Pickle Festival

Every year there is a pickle festival at Smith-Gardner Farm in Greenlawn.  We finally got the chance to go! It's a great festival for kids because they enjoy seeing the old farmhouse, riding on the hay truck and participating in the face and body painting. And, of course, the pickles are delicious. We bought a container of dill pickles and a container of spicy ones. We recommend both.  

Don't despair if you missed the festival this year. You can still purchase the pickles at the Huntington Farmer's Market, which takes place on Sunday mornings from 7 - 10 am until Thanksgiving. 

If you're more into historic places than pickles, visit Smith Gardiner Farm, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and maintained by the Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association. For hours and tour information contact the Association at 631-754-1180.

FARM LOCATION:

Located on the corner of Little Plains Road and 

Park Avenue in Greenlawn

Sculptures by the River

Next time you're in Riverhead visiting Atlantis Marine World or the East End Arts Council, stop at the Peconic Bay Riverwalk. To get there, you'll have to go back to Main Street and head toward the bay.  

Although the Peconic can be seen directly behind Atlantis, the Riverwalk extends beyond the aquarium fence. That is why you'll need to walk a little further to fully enjoy the area. 

The walk is both relaxing and mysterious. There are approximately eight (maybe more) carved, wooden sculptures, which can be seen along the dock. Nobody seems to know who made the carvings, but they definitely make for some interesting conversation with the locals. 

Makinajian Farm

We've already told you about farm fresh products from Jamesport. Today we want to tell you about a farm that is a little further west (which means even those of you coming from The City can enjoy some farm fresh deliciousness without going all the way to the East End). Makinajian Farm, located off of Cuba Hill Road in Huntington, has wonderful fresh eggs, goat cheese, vegetables, fruit and poultry. They also sell locally made honey, syrup, bread and pie! 

If you're concerned about where your food comes from (and let's face it, these days, we all should be), then go to Makinajian. When you arrive on this farm, you can see the chickens, ducks and other animals roaming freely on the property. The farm is also certified organic. 

Sure, the items at Makinajian Farm may be a little more expensive than the average supermarket but, then again, this food is definitely above average. And, when it comes to our family's health and the health of the environment, we want the best for both. Don't you?

Be sure to call ahead if you'll be coming from out of town. Makinajian is closed on Monday, open Sunday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 

6:00 pm.

FARM LOCATION:

276 Cuba Hill Road

Huntington, NY 11743

631-368-9320

Makinajian Farm

  

Cold Spring Harbor

There's definitely too much to say about Cold Spring Harbor in a single blog post, but we'll do our best to give you an overview. Having mainly been a port town (well, hamlet really) in the mid-nineteenth century, Cold Spring Harbor became a tourist location after the whaling economy began to dwindle around 1860. Located on Long Island's North Shore, Cold Spring Harbor was originally named for the natural spring that still flows there. And, if you like to hit the bottle (the water bottle that is), you can fill your empties with the stuff. We can't promise any fountain of youth or anything (honestly we really don't even know for sure if the water is clean), but c'mon, a natural spring right here on Long Island, that's cool, don't you think? 

We've also heard that, at one time, Cold Spring Harbor had several hotels. Today it seems the Swan View Manor Bed & Breakfast Inn is the only one. The size and style of each room varies - we've had a tour. If you will be staying here, you should visit first. Since the hotel is convenient to Northport, Huntington and Laurel Hollow, it could be a good place to book for guests attending a local wedding in these nearby towns. 

More recently, Cold Spring Harbor has become known because of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory - the place where THE noble laureate JAMES WATSON was director! If you're unfamiliar with Cold Spring Harbor Labs, we suggest you check out their website and visit them for a tour. The details may be found at their site.

Cold Spring Harbor is also home to the Dolan DNA Learning Center, the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum and the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium so there are some big lessons to be learned in this tiny little town! But, if you're too cool for school, you may choose to hike, dine or shop instead.

You can take a hike in Cold Spring Harbor State Park. The entrance, with its steep, hilly steps, is reminiscent of the Dipsea Trail in Mill Valley, California. Home to great horned owls, red-tailed hawks and other interesting birds, this park is a nice place for birders. The park is also the start of the northern trailhead of the Nassau/Suffolk Greenbelt Trail, which extends for 19.2 miles to end on the South Shore of Long Island. That's right, you can walk from the North to South Shore (you would definitely need more than a day for this)! 

If you'd rather chill instead of trek, spend a few hours on Main Street where you'll find interesting shops and restaurants. 

Gourmet Goddess (which also happens to be one of our favorite places in Cold Spring Harbor) is worth visiting for the decoration alone. The store sells very unique adult and kid's clothing as well as specialty sweets. 

In terms of restaurants, Trattoria Grasso has a small, but nice bar and live jazz in the evenings. The oysters, drinks and desserts are good (we like them better than the meals). 105 Harbor is a little pricy, but the view of the harbor makes a seafood meal worth it if you're sitting in front of the window. 

And, for those of you who live in the area (or just really love libraries), Cold Spring Harbor Library is the nicest one on Long Island (we're not fooling around).  Sporting a huge reading room, a lovely fireplace and rows of windows, this library makes you feel like you're in the reading room of a Long Island Gold Coast mansion (nothing wrong with pretending). Curl up with a book and stop every so often to take in the beautiful views of the water.

What A Fluke!

"What a Fluke" is what you could be saying if you head to Captree State Park for a day of fishing. Located on Long Island's South Shore, at the eastern tip of Jones Beach, the park has a boat basin loaded with charter boats for cruising, fishing and partys. The boats range in size and price (depending on how long and what type of fishing or activity you'd like to do). Common catches are Fluke, Flounder, Blackfish and Sea Bass. Some boats will also take you Shark fishing!

