalk cafe Once Upon a Moose, 304 Sea Cliff Ave. (tel. 516/676-9304), then stop by Memorial Park for spectacular sunsets over the water. You won't even find Locust Valley on many maps -- this very cute small town (just 1 sq. mile) is full of great antiques shops and boutiques and is one of the island's biggest secrets. Cold Spring Harbor is another antiques-filled haven right on the water; Route 25A takes you through town and offers some gorgeous water views. Stop in at the Whaling Museum, Main Street (tel. 631/367-3418), then walk the length of Main Street (it's only 1/4 mile) and admire some of the structures dating back to the days when whaling was the backbone of industry here. Port Jefferson is a bustling town on the water, full of restaurants, antiques shops, marinas, and cute storefronts. It's also a docking point for one of the Connecticut ferries, so it's constantly in motion, especially in the summer.

Antiques -- Route 25A is dotted with lots of little antiques stores, and you'll find a town full of them when you reach Port Jefferson. Along the way, there are a couple of standout villages.

Cold Spring Harbor is a picturesque little town with some nice places to shop. Of special note is the Huntington Antiques Center, 129 Main St. (tel. 631/549-0105), where you'll find collections from about 20 dealers. There are lots of 18th- and early-19th-century items from England, France, and America, as well as an excellent collection of antique Oriental rugs.

Tiny Locust Valley, rarely even plotted on Long Island maps, is a favorite of Long Island antiques hunters in the know. Oster-Jensen, 86 Birch Hill Rd. (tel. 516/676-5454), carries everything from American country-style antiques to furniture in Federal, English Georgian, and Regency styles. There's a host of smaller items as well. Locust Valley Antiques, 94 Forest Ave. (tel. 516/676-5000), boasts two large showrooms of European and Continental artwork and furniture. For a pleasant lunch break, grab one of the best burgers on Long Island at Buckram Stables Café, 31 Forest Ave. (tel. 516/671-3080).

Retail -- One of the most renowned shopping strips on the East Coast is the so-called Miracle Mile. The real name is the Americana Manhasset, 2060 Northern Blvd., Manhasset (tel. 800/818-6767 or 516/627-2277), where you'll find such high-end retailers as Brooks Brothers, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Prada, as well as the ubiquitous Banana Republic and Gap. Take a break for a fine lunch -- salads, panini, and more -- at Cipollini (tel. 516/627-7172).