Nestled in Brookhaven Township, Stony Brook is most famous as the home of Stony Brook University—one of the nation's most respected institutions, particularly in the sciences. Additional advantages include the teaching hospital associated with the university and an exceptional public school system. This North Shore community midway between Manhattan and Montauk features panoramic natural settings close to wonderful beaches, lush woodlands, and charming historic villages. Patterned after a white clapboard New England village, this area offers unique attractions like Simons Park with its boardwalk and trails or the Long Island Museum filled with carriages, hunting decoys, and American art. Children will also love the mechanical eagle that flaps its wings on the hour above the local post office. In contrast to a well-preserved past, Stony Brook claims the first "drive in" market in the nation.