North Bellport - Bellport, NY

The first English settlers in the Brookhaven area arrived in 1640 and named the settlement “Setauket.” Though the settlers established the town officially in the late 1600s, Brookhaven did not have a large commercial center until the late 19th century. The town functioned as an agrarian center, where a few families owned miles of land and depended on the coastal towns’ fishing economies. Now, residents still enjoy a relaxed way of life in a historical region.

Travelers who love history visit the Bellport-Brookhaven Historical Society, where they can view collections of antiques. Visitors meet with local authors and learn about Bellport’s history at the museum. Art fans pass by Scandinavian Living & Design to get home décor, or they pass by the Patchogue Arts Council Gallery for local exhibits. Residents can watch performances at The Gateway Playhouse or attend the Choral Festival in the summer to listen to great singing.

The primarily residential hamlet of North Bellport provides good home living, but not much in terms of restaurants and nightlife. Fortunately, locals only need to travel to the neighboring village of Patchogue. This area displays a lively restaurant and bar district in East Patchogue, and Bellport itself offers a few tasty dining options. Though the area's restaurants mostly specialize in new American cuisine, residents can choose from few ethnic eateries.

For a fresh spin on meats and cocktails, locals choose The Bellport Restaurant to relish in its intimate, eclectic atmosphere. Order fatty pate to start dinner and make sure to try the buttermilk fried chicken for a great, simple meal with Bellport flair. Follow up with light bread pudding to taste with a glass of wine. While in the area, stop by Porter's On The Lane for a juicy steak. Choose your sides, including the potato bacon croquet. Wash everything down with a Sorbet Bellini or another refreshing mixed drink.

Those who want something different than American food stop by Mexican Grill 2000, located in Patchogue, for a burrito or black bean soup. While the place can be hard to find for newcomers, the food makes the trip worth it. Vegetarians love the vegetarian burrito, and everyone else adores the Mexican grill burrito. Grab some takeout and enjoy extra salsa that comes with your order.

Travelers interested in a nice glass of beer or a true pub experience find many opportunities in Patchogue. Two Morrow's Pub serves platters of food, including French onion soup and steak fries, along with drinks at its dimly lit location. Sit in front of the fire in the winter and get cozy at Two Morrow's Pub. Visit Hoptron Brewtique to play some board games as you taste some brews. The bar even features jazz.

For more music, go to Public House 49 for alcohol and tunes, or attend a show at 89 North Music Venue. Keep in mind that the venue mostly features cover bands. North Bellport's nearest dance place, Painters' Restaurant, puts on DJs on weekend nights. Dublin Deck, in Patchogue, provides an outdoor, tiki-themed beach club open only during warm summer months.

North Bellport locals generally use a car to get around the hamlet and the town of Brookhaven. While locals can get some shopping done in the center of Bellport while walking, North Bellport itself does not lend itself well to use by the pedestrian crowd.

Drivers hop on West Sunrise Highway to traverse the length of Long Island, from Montauk all the way to New York City. North Bellport’s status as a residential area means it provides plenty of parking, but driving down to commercial areas at peak hours may result in some difficulties parking.

Those without a car can get by using Suffolk County buses. Several routes surround the North Bellport neighborhood and reach down into Bellport. People who travel by train need to drive to Patchogue for the nearest Long Island Rail Road station. Lindys Taxi, out of Patchogue, serves the Bellport region. However, locals need to find ridesharing options by going online — Uber does not provide services on Long Island.

Biking down in the center of Bellport appeals to many New Yorkers. Several bike trails and bike lanes make it possible for bicyclists to take advantage of nice weather and ride around to check out the sights.

The Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, run by the federal government, lies east of North Bellport next to Southaven County Park. The 2,250-acre refuge hosts several types of habitats, including wetlands and grasslands. Osprey, white-tailed deer, fox, turtles and other animals live and thrive in the refuge, where visitors can walk along trails, take photographs, canoe and even hunt. This free refuge does not allow dogs on the premises.

The adjacent Southaven County Park also gives locals a chance to enjoy the outdoors. Go camping, mountain biking and hiking, or take your children on a fun picnic. Kids love the Long Island Steamers, an organization that builds model railroads. View the Carmans River and rent a rowboat to enjoy the river and soak in the scenery, and remember that various parking fees during the summer range from $5 to $13.

Though neither park hosts many events, residents enjoy the intermittent art exhibits at Wertheim. Others travel to Patchogue to attend culture events, such as the Patchogue Arts Council’s Music Arts Cinema (PACMAC) festival in the fall.

The Bellport region in Brookhaven has a higher cost of living than the national average, like most of Long Island. Commuters can save money on bus travel with Suffolk County buses since a one-way ride costs $2. Even beer sits at a reasonable price, at about $4 per glass. However, an apartment may prove more costly as the average rent for a one-bedroom place in North Bellport costs $1,712 per month.

Travelers who seek inexpensive ways to get around should keep in mind that the average price of gas in North Bellport tends to stay around 12 percent higher than the national average.

The Bellport Outlet Stores, located north of North Bellport, provide clothes shopping to residents in those parts of Brookhaven. A fairly simple mall, residents go to the outlets to get what they need and go. Visit Bali, Famous Footwear and Van Heusen for clothes and shoes. Long Islanders in Bellport tend to travel to Bay Shore for high-end shopping at places like White House Black Market.

Bellport houses several hole-in-the-wall boutique and specialty stores. One of these merchants, Bellport Jewelers & Rarities, repairs jewelry and performs custom work. Buy special limited editions of jewelry items for loved ones at Bellport Jewelers & Rarities. Others visit It’s Only Natural for natural goods, vitamins, drinks and more. Pass by the small shop for a quick organic fix.

Shop Rite in Patchogue functions as the go-to place for big-budget grocery shopping serving the Bellport area. Many small markets spread out around Bellport. Visit the deli at Cirillo’s Market IGA for fresh meats and cheese, or pass by Giunta’s Meat Farms in Medford for produce and ideal meat cuts.

A few farm stands serve Bellport as far as organic goods go, but locals need to venture to Thera Farms in Ronkonkoma or west to Babylon for large-scale markets.