The Best Things to Do on the North Fork, Long Island
I recently had the chance to visit Long Island’s North Fork and I was absolutely blown away, which is why I’m so excited to share this list of the best things to do on the North Fork, Long Island.
I’ve lived in NYC since 2008 and have heard great things about how the North Fork of Long Island and yet have always put off visiting for one reason or another. I *finally* hopped in the car to make the easy 2.5 drive out to the North Fork with my friend Chantilly, and my only regret is not visiting the North Fork sooner!
Long Island’s North Fork is an absolute paradise with 40+ wineries, beaches, farms and farm stands, flower fields and a more laid back feeling than the Hamptons. Keep reading for the best things to do on Long Island’s North Fork, and then book your trip immediately. You won’t regret it!
Where Is the North Fork?
The North Fork is on the northeast end of Long Island. It’s about a 2.5 hour drive east from Manhattan, and it’s north of, and parallel to, the oh-so-sceney Hamptons.
Why Visit Long Island’s North Fork
The North Fork of Long Island is the absolute best of America’s Northeast, all wrapped up in a single destination.
It offers beautiful beaches, lush vineyards and charming wineries, cute towns, farms and farm stands selling fresh locally-grown produce and flowers, flower fields, luxury B&Bs, and charming local shops.
The Hamptons v. The North Fork
A lot of people consider the North Fork to be the anti-Hamptons. Both are upscale destinations that are within driving distance of New York City, but the North Fork is much more laid back and less of a scene than the Hamptons.
People go to the Hamptons to see and be seen – bankers and models get chauffeured around in SUVs to the latest clubs and restaurants where people wait for hours to get in.
Meanwhile in the North Fork, you’ll find a quieter and more laid back scene. New Yorkers may drive up in their luxury vehicles, but instead of waiting in line to have dinner at Montauk’s Surf Lodge, they’ll spend the weekend wine tasting and going to bed at at a reasonable hour.
On the North Fork, the beaches are less crowded and you don’t need to book your dinner reservations weeks in advance. In short, it’s unpretentious and an absolutely heavenly escape from both NYC and the Hamptons scene.
Getting to the North Fork, Long Island
Long Island’s North Fork is a great weekend getaway from New York City and the surrounding area. If you’re a Long Island local or visiting the Hamptons, the North Fork also makes a great day trip.
Car
The best way to get to the North Fork from New York City is by car (about 2.5 hours from Manhattan) because the North Fork itself is best explored by car. Everywhere we went on the North Fork was within a 30 minute drive of our hotel, and most places were within a 15 minute drive. But, it would have been more difficult to get around and explore the area without a car.
The drive to the North Fork is beautiful and scenic once you get closer to the North Fork.
If you’re planning to day trip to the North Fork from the Hamptons, driving is your best bet. It’s about a 1.5 drive, depending on which Hamptons town you’re coming from.
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Railroad is an affordable and easy way to reach the North Fork. If you’re leaving from Penn Station in Manhattan, take the train to Ronkonkoma and then transfer to a Greenport bound train. A one-way peak ticket from Penn Station is $30.50 and a one-way off-peak ticket is $22.25.
Hampton Jitney
The Hampton Jitney is a luxury bus line that takes passengers into the Hamptons and the North Fork. This is another affordable and easy way to get to the North Fork from NYC.
Tickets start at $36 for one way, or $29 if you prepay online. This is a popular way to get to the North Fork and also the Hamptons, and their busses are clean and comfortable.
Seaplane or Helicopter
Unlike the Hamptons, the North Fork doesn’t have an airport. So, if you want to be a high-roller and fly in instead of dealing with traffic on the Long Island Expressway, you’ll have to land in the Hamptons and then take a car service into the North Fork.
Some options for flying are:
- Tailwind: runs seaplane flights to Shelter Island starting at $745 per person one way during the summer high season.
- FlyBlade: flies from Manhattan into East Hampton starting at $795 per person one way.
Getting Around the North Fork
Car
The best way to explore the North Fork is by car. The town of Greenport itself is walkable, but if you want to explore anywhere else, it is best to drive.
Neither Uber nor Lyft operates in the North Fork.
Bike Rental
If you don’t have a car or prefer to cycle, Dan’s Bike Rental in Greenport will deliver your bike rental to you. Their delivery area covers most of the North Fork.
Bike rentals start are $25/day.
Best Time to Visit the North Fork
The most popular times to visit the North Fork are:
- summer: when the vineyards are lush and green, the produce is plentiful at farm stands, and it’s warm enough to swim at the beach
- fall: when the leaves are turning, the pumpkin patches and apple orchards are open, and the farm stands are overflowing with fall produce
Spring on the North Fork has pleasant weather and is less busy, but the vines won’t be in full form yet.