Many visitors also come to the park to fish at the dock by the bay. This is a great activity to do with the kids, especially since you can also watch the many species of sea birds and observe the crabs crawling along the dock - there are a lot! 

In the summer, the park provides guided nature walks and bird watchers come to view the various types of seagulls, terns, pelicans, black skimmers, common loon, plover and ducks. A variety of other birds (some less common in our area) have also been sighted at Captree - very exciting for birders!

If you arrive early, you can find a spot on the shore of the bay and picnic in the park for lunch. Be sure to enjoy the lovely view of the Fire Island Lighthouse in the distance and the scenic boats cruising off in the horizon. 

Entrance to the park is free if you have a yearly New York State Parks Pass, which you can purchase for $59.00. We highly recommend this option, especially if you'll be taking advantage of other New York state parks! Without a pass, there is an entrance fee of $8.00.  

PARK LOCATION:

Robert Moses Causeway Exit 40 South to Park

631-669-0449

631-321-3510

Fun for the Whole Family

For a full day of fun for the whole family, head to Main Street in Riverhead. Make Atlantis Marine World your first stop. There's a reason that Parents Magazine ranks this place among the top-ten best aquariums for kids! Your child (and you) will pet stingrays, observe sharks, watch seahorses, view the Western hemisphere's largest all-living closed-system coral reef display and enjoy daily special events such as sea lion shows and penguin feeds. From shark dives to aquatic adventure cruises on the Peconic, there's an activity for every child (big and small) at Atlantis.

When you're done seeing all there is to see at the aquarium, head over to East End Arts Council. For anyone interested in the arts on Long Island, this is definitely one of Riverhead's hidden treasures. Founded in 1972, the East End Arts Council is home to a wonderful art gallery and gift shop, and operates the area's only Community School of the Arts. The Council also runs a summer art camp for children ages five through twelve. With shows that rotate every four to six weeks, there is a reason to come back often to view the exhibitions displaying works by well-known and emerging artists. 

After you've completed your tour of the art gallery, head a little further down Main Street to the Eastenders Coffee House. It's worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood for the day. Check out the fun an funky atmosphere and grab a coffee and a snack for the ride home. If you live in the area, Eastenders also has live performances. Shows happen on Saturday and Sunday afternoons as well as on Friday and Saturday nights from 8-11pm.

AQUARIUM LOCATION:

431 East Main Street

Riverhead, NY 11901

631-208-9200

atlantismarineworld.com

EAST END ARTS COUNCIL LOCATION:

133 East Main Street

Riverhead, NY 11901

631-727-0900

eastendarts.org

COFFEE HOUSE LOCATION:

40 East Main Street

Riverhead, NY 11901

631-727-2656

eastenderscoffeehouse.com

 

Farm Fresh

Next time you're headed home from wine country, take a break to stop at Garden of Eve Organic Farm to grab some farm fresh veggies and delicious eggs from free range chickens. With over seventy varieties of vegetables, twenty varieties of herbs and thirty varieties of flowers, you'll find something to take home with you from this certified organic farm. 

Oh, and don't worry if the kids are acting up because you're making another stop. Once they see the chickens, turkeys and goats at Garden of Eve they'll be just fine!

FARM LOCATION:

4558 Soundview Avenue

Riverhead, NY

gardenofevefarm.com

   

Sittin Pretty

Next time you're headed to Long Island's East End, and you're driving on Route 24, drive by the big duck. Located in Flanders, this bird is famous. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and featured in the book Roadside Giants, the duck is worth a visit, especially for the children! 

The store inside the duck sells Long Island souvenirs including postcards, books and other items. The structure has even influenced the field of architecture. Because of The Big Duck, any building shaped like the product it sells, is referred to as a "duck."

With the goal of selling more of their Peking ducks, Riverhead resident and farmer Martin Mauer and his wife, Jeule, built the giant duck in 1931. Originally known as The Big Duck Ranch because duck farms were referred to as "duck ranches" in the 1930's, the duck rested at The Big Duck Ranch on West Main Street until 1936. It was later relocated (when the owners moved) to Route 24 in Flanders.  

In 1987, when development was to take place on the land where the duck rested (or should we say nested), the community came together to save it. Kia and Puran Eshghi, the owners at that time, donated the the landmark to Suffolk County in December of 1987. It was eventually placed in Sears Bellows County Park. Approximately seven months ago, the duck was moved back to it's former home on Route 24 to roost in peace (we hope).

ATTRACTION LOCATION:

Route 24, Flanders

Suffolk County NY

631-852-3377

  

Seal Watching on Long Island

Did you know that you could see seals right here in New York's backyard?  You don't have to go to California! Seals migrate to Long Island from January through April each year.   If you are interested in seal watching, there are several options.

The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation operates seal cruises from January until the end of April. These weekend-only tours leave from Point Lookout and go through Hempstead Harbor. Additionally, the Foundation rehabilitates sick and injured seals (among other marine mammals) and releases them back into the wild.  Seal releases are open to the public.  Visit www.RiverheadFoundation.org if you are interested in going on a cruise or wishing a rehabilitated seal well as he or she rejoins family.

Montauk Point State Park is another place where seals congregate. The park is beautiful and has many hiking/walking trails including the "Seal Haul" trail. Guided tours of this trail are available, but you can also walk the trail on your own.  Keep in mind that the seals don't know you're coming so they may not always be there. Visit www.montauktrails.com to learn more.  

This winter and spring, seals have also been seen swimming and eating near Ponquogue Bridge. For those unfamiliar with this area, it is located at the opposite end of Dune Road from Westhampton Beach, where seals also may be seen from time to time.

Oh, and remember folks, we're talking about seals here on Long Island, not sea lions.