When it’s hot, the North Fork of Long Island is cooler than the city. There’s less concrete here to absorb the heat, and we’re surrounded by water. Deliciously cooling breezes come off Long Island Sound, Gardiner Bay, and Shelter Island Sound.
Guests always ask what is there to do out on the North Fork. One of the things we suggest is a day trip to Shelter Island.
Nearby Shelter Island makes a wonderful day trip for guests of our New York Bed and Breakfast. The ferry between Greenport and Shelter Island runs frequently, and bikes are available for rent at Piccozzi’s Garage and Bike Shop, a short walk from the ferry terminal. The island is mostly flat, so cycling is easy.
We can help you in creating a picnic for your stop at a beach at the end of Bootleggers Alley.
Both Crescent Beach and Silver Beach are great spots for swimming. The water, protected by the North and South Forks of Long Island, is calm and fairly warm.
These same sheltered waters are fun to explore in a kayak. Park your bike at Shelter Island Kayak Tours, and let them lead you on a two hour tour.
Cycle down to the 2,000-acre Mashomack Preserve on the southeast tip of the island. The Nature Conservancy maintains four trails of varying lengths and difficulty. If you’re on a bike, you may want to avoid the 11 mile trail and stick with the 1.5 mile trail to the shore.
There are a few nice spots to grab a bite to eat on Shelter Island. Vine Street Café serves wonderful, seasonally-inspired food, but reservations are recommended. Ram’s Head has amazing seafood, such as Lobster Sausage and Green “Gazpacho”. Pat & Steve’s Family Restaurant is the perfect spot to grab a sandwich, and it serves pancakes all day.
You’ll be thankful for the generous breakfast Veda provided before your biking excursion, and you’ll be ready to relax once you get back to Arbor View House NY Bed and Breakfast. Even though we are not a Shelter Island Bed and Breakfast but we are not far away. Later on you may even want to take advantage of our spa services, and schedule a massage or aroma-therapy bath for that evening or the following day!
Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer on Long Island’s North Fork. New Yorkers tend to do one of two things over those three days: they stay home, clean, and wish they were someplace else, or they head to the East End of Long Island.
Our Long Island Bed and Breakfast is located in East Marion, near the very tip of the Long Island on the North Fork. The historic seaport of Greenport is just down the road. There is plenty to do here, and plenty of places to do nothing at all.
Memorial Day Weekend Events on Long Island’s North Fork:
- Tall Ships in the Village of Greenport. The ships are scheduled to arrive on Friday and Saturday. Tours of the ships will be offered all day Sunday and Monday. Vendors will have booths set up along Front Street, which will be closed to traffic. It is going to be a festive occasion this Memorial Day weekend.
- Live Music at Clovis Point Winery. Clovis Point Winery is about 30 minutes from our NY Bed and Breakfast. The Earthones will play folk rock on Saturday from 2-5 p.m., and Small Island will play classic rock on Sunday from 2-5 p.m. Is there anything better than sipping wine in a beautiful setting, with live music setting the mood? We think not!
- Live Music at Duck Walk Vineyards. Enjoy fine fine and music by Bob Carney from 1-5 p.m., Saturday.
- Live Music at Martha Clara Vineyards. Playn & Simple plays from 2-5 p.m. on Saturdy; the NY Minute Band plays Sunday from 2-5 p.m; and Buttered Soul plays on Memorial Day from 2-5 p.m. A few hours listening to music at this beautiful vineyard is the perfect way to wrap up the weekend.
The Orient Point Lighouse, at the tip of the North Fork.
Walk down the street from our NY Bed and Breakfast to the Dam Pond Maritime Reserve, where trails lead through salt marshes and young hardwood forests to beaches. Rent a boat in Greenport and explore the coastline of Shelter Island Sound. Drive or cycle to the tip of the North Fork and walk the beaches of Orient Point. Slow down, relax, and enjoy every moment of Memorial Day Weekend.