Renting a house in the winter could be cozy, but seasonal businesses in the area may be closed and it could be quite cold and windy.
Best Places to Stay – North Fork, Long Island
The North Fork has luxury B&Bs, small hotels and also home rentals. You won’t find big chain hotels or resorts. Here are sthe best places to stay on Long Island’s North Fork.
The Harvest Inn
(Note: The Harvest Inn hosted me for a complimentary stay, however, as always all opinions are my own.)
I had the opportunity to stay at The Harvest Inn and I can’t recommend it enough. The Harvest Inn is a luxury bed and breakfast that feels like a boutique hotel.
The owners Stacey and Steve Issacs are so friendly and really made us feel at home. They also gave us local recommendations for wineries and activities and made restaurant reservations for us.
The Harvest Inn is a gem of a property and I hope to stay with them again soon.
Location
The Harvest Inn is located at 40300 Main Road, Peconic, NY, 11958.
The location on the North Fork is unmatched – nearly every place we wanted to explore was within a 15 minute drive of The Harvest Inn.
You can even walk down the road to Pindar Vineyards, one of the most popular wineries in the area.
The Property
The Harvest Inn is set in a beautiful shingled house with a welcoming wrap-around terrace. There is plenty of outdoor seating for guests, a big lawn, and a koi pond.
Amenities
The Harvest Inn feels homey, intimate and upscale. The rooms are beautifully appointed with casually elegant furniture, luxury linens and towels, Beekman 1802 toiletries, and plush bathrobes and slippers.
The Harvest Inn serves memorable 2-3 course breakfasts every morning cooked by the owner Stacey. One morning during our stay, I had home baked blueberry muffins, proscuitto and eggs on toast, fresh fruit, fresh OJ and grapefruit juice, a ginger health shot and as much coffee with oat milk as I could possibly drink. It’s safe to say I didn’t have room for lunch that day!
Stacey cooks with local and organic as much as possible, and she is able to accommodate dietary restrictions (advance notice of dietary restrictions is appreciated).
Beach Passes
The Harvest Inn has beach passes for guests, so that you can enjoy the nearby beaches.
Other North Fork Hotels
If you can’t snag a room at The Harvest Inn, other solid hotel options on the North Fork include:
- The Menhaden – a stylish hotel in the walkable town of Greenport with a roofdeck for guests with waterfront views.
- Harborfront Inn at Greenport – a 35 room waterfront hotel with a heated outdoor pool.
- American Beech – a trendy boutique hotel in Greenport with a popular restaurant and boutique.
- Sound View Greenport – a modern design hotel with a private beach
- Greenporter Hotel – a simple and casual hotel in Greenport with a pool.
AirBnb
If renting a house is more your thing, AirBnb has plenty of great options on the North Fork, including:
- North Fork Vineyard Farmhouse
- Lin Beach House
- Waterfront Beach Cottage
- Greenport Victorian
- Victorian Cottage in the Trees
- Walk to Vineyards, Beaches, Farms & Town
Best Restaurants on the North Fork
The North Fork has a variety of restaurants, many of which are in the walkable town of Greenport. It’s a good idea to call ahead to make a reservation, especially on a summer weekend:
Claudio’s
Claudio’s restaurants focus on American cuisine with an emphasis on seafood. They have two locations in Greenport. Claudio’s on Main has a fascinating history and was a speakeasy during the Prohibition era! (111 Main Street, Greenport, NY)
Case’s Place
Case’s Place is a casual seafood restaurant right on the water, with views of Little Peconic Bay. (650 1st St, New Suffolk, NY)
It is a classic old-school North Fork restaurant and the Case family is descended from one of the original families that settled in the area in the 1640’s.
