Considering Retiring in Setauket? Here’s Why It’s Long Island’s Best Retirement Spot

Long Island has long been among the top places to retire if you’re planning a retirement in New York. It’s known for its low crime rate, world-class health facilities and diverse economy. Locals praise its cleanliness and family-friendliness. Most notably, it features 980 miles of coastline and over 30 beautiful beaches. You’re never more than a 30-minute drive from the ocean, white sand, boardwalks, beach trails, and spectacular sunrises and sunsets.

If your retirement plans are focused on Long Island, consider retiring in Setauket. It’s part of the historic Three Village area, comprising the villages of Old Field, Poquott, the Setaukets, and Stony Brook. The Three Village area has rich historic roots, including those of Native Americans who first called this region home. Each town has its own unique character and way of life, with thriving local small businesses and a culture of friendliness and gracious hospitality. Retiring in Setauket offers small-town charm, but when the buzz and hustle of New York City beckons, you’re less than an hour’s drive from Manhattan.

The Setauket area reflects the even mix of young, middle-aged and older adults in Suffolk County, and its youthful and active lifestyle. Crime rates are below the national average and community services abound, with public transportation with trains, ferries and MacArthur Airport nearby. Retirees will also find the area well served by health care institutions. Three highly regarded hospitals: John T. Mather Memorial Hospital, St. Charles Hospital, and Stony Brook University Hospital are conveniently located near East Setauket.

Here are 12 things to love about retiring in Setauket. You can:

1. Laze by the beach. Favorites include Jones Beach State Park, Sag Harbor, Montauk, Robert Moses State Park, and Orient State Park on the east end. Coopers Beach in Southampton and Main Beach in East Hampton are consistently among the top 10 beaches in America.

2. Do a little sippin’. The first craft distillery here since the 1800s, Long Island Distillery offers its hand-crafted, award-winning spirits in tasting rooms overlooking 100 acres of farms and vineyards.

3. Go wine tasting. With different grapes, winemaking styles and tasting room experiences, exploring the vineyards of the east end is a fascinating experience for wine enthusiasts.

4. Step back in history. The Long Island Heritage Trail along the North Shore holds a rich legacy of espionage during the Revolutionary Wars, secrets of Prohibition (including speak-easies and bootlegging) and more.

5. Look at the sun. Visit the Vanderbilt Museum for its vast array of cultural and artistic artifacts, and view the sun safely through a state-of-the-art telescope in the planetarium.

6. Be inspired by Walt Whitman. Tour the birthplace of America’s most famous poet. His charming home dates from 1819 and features unusual architecture, original letters and manuscripts.

7. Stroll immaculate gardens. On the National Register of Historic Places, Planting Fields is a spectacular estate with 409 acres of greenhouses, gardens, rolling lawns and woodland paths.

8. Return to a gilded age. Visit Oheka Castle, a fully restored Gatsby-era, French-style chateau. Billed as the second-largest private residence in America, at 109,000 square feet with 127 rooms, kings, queens, heads of state and Hollywood stars have partied here.

9. Go bird-watching. Harrison Pond Town Park is centered around an old ice pond that attracts a stunning array of birds, including hummingbirds, kingfishers, herons and teal.

10. Get a great view. Climb the Montauk Point Lighthouse, one of the nation’s oldest, built in 1796. This working lighthouse has 360-degree views of Block Island Sound, the Atlantic Ocean and beyond.

11. Take a hike. The island’s green belt offers a variety of hikes for active adults. The Walt Whitman trail is ideal for beginners at 8.2 miles, with beautiful ocean views from the island’s tallest point, Jayne’s Hill.

12. Go out on the town. The waterfront community of Huntington, formerly a British wartime encampment, is now one of the trendiest spots on Long Island. Dine out, shop, attend a live concert or play; it’s said to be a microcosm of Manhattan.

If you’re researching retirement communities in Long Island, put Jefferson’s Ferry at the top of your list. We offer a senior living lifestyle where you’re in control, with the time, space and freedom you want. Our award-winning retirement community offers vibrant independent living, along with continuing care that includes assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation.

Our North Shore location is close to Port Jefferson and Stony Brook, the Greenway Trail Bike Path, and the Old Setauket Historic District. Local restaurants, boutiques, and the Stony Brook University campus are minutes away. Design your unique retirement and stay connected to the best of Long Island. Learn more about our unique community in East Setauket, NY, by contacting us at 631-650-2600.