How to Spend a Perfect Summer Weekend in New York's North Fork
Wineries, farmstands, and oysters (so many oysters!) await.
Who’s ready for a summer road trip!? If you’re on the hunt for a new area of the country to cruise along country roads with the windows down, we have a grand idea: New York’s North Fork. Here, along the northeasternmost tip of Long Island, a collection of charming waterside hamlets celebrates the simple joys of slow living with a bounty of family farms, small shops, and outdoor dining spots to take in the views. (The Hamptons this is most definitely not!)
Situated just 90 minutes from New York City, the unofficial capital of the North Fork is Greenport, New York (population: 2,700), a former 19th-century whaling village. Here, you’ll find a bulk of the area’s best hotels, a relaxing beach, and plenty of shops and restaurants, but it’s well worth also making the drive to nearby Southold, Peconic, Mattituck, Jamesport, and beyond. Come summer, the entire area is dotted with wineries (over 60!) and farms and farmstands (more than 100!), so you’ll never want for new ways to savor the bounty of the land. (There’s also Peconic Escargot, one of only two fresh snail farms in America!)
Ready to start planning your small town getaway? Scroll on for the best things to do in Greenport and the rest of New York’s North Fork on a summer weekend, including stylish boutiques to peruse, farm-to-table restaurants, and many more ways to savor the flavors of summer. (Hint: there will be oysters!)
Build a Buzz
Tucked inside a sweet shingled house, North Fork Roasting Co. infuses honey into their signature Bee Sting espresso drinks, which are best enjoyed with avocado toast or lemon-ricotta pancakes on the back lawn.
Head to the Water
Take in the Long Island Sound at 67 Steps Beach, where serenity awaits down a long flight of weathered wood stairs. Looking for an easy way to get out on the bay? Book a harbor tour on Glory, a zero-emissions Fantail cruiser.
Find Your Farmstand
The North Fork is home to more than 100 active farms and farmstands. At Wickham’s Fruit Farm (pictured), visitors can pick their own blueberries and strawberries, or shop the farmstand for fresh produce. 8 Hands Farm offers pasture-raised meats and yarn twisted from the fibers of their heritage sheep, while the treats on the daily pie list at Briermere Farms are baked from scratch every day.
Seek Out Seafood
Oysters are an essential element of the local ecosystem. At female-founded Little Ram Oyster Co. (pictured), the one-hour farm tours cap off with a dozen bivalves, while half the fun at Little Creek Oyster Farm & Market is testing out the different types of shucking knives. Guests at Sound View Greenport can also post up poolside with lobster rolls and boozy Popsicles from Jack's Shack (pictured at top).
Stay Forever Young
Kids (and kids at heart!) will want to beeline to Bill Moulton’s Greenie Supply & Tackle for the vending machine out back, which dispenses $5 treasure maps that lead to real-deal buried rewards all across the area. Tamer sorts only need to pony up $2.50 for a ride on the 100-year-old Greenport Carousel.
Visit the Vines
Dozens of wineries dot this verdant peninsula. Stop by McCall Wines to sip on award-winning pinots, then head to Croteaux Vineyards for rosé flights served in their artfully overgrown tasting garden. Spirit enthusiasts can sample vermouth at Matchbook Distilling Co., or sign up for a gin-making class.
Embrace the Old
Sister shops White Flower and White Flower Farmhouse offer an artful selection of old and new garden vessels and home decor. The reclaimed goods at LUMBER+Salt range from factory lights to fireplace mantels, and Beall & Bell is beloved for antique French and midcentury furnishings.
Take the Cloth
LIDO is known for hand block-printed textiles, while stripes of all varieties adorn the totes and table linens at Orient Linen Co.
Travel Through Time
At the Hallockville Museum Farm, history buffs can tour through a Depression-era farmhouse, an 18th-century homestead, and 17 more historic farm buildings, then say hello to the friendly sheep, cows, and chickens that live on-site. The Southold Historical Museum is home to a dozen historical buildings, including a blacksmith shop and schoolhouse, that range in date from 1750 to 1900.
Savor the Scent
Early July is the best time to visit Lavender by the Bay in East Marion, when the 17-acre farm's French varietals reach peak bloom.
Do Dinner Right
Chef John Fraser turns out magical farm-to-table meals at North Fork Table & Inn, while delicious pastas and crudos await at newcomer Southold Social.
Set Up Camp
Making your journey in an RV? Park your wheels at Eastern Long Island Kampground. Prefer more traditional accommodations? Originally built in 1953, waterfront Sound View Greenport (pictured) offers sunset yoga and cedar-clad hot tubs, while The Shoals in Southold boasts surfer-chic suites and 20 boat slips.
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