The fourth annual North Fork Foodie Tour will be happening on Long Island’s North Fork on Sunday, September 12 from 10 A.M. until 4 P.M. The North Fork Foodie Tour is sponsored by the North Fork Reform Synagogue and offers access to culinary experiences which are not usually available to the public. The tour is self guided, but tickets must be purchased in advance. There are more than a dozen venues to visit and no matter where you choose to start the tour, you will receive a map and detailed instructions for planning your day.
Highlights will include a visit to new bakery in Greenport called Scared Sweets where owner Miche Bacher will lecture on, and demonstrate, the art of confection. Also in Greenport, Pipes Cove Oysters visitors will be able to learn how shellfish are grown, harvested, and shucked. Meet the winemakers at Shinn Estate Vineyards in Matticuck, Long Island’s only organic winery. North Fork Egg Farm in Southold features free-range hens which grave on unfertilized pastureland. Guests will be able to gather their own eggs and meet various breeds of chickens. At Krupski’s Vegetable and Pumpkin Farm in Peconic, visitors will learn how this family farm has thrived by changing its focus from a limited number of wholesale crops to a diverse offering of retail crops.
If that isn’t enough, there will be programs at Satur Farms in Churchogue, Catapano Goat Dairy in Peconic, Sang Lee Farms in Peconic, Ty Lloyd Egg Farm in Northville, Lavender by the Bay in East Marion, Taste of the North Fork in Peconic and Koppert Cress micro-greens in Peconic. John Ross, cookbook author and “father of North Fork cuisine” and Tom Schaudel, chef-owner of A Mano in Mattituck, will also be on hand.
The tour costs $25 per person and tickets are available at Gallery M in Greenport, Complement the Chef in Southold, Cecily’s Love Lane Gallery in Mattituck and Barth’s Pharmacy in Riverhead. You can also purchase then on-line at northforkreformsynagogue.org.
Happy eating!
The East End Seaport Maritime Museum is located in Greenport, Long Island. The Maritime Museum is located in a former railroad station, adjacent to the Shelter Island North Ferry Dock. The museum features an array of exhibits on the maritime heritage of the area, including displays on the Greenport menhaden fishing industry, lighthouse lenses, the oyster industry, a model ship of the USS Ohio, and more. One of our favorite exhibits is the Fresnel lenses and the quality of the lenses on display is extremely uncommon.
Children are always welcomed at the Museum and during the month of August, there are two scheduled readings. On Wednesday, August 11th, list to stories about lighthouses, view photos of lighthouses, and children can make a replica to take. Wednesday, August 18th gather around to hear tales of pirates and participate in making your very own treasure map to take home. This is a great way to learn about history and have fun along the way. Of course, add a special visit to the Village Blacksmith Shop on the weekends and see a real blacksmith at work.
The Annual Maritime Festival will be held on September 24th thru 26th. This is a special opportunity for locals and visitors to the Greenport area to learn about the East End’s Maritime heritage and contribute towards its preservation. The Festival is organized by volunteers and the East End Seaport Museum & Marine Foundation. The Village of Greenport will be packed with a variety of craft and food vendors, local merchants will have exciting displays, and guests can enjoy the array of galleries, antique stores, and restaurants.
Biking on the North Fork of Long Island offers many options for guests of the Arbor View House Bed and Breakfast. Seaview trails in the Southport area offers over 57 miles of bike trails. Trails can range from 5 5 to 14 miles and can accommodate all levels of experience. The trails include Southold Bay Loop, Mattituck, Orient Loop, and Southold View Loop. The ocean views are spectacular and their trails are safe and easy.
Of course, bike riding is a year around activity on Long Island and if you are an avid biker then consider joining one of the many bicycling groups in the area. If you are just visiting the area, stick to the defined bike trails, as traffic can get busy on the main road. Some of the biking groups include:
- Bicycle Long Island
- Suffolok Bicycle Riders Associations
- Huntington Bicycle Club
- Massapequa Park Bicycle Club
- GBSC Bicycle Racing Team
- Concerned Long Island Mountain Bikers
- Low-Impact Bike Paths in the New York/Long island region
Happy biking!
