Huntington, NY is the best town on Long Island and here’s why

As the summer going into my freshmen year dwindled down, I started to panic. A part of me was nervous for moving into a dorm room, living on my own for the first time. Another part of me however, was sad and overwhelmed emotionally to leaving my hometown, Huntington.

There is no arguing that Long Island has a culture. The checks to knowing you’re not from the Island are very simple:

• You say “in” and not “on” Long Island and
• Not pronouncing Long Island as “Lawn Guyland”

My hometown however is a town my college friends know too well by now. When someone mentions “home” or “New York” I jump into a rant of how amazing my town is and all that Huntington, NY has to offer (which is a freaking lot). The town is one of the top real estate places on the island. Why you may ask?

The shops

The Huntington Village is the heart and soul of the town. These shops run for about five blocks and they’re not the typical strip mall, food chain set ups most people are used to. Most of the shops are privately owned and include a ton of ethnic restaurants as well. Some of these shops include a perfume shop where the scents are created in front of you, the largest privately owned bookshop on Long Island (and featured in a BuzzFeed article) a tea lounge with dozens of tea flavors and organic desserts, and a cafe dedicated to honoring great rock ‘n’ roll musicians with a menu that seems limitless. As I get home from college, I always end up walking around the familiar streets of the village and cannot help but appreciate such a wide variety of shops present.

The food

We have what seems like an infinite amount of restaurants in Huntington. However, our pizza is like no other. Hop on over to the famous Little Vincents for a bizarre “cold cheese slice” where they top shredded cold mozzarella on top of hot fresh cheese pizza. It is definitely a must to try one of these slices before you judge this slice. Another famous restaurant in my hometown is Munday’s. Munday’s is like an upgraded diner as there are so many options on the menu. Their pancakes, grilled cheese,  and chicken tenders are like no other. In addition their malts and milkshakes are the best I’ve had in my life. Some other famous places in town include the Bay Deli, a small delicatessen near the harbor. This might be, if not the hotspot of Huntington. Everyone knows Bay Deli and how amazing their breakfast sandwiches are. Sometimes my friends and I grab breakfast sandwiches from there, then go across the street and eat on the dock with our feet in the cool water on a nice summer day. These memories I hold close to my heart, along with Huntington as a whole.

The beaches

Although it is know on the Island that the smoother and nicer beaches are on the south shore, the beaches in Huntington are still gorgeous. Gold Star beach is  one of the famous Huntington summer spots. Sitting at a picnic table, hearing the sound of the waves crash and recede, the smell of sea mist and of course the sounds of seagulls flying overhead are all so vivid to me. When i’m in Ohio, I miss the sand in between my toes, the view of what seems like hundreds of sailboats drifting off onto the horizon and melting into the sunset. I miss picking up worn down sea glass and clam shells, seeing paddle boarders gliding across the sea and of course the famous Long Island lighthouse. I remember when I was younger, my parents owned a medium sized boat. Once past the Huntington lighthouse, my dad explained to me it was like driving on a highway. You could speed up and go as fast as you wanted as the lighthouse indicated the end of the harbor where boats were too close together to go fast. Once we went past the lighthouse, we sped off into the sunset. It’s so easy to forget such little moments from your own childhood and hometown that once you do remember them, you fall in love with your home a little bit more.

How close Huntington is to NYC

When people at Ohio State find out that I’m from NY their immediate next question is how close am I to New York City or do I live in it. I live about 45 minutes to an hour from New York City. Driving into the city on the weekend is as fun as sitting in your car for 3 hours in stand still traffic would be. This is why 98% of the time, taking the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is the easiest method of transportation to take to NYC. The train station is about 10 minutes from my house and it takes about an hour to get to the city by train. I’m extremely grateful to live near such an amazing city. The great thing about NYC (besides about everything) is how there’s always something new to try, new place to explore, or new area to visit. The city seems endless, even if you’ve been there 500 times or live in NYC. Whenever I’m home from college, I always end up back in the Big Apple. Whether it’s to shop for spring clothes or check out a new exhibit, the feeling of being back in a place where the sights, smells, and scents are so familiar makes my heart warm. To describe NYC, imagine the smell of roasted peanuts from a vendor on the street, or the sound of drums beating with live street music, the sound of cars and taxis honking, and even the sound of crowds with people talking loud New York accents. The little things about NY are what I truly miss most.

Everyone loves something about their hometown. What I love about Huntington is that it truly captivates anyone who lives there or visits. My town brings so much excitement, unity, and a sense of belonging no matter where you’re from or how long you’ve lived there. The shops, food, and beaches will always fill up a huge portion of my heart. My hometown has shaped me into who I am today through the people I’ve met, the experiences I have made, and the love I have received from it.