“…a colossal affair by any standard — it was factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool and more than forty acres of lawn and garden.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald describes the mansion of lovelorn, self-made millionaire Jay Gatsby in his 1926 American classic, The Great Gatsby.

Welcome to the Gold Coast

Long Island’s Gold Coast is the setting and inspiration for Fitzgerald’s most famous work. At the time of his visit to New York in the early 1920’s, Long Island’s North Coast had been booming with business class elites that had spent millions on building huge mansions and estates overlooking the Long Island Sound.

Many of these mansions remain. And, indeed, many of them can be visited and toured throughout most seasons. Picture an afternoon of leisure and luxury. You’ve been invited to peruse the castle and grounds of one of the most prestigious estates on the Gold Coast. Your clan charters a stretched limousine from Broward Transportation to ensure that the magic upon your arrival is met with proper awe. Your visit is celebrated in the very style in which the experience is meant: with elegance and class.

As you move through the gates of the once-forbidden estate, you find the gardens alive with color and variety. You find the grounds punctuated with decorative landscaping; trees and shrubs perfectly placed and perfectly preserved – all perfectly coordinated to usher your senses and build excitement for the prize of the property. The mansion. And as your limousine approaches the ever-growing architectural wonder, you whisper in your mind an unexpected truth. It is, indeed, “…a colossal affair by any standard.”

Exploring the Castles & Mansions at Gould-Guggenheim Estate

One place to begin your excursion is the Gould-Guggenheim Estate where there are no less than three monumental structures once used for posh, upper-class living. Castle Gould is a 100,000 square-foot limestone building that was completed in 1904 and served as a stable, carriage house and servants quarters for the Gould household. The Hempstead House is a Tudor-style castle that functioned as a summer home when it was constructed in 1912. Falaise (French for “cliff”) sits on 90 acres of waterfront property. Built in 1923, it was fashioned in the style of a Medieval manor house.

Each mansion and accommodating grounds offer their own visiting hours. On occasion, events and tours are packaged for the entire estate. New York Adventure Club is planning such an exploratory event on June 9, 2019.

Planning a Visit to Planting Fields Estate at Oyster Bay

World-famous landscape architects designed the grounds for the 400-acre Planting Fields Estate back in 1913. If you are any kind of botanical fanatic, this place is perfect for you. Gardens, greenhouses, fields of flowers and greenery. This huge estate is home to a wide array of plants. To name just a few: Orchids, Cacti, Begonias, Palms, Ferns, Hibiscus, Poinsettias, Easter lilies, and Chrysanthemums.

All this to lavishly dress the walls and woodlands of the Coe Family residence, a 65-room Tudor Revival mansion known as Coe Hall, which features over 500 artifacts, 13th – 19th century stained glass windows, and commissioned murals from renown American artists.

For a breathtaking experience through history and botanical bliss, reserve a ride in one of Broward’s antique luxury vehicles. Perhaps a roomy 1940 Cadillac or a 1964 Rolls Royce Princess. Could you imagine winding through the colorful gardens of the Coe Arboretum in anything less regal?

Also on June 9, 2019, New York Adventure Club is organizing a behind-the-scenes tour of the entire estate including much of the grounds and the mansion. If that doesn’t time well for your schedule, the Planting Fields Foundation has all the visitor information you need on their website.

Broward Limousines is a Long Island-based luxury vehicle transportation company servicing clients throughout the tri-state area. We are available for weddings, engagement parties, vineyard tours, airport pickup, proms, and special occasions, as well as custom destinations and group outings. We can take you anywhere you want to go. (516) 889-4242