A romantic getaway to Long Island would not be complete without some time spend on the waters of Long Island Sound. There is an abundance of ways to enjoy the sites, but one company seems to offer it all. The Peconic Star offers a variety of lighthouse tours, excursions, fireworks cruises, and sightseeing cruises. So take your pick!
It always seems that guests’ favorites are the lighthouse tours and The Peconic Star makes trips to all eleven lighthouses in the Southold area. This includes Horton Point Lighthouse, Bug Light, Plum Island Lighthouse, Latimer Lighthouse, Race Rock Lighthouse, Little Gull Lighthouse, Cedar Island Lighthouse, Orient Point Lighthouse, North Dumpling Lighthouse, South East Lighthouse, and Block Island North Lighthouse.
Orient Long Beach Bar Light “Bug Light” is a lighthouse off Orient, New York. It is interesting because it was originally a screwpile lighthouse that was later converted to a concrete caisson foundation. This is how it received its nickname “Bug Light” as there were no other such lighthouses in the vicinity.
Race Rock Light is a lighthouse on Race Rock Reef, southwest of Fishers Island. The reef is a dangerous set of rocks off the coast of Fishers Island on Long Island Sound and was the site of many shipwrecks. It was built between 1871 and 1878 and is an excellent example of 19th century engineering and design. The Coast Guard automated the light in 1978 and it is still operational.
Enjoy visiting all of the lighthouses during your stay at the Arbor View House Bed and Breakfast!
If you enjoy bird watching, make sure to visit Long Island’s Shelter Island. Shelter Island is just a short Ferry ride from the village of Greenport, NY is a perfect location to bike and watch birds. If you don’t plan to bring your own bike, do not worry as rentals are available at the Mobile Station not far from the North Ferry dock. Although bird watching can be done from about any location on Shelter Island, one of the favorite locations is Mashomack Preserve, known as a nature lovers’ delight.
Mashomack Preserve is considered one of the richest habitats in the Northeast. The preserve contains 2,039 acres, which is about 1/3 of the island. Among the riches to be found are tidal creeks, oak woodlands, fields, and freshwater marshes. The preserve is often referred to as the “Jewel of the Peconic” and is edged in white by 10 miles of coastline. Mashomack Preserve is open 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., March through September, and 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. October through February.
Vacationing on Long Island and going to the beach just seem to be like peas in a pod. One of the favorite beaches is Orient Beach State Park. Orient Beach has 45,000feet of frontage on Gardiners Bay and the water is calm and delightful. It has been said that Orient Beach “has the most shells available at any state park beach” and is a shell-collecting paradise. Now this is an activity all in itself and a delightful way to enjoy the day. Of course, to make it a little more enjoyable there is also a bathhouse, showers, restrooms, and a food concession stand.
Visitors at the beach can swim in the bay, fish, picnic, play ball, go hiking or biking, and enjoy a calming walk on one of the many nature trails. Since this is a calm beach, it is also perfect for kayaking. So bring your own or plan to rent one at the beach. Bike rentals are also available, so not to worry if you do not have yours with you! However, the all time favorite thing to do is just sit in a beach chair and feel the warmth of the sunshine. Now this is summer on Long Island!
The small seaside village of Greenport has become famous for its quaint shops, fine dining, and maritime history. Greenport has a colorful history and has long been the home of many famous artists in the past including Walt Whitman, playwright William Gillett, and painter Whitney Hubbard . Today, visitors can spend an entire day just exploring the historic homes of Greenport. Of course, add a lovely lunch, visit a few museums, and do a little shopping and you have created a lovely getaway to Long Island.
Museums to put on your list to visit should include East End Seaport Museum, Bootleg Alley, and the shipyards of Greenport. If you are looking for artists, Greenport is still the home of famous artists including award-winning actress Peg Murray, sculptor Arden Scott, crafts-person Gail Horton, and award winning songwriter Hugh Prestwood. With outdoor theater, live music events, and galleries galore, the arts of very much alive in the Village of Greenport.
