March 23, 2013 Wilfred Joseph

Manhattan may be an island, but it certainly doesn’t have much in the way of beaches. Sure, there’s always Coney Island, but maybe you want something a bit more serene?
If you are visiting New York, we strongly recommend you take a couple days to get out of the city and explore a different face of New York state.
One of the easiest ways to do this is by taking a trip to Long Island.  Less than a two hour drive from downtown Manahttan and also accessible via the Long Island Rail Road, we invite you to come and enjoy some fresh air and wide open waterfront during your NYC vacation.

North Fork Beaches

Inlet Pond County Park Beach
Inlet Pond County Park Beach

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inlet Pond County Park – One of the beaches closest to our Greenport area B&B is Inlet Pond County Park. Inlet Pond County Park is an undeveloped nature preserve with almost 33 acres suitable for nature walks and surf fishing, a large freshwater pond and beachfront on Long Island Sound with views of the Connecticut shoreline.
Gull Pond Beach – Facilities include a playground and rest room. The beach is supervised by lifeguards and attendants. Parking and boat launching by Southold Town permit only.
Orient Point County Park/ Orient Beach State Park -This is the very tip of Long Island. Nature trails in woods and along the Long Island Sound and the Peconic Bay give you the best of both shores. At the same time, the view of the Orient Point Lighthouse from the tip is as close as you can get without taking a boat. Meanwhile, Orient Beach State Park is a preserved slice of sandy beach and cedar forest on Gardiner’s Bay. It’s a great area for kayaking. There is also a playground and concession stand.
Truman’s Beach – Also very close to our North Fork Inn, this stretch of shore is flanked by huge tidal wetlands.
Come back to the blog next week to see the rest of our list!
 
 



March 18, 2013 Wilfred Joseph

If you are planning a trip to New York City, make sure you take a day or two to get out of the urban metropolis and visit the beautiful North End of Long Island. You can drive here in less than two hours (if you time it to avoid rush hour). You can also take the Long Island Rail Road. Greenport is the last stop and where you want to get off!
We would recommend you stay for at least one night, if not two, so you can enjoy multiple aspects of the North Fork. So the first thing to take care of is reserving yourself a room in our romantic North Fork bed and breakfast.

North Fork Wine Tours

Wow - That's a lot of wineries for one little island!
Wow – That’s a lot of wineries for one little island!

Next for your North Fork weekend should be winery tours. If you have a car with you on the island, it is easy to transport yourself from one winery to the next in our small grape-growing region. However, if you took the train or would rather leave the driving to someone else, there are lots of tour companies that will provide not only transportation but fascinating information and insight on the Long Island wine scene. One such group is Vintage Tours, but there are others. When you make your reservations, let us know what kind of experience you are looking for and we can help you make the arrangements. Even if you would prefer a chartered car to set your own route and pace, that can be arranged.

North Fork Beaches

There are miles of glorious beaches in North Fork. Surrounded by the Peconic Bay and the Long Island Sound, you should leave yourself time for a beach picnic, bike ride or fishing trip. To enjoy many of the beaches, your car must display a valid parking permit. When in doubt, check with us and heed to the posted signs.
Check back for our next blog post all about North Beaches and our favorites!
 



March 11, 2013 Wilfred Joseph

There are only two more weekends of Jazz on the Vine, Long Island’s annual Winterfest celebration!
If you are visiting New York city, this event is a great way to explore Long Island wine and culture. Wineries all over the island are holding live (and free!) jazz shows for you to enjoy while tasting fine wine.
The Arbor View House bed and breakfast is a prefect place for you to call home base during Winterfest or any time you want to delve into the North Fork of Long Island. Located in East Marion, we are in the heart of Long Island wine country and located near lovely beaches, fine dining and renowned art and performance spaces.

Jazz on the Vine Schedule Highlights

Here are some of the upcoming performances we think look especially appealing:
Montana Skies at Jamesport Vineyards ~ Sunday March 17, 2:30 p.m.

Visit the North Fork of Long Island for great wine and delicious music
Visit the North Fork of Long Island for great wine and delicious music!

In concert, these award winning musicians delve into music from Pink Floyd and Rush to Vivaldi, and House of the Rising Sun, as well as their own originals that have been featured everywhere from NPR to the Travel Channel.
Michael Weiss at Clovis Point ~ Sunday March 17, 2:30 p.m. Weiss has led groups at the prestigious Village Vanguard, earning acclaim from the New York Times, which praised his “strong sense of leadership and organization” with a “confident and sparkling presence on piano.”
Amanda Ruzza at Duck Walk ~ Sunday March 17 at 2:30 p.m. Amanda draws on her multicultural background as a primary influence on her passion for composing music – music that seamlessly assimilates elements of funk, jazz and South American rhythms.
Mambo Loco at Raphael ~ Sunday March 17 4 p.m. Formed in 2005, Mambo Loco has become synonymous with the classic music of Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican origin. The group brings the best of “Old School” Latin and Latin Jazz music to the Long Island, NY area.
See the whole lineup on the Winterfest website.