Cold Spring Harbor

Widely known for its quaint downtown district, the hamlet of Cold Spring Harbor attracts visitors from near and far.

Main Street, lined with antique shops, boutiques, galleries, eateries and a whaling museum, has a lot of foot traffic and tourists, said Sue Morgan, an agent at Prudential Douglas Elliman.

The atmosphere, said Shawn Elliott, owner and broker of Shawn Elliott Luxury Homes & Estates, "brings you back to a whole different era."

The charm of this community set in rolling hills on the North Shore also centers on its picturesque harbor, parks and serene neighborhoods. "Cold Spring Harbor is one of the most pristine harbors in the Northeast corridor," Morgan said.

The Nature Conservancy's 97-acre Uplands Farm Nature Sanctuary has nature walks and offers educational programs.

The Cold Spring Harbor Library and Environmental Center opened in a new state park on Route 25A.

The nearby fish hatchery and aquarium has the state's largest living collection of freshwater reptiles, fish and amphibians. The Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum focuses on the region's whaling history and houses 6,000 artifacts documenting Long Island's whaling and maritime history.

Nearby Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, which is technically in neighboring Laurel Hollow, is a world-renowned center known for its cellular and genetic research. Several of its scientists have won Nobel prizes.

"The community is growing with young families," said Carol Tintle, senior vice president of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty. She notes the Cold Spring Harbor school district is growing, too, and school buildings have been renovated.

The area's housing stock includes Colonials, ranches and Tudors. A few areas are zoned for 2- or 4-acre plots, and many homes come with beach and mooring rights.

Inventory has increased since last year, but the market is always strong in this community because it is unique, Morgan said. "Cold Spring Harbor is a good place to invest in real estate, because your equity is sure to grow."

- Lisa Doll Bruno (6/2/2006)