Of course, make sure to have some fun and enjoy a visit to Mitchell Park, which overlooks Greenport Harbor. Mitchell Park has an outdoor amphitheater, harbor side boardwalk, winter ice skating, and public docks which are quite busy during the summer months. Combine that with Greenport’s famous 40-foot carousel which was built in the 1920’s and donated to the village of Greenport in 1995 and you are sure to enjoy the wonders of visiting Greenport at any time of the year!
Spring is just a perfect time to enjoy scenic walks and trails on the North Fork of Long Island. Within the Southold and Greenport areas of Long Island, the choices for nature trails for hiking and bird watching are in great abundance.
Long Island North Fork Hiking Trails List:
Cedar Beach Country Park in Southold is a 68 acre park with over 2,800 feet on Shelter Island Sound. From the park, visitors can enjoy great vistas of Shelter Island Sound and the saltwater marshes of Cedar Beach Harbor.
Arshamomaque Point in Southold encompasses a 54-acres wooded preserve with several trails that wind through mature woodlands, ponds, and saltwater wetlands.
Arshamomaque Preserve in Greenport is a 120 acre preserved owned by the Town of Southold. They have 1.3 miles of nature trails that wander through mature woodlands, freshwater wetlands, and open fields.
Inlet Pond Park in Greenport enjoys a 55 acre preserve with 1.6 miles of trails leading to Inlet Pond and Long Island Sound. The North Fork Audubon has a visitor’s center and also offers nature programs.
Dam Pond Maritime Reserve in East Marion is a 36 acre reserve also owned by the Town of Southold. Here you can enjoy a small protected bay, grasslands, saltwater marshes and woodlands. There is also a trail that wanders through the reserve which is 1.2 miles long. This trail is a favorite of bird watchers and I love jogging in this park. The Audubon Society keeps track of the birds that are found here. This reserve is about a quarter mile from the B&B. I regularly hike there myself.
It will take some time to try them all, but we will enjoy having you as our guest at the Arbor View House Bed and Breakfast as you explore the North Fork Wine Country of Long Island
Spring in Long Island North Fork Wine Country happens to be the perfect time of year for a romantic getaway. After a long winter of being inside, those first few glorious weeks of spring are just perfect for getting out and enjoying nature and the countryside. The excitement mounts as the daffodils and tulips bloom and the gardens stir after a winter’s rest. The grass is now green and the leaves are ready to pop open on the trees. This is truly a refreshing time of the year and is Mother Nature’s rebirth of nature.
Birds that migrated for the winter are back and their excitement can be heard in the early mornings. It sounds as if they are as happy as the rest of us that spring on Long Island has returned and summer is just around the corner. The once vacant beaches are now awaking with activity as couples stroll hand in hand enjoying the feel of sunshine on their faces and the mesmerizing sound of the ocean as waves break at their feet.
Elaborate plans are not needed to enjoy spring on Long Island. It just happens!
Spring is in the air and it is time to enjoy golfing on Long Island! The Arbor View House Bed and Breakfast has put together a special package to satisfy the needs for those that golf and those that would rather enjoy a spa! Join the Arbor View House for a two night Long Island getaway through June and take advantage of their Spa and Golf Package. 
What is included in the Spa and Golf Package? The golfer in the family gets a half day of golfing at the Island End Golf and Country Club. The Island End Golf and Country Club is a 6,700 yard course in Greenport a short distance from the B&B. Their signature par 3 16th hole is on a bluff overlooking Long Island Sound and the view is beautiful. The four-start rated course has it all and the greens are among the finest on Long Island.
For the non-golfer in the family, do not worry as the Arbor View House Bed and Breakfast has it covered. Relax in the comforts of a half day spa service and settle in to a welcoming massage, followed by a body scrub, and wax. Just feel the stress of daily life melt away!