Thinking about travel things to do on Long Island: have you ever imagined what it was like to live on the “Gold Coast Mansions” of Long Island? If not, then what do you dream about?! OK, I’m being a little dramatic, but if you want to get the live-action experience IRL, then I recommend Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park.
This post is all about travel things to do on Long Island, specifically:
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, 1395 Planting Fields Rd., Oyster Bay, NY 11771.
Their Mission:
“Planting Fields Foundation strives to preserve and make relevant to all audiences the heritage of Planting Fields, an early 20th century 409-acre estate, designed as an integrated composition of the built and natural world. Founded in 1952 by William R. Coe, the Foundation is a not-for-profit, public educational foundation.”
My Mission:
As part of my mission to explore the planet I live on, traversing historical sites always opens up the world and this adventure is what luxurious imaginations are made of! As such, I spent the entire day (I need a few more days!) exploring the grounds and touring some of the mansion – the mansion is HUGE – and it was absolutely wonderful. I loved every moment and daydreamed about what it would be like to have been a privileged Gold Coast resident – a girl could dream right? Ha.
“Originally landscaped by the Olmsted Brothers, the grounds feature 409 acres of greenhouses, rolling lawns, formal gardens, woodland paths and outstanding plant collections. Planting Fields is one of only a few surviving estates on Long Island with its original acreage intact, as well as its buildings, including Coe Hall, a 65-room Tudor Revival mansion designed by architects Alexander Walker and Leon Gillette. It was created beginning in 1913 by William Robertson Coe and his second wife, Mai Rogers Coe, heiress and daughter of Standard Oil partner Henry Huttleston Rogers. Born in England into modest circumstances, W.R. Coe made his fortune in the U.S. as chairman of a large marine
insurance company. The interior of the house is a showcase of artistry and craftsmanship and features a distinctly American aesthetic through original ironwork commissions by Samuel Yellin and murals painted by artists Robert Winthrop Chanler and Everett Shinn. Nearly a thousand such estates were built after the Civil War through about 1940, making this area the largest concentration of large estates anywhere in the U.S. Just under 60% of them survive today; about 400 are in residential use, most on reduced size lots. Planting Fields was one of the last of these estates to be created.”
-Planting Fields Foundation
Visit Planting Fields to learn more about their programs, exhibitions, estate and garden tours, school visits and more. On this visit, I enjoyed the Everett Shinn: Operatics and Nico Muhly: Pastoral (Indoors/Outdoors) Tour. I am looking forward to checking out their other tours!
Are you going to visit? Which is your favorite part of the mansion? Let me know in the comments!
Happy exploring 🖤
This post is all about travel things to do on Long Island, specifically:
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, 1395 Planting Fields Rd., Oyster Bay, NY 11771.
Toya is a model, actress, and lawyer who enjoys sharing her life experiences. She shares her experiences on travel things, adventures, products/services and reviews everyday lifestyle moments. She inspires her readers to get out and live their lives to the fullest!