Lucharitos
Lucharitos is a colorful taqueria and tequila bar that serves Mexican cuisine in Greenport. (119 Main Street, Greenport, NY)
Frisky Oyster
The Frisky Oyster is a seafood restaurant in Greenport with a sophisticated menu. (27 Front Street, Greenport, NY)
Crabby Jerry’s
Crabby Jerry’s is a casual and family friendly seafood restaurant at the Greenport marina. It’s part of the Claudios family of restaurants. (1111 Main Street, Greenport, NY)
Bruce & Son
Bruce & Son serves locally inspired breakfast and lunch. (208 Main Street, Greenport, NY)
North Fork Table & Inn
North Fork Table & Inn serves elevated cuisine “celebrating the bounty of Long Island’s farm, vineyards & waterways” in a historic country home. (57225 Main Rd, Southold, NY)
Noah’s
Noah’s is a farm to table restaurant in the heart of Greenport. (136 Front Street, Greenport, NY)
American Beech
American Beech is the closest thing to a scene-y or Instagrammable restaurant in Greenport. It serves modern American cuisine in a stylish and eye-catching space. (300 Main Street, Greenport, NY)
Demarchelier Restaurant
Demarchelier serves solid classic French cuisine in a charming, and sometimes festive, space. During our meal, the staff was passing out sparklers to guests. (471 Main Street, Greenport, NY)
Best Things do to on the North Fork of Long Island
The North Fork is a great place to unwind, but you can also spend your time exploring the area’s wineries, beaches, towns and more. These are the best things to do on the North Fork, Long Island.
Visit the North Fork’s Wineries
If you’re a wine lover, visiting at least a couple of the local North Fork wineries should be at the top of your list. There are over 40 wineries on Long Island’s North Fork, and the ones listed below are some of the best.
Pindar Vineyards
Pindar Vineyards (37645 NY-25, Peconic, NY) is not only one of the most popular vineyards on the North Fork, but they also have a beautiful sunflower field next to their tasting room.
Visiting the sunflower field at Pindar Vineyards is free and you can stop by any time of day, whether or not the tasting room is open. The sunflowers typically bloom in July and August.
Pindar Vineyards also produces award-winning wines and is the largest vineyard on Long Island. They grow 17 varieties of grape, produce 23 varietals and proprietary blends of wine and produce 70,000 cases of wine per year.
Their vineyards are set on more than 500 scenic acres on Long Island. Their tasting room is open daily and the staff is extremely helpful and friendly.
Pindar Vineyards is also committed to sustainability efforts and you will see wind turbines on their property. The winery is even being converted to a geothermal heating and cooling system for its wine-making tanks, which is a zero-emissions system.
If you want more details on visiting Pindar Vineyards, I’ve written a complete guide to visiting Pindar Vineyards from my first visit back in 2018.
Croteaux
Croteaux (1450 South Harbor Road, Southold, NY) is unique because it’s the only vineyard in America dedicated solely to making rosé.
At Croteaux, they specialize in making dry, Provençal-style rosé wines and their vintages are released each year in March.
Their charming vineyards, winery and outdoor tasting garden are set on two farms that have been in continuous agricultural production since the 1700s. Their grounds are absolutely stunning with upscale bohemian decor. They also have a large cherry blossom tree that flowers every spring in their tasting garden.
Kontokosta
Kontokosta (825 North Rd, Greenport, NY) is known for its beautiful setting as much as its wine. This North Fork winery has beautiful views of the Long Island sound.
Macari
Macari (150 Bergen Ave, Mattituck, NY) is a family-owned and run vineyard with tastings by appointment only as of summer 2021. Their 500 acres of land have been in their family for over 50 years,
Sparkling Pointe
Sparkling Pointe (39750 County Rd 48, Southold, NY) is a North Fork winery dedicated to producing sparkling wine in the method of champagne. The 40 acres of vineyard at Sparkling Pointe are planted only with classic Champagne grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay.
Take a Wine Tour of the North Fork
Guided tours by bike or coach are a popular way to explore the North Fork’s wineries. You can usually arrange for our coach tour to leave from either the North Fork area, or from the New York City area. They are also a popular choice for New Yorkers’ bachelor and bachelorette parties.
Bike Wine Tours
If you love cycling, East End Bike Tours offers a variety of guided and self-guided bike tours of the North Fork’s wine county. You can tour scenic spots, visit historic landmarks, visit vineyards and more. Their classic guided tour is 5 hours and covers 13.5 miles, with prices starting at $117 per person.
Coach Wine Tours
.A number of operators – including North Fork Wine Tours, East End Wine Tasting Tours, and New Wine Tasting Tours – offer wine tours by coach, so that you can imbibe at each winery without worrying about who is going to drive.
Visit a Brewery or Distillery
Wine not your thing? The North Fork is also home to several breweries and distilleries that you can visit:
- Greenport Harbor Brewing Company is a popular brewery with locations in both Greenport and Peconic (234 Carpenter Street, Greenport, NY, and 42155 Main Road, Peconic, NY)
- Long Island Spirits distills vodka, whiskey and liqueurs (2182 Sound Ave, Baiting Hollow, NY)
- Long Island O’Oldtymer Moonshine distills whiskey and vodka (5506 Sound Avenue, Riverhead, NY)
- Montauk Distilling Co. distills a wide variety of spirits and – confusingly – their tasting room is on the North Fork, not in Montauk (24 East 2nd Street, Riverhead, NY)
- Matchbook Distilling Co. distills a variety of bespoke spirits (230 Corwin Street, Greenport NY; open by appointment only as of summer 2021)
Visit a Lavender Farm
Lavender By the Bay is a family owned lavender farm with two locations on Long Island (7540 Main Rd., East Marion, New York, and 47 Manor Rd, Calverton, NY).
The lavender typically blooms in June and July, and while it’s in bloom you can visit the farms and walk through the lavender fields (and take photos, of course!). It’s a slice of Provence, France, on Long Island.
You can track the bloom before your visit by checking Lavender By the Bay’s Instagram account.
You can also visit their charming farm stores to shop dried lavender, honey, lavender soap, and other products, whether or not the lavender is in bloom.
The location I visited in East Marion – which is the location closest to the town of Greenport on the North Fork – is on 17 acres and has 80,000 lavender plants!
You can check out my blog post detailing my first time visiting Lavender By the Bay for additional details.
Go to the North Fork’s Beaches
The North Fork has beautiful beaches on the Long Island Sound. Many of the beaches in the area require a beach permit, which as of summer 2021 are generally for residents only.
Your hotel may be able to lend you a beach pass during your stay – our hosts at The Harvest Inn keep beach passes on hand of guests.
If your accommodations can’t hook you up with a beach pass, here are the North Fork beaches that you can visit:
- Orient Beach State Park (pictured below) – entrance fee of $10 per car. We went during the week and it was peaceful and uncrowded.
- Hallock State Park Preserve – entrance fee of $8 per car.
- Wildwood State Park – entrance fee is $8-10 per car depending on the time of year. Camping fees range from $18-39 per night.
Explore the Town of Greenport
Greenport is a charming walkable town on the North Fork. Many of the hotels and restaurants I recommend in this post are in Greenport and it very much feels like the hub of the North Fork.
Greenport’s other attractions include:
- Greenport’s Antique Carousel, which is over 100 years old. Tickets are $2 to ride. (115 Front St, Greenport, NY)
- American Beech, which is not only has a hotel and trendy restaurant, but also a stylish boutique with women’s clothing, accessories and eye-catching home goods. (300 Main Street, Greenport, NY)
- The Times Vintage, where you can shop vintage clothing, decor and records. (429 Main St, Greenport, NY)
- The Village Blacksmith, a replica of an old blacksmith’s shop from the 1870s. Visit on the weekends to see a blacksmith at work and learn about the trade and its history. (101 Front St, Greenport, NY)
- East End Seaport Museum, where you can learn about the maritime history of Long Island. (3rd St, Greenport, NY)
- The Fireboat Firefighter Museum. (Mitchell Park Marina, Greenport, NY)
Visit a Farm or Farm Stand
The North Fork is known for its farms and farm stands. Before you head back to NYC, don’t miss out on visiting a farm or shopping for local produce and flowers at a farm stand:
Local favorites include:
- Wickham’s Fruit Farm is on some of the oldest continually cultivated land in America. Much of the farm dates back to 1661. 200 of their 300 acres are dedicated to growing fruit. (28700 Main Rd, Cutchogue, NY)
- Habes Family Farms & Vineyard sells sustainably produced, non-GMO, fruits and vegetables. It’s also a destination for seasonal farm activities, such as apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides and a corn maze. (715 Sound Ave, Mattituck NY; with other farm locations in Riverhead and Jamesport)
- Breeze Hill Farm & Preserve has over 72 acres of apple orchards and a private hunting preserve. It’s best known for its apple cider donuts in the fall. (31215 County Road – Route 48, Peconic, NY)
- Sang Lee Farms sells seasonal organic produce at their farm stand. (25180 County Road 48, Peconic NY)
- Schmitt’s Farm Stand On Sound sells products from their 4th generation family farm. They are known for their line of Holy Schmitt’s horseradish, as well as their produce. (3355 Sound Avenue, Riverhead, NY)
Day Trip to Shelter Island
If you’re spending more than a few days on the North Fork, it’s an easy ferry ride from Greenport to Shelter Island, a quiet and secluded island getaway that is only reachable by boat or seaplane. Fares for a vehicle and driver on the North Ferry start at $14 one way.
That wrap’s up my list of the best things to do on the North Fork of Long Island. Have you been to the North Fork yet? If not, are you planning a trip?
