Herself in the Wild: The North Fork, Long Island
The only reason not to go here is to leave it uncrowded for everyone else.
We fell in love with the bucolic scenery and small town charm of the North Fork, especially the quaint town of Greenport, NY.
Where to Stay: Silver Sands Motel
Silver Sands has a long history of being a family motel in Greenport, NY, but it was recently renovated and is an updated, yet unfussy, place to spend a relaxing week by the water. I would happily stay at Silver Sands again, but in my opinion, the peak-season price of the room was a little high compared to the level of amenities, room size and layout that similarly priced hotels offer.
The rooms have a clean, beach-chic feel, and I appreciated the Chemex coffee set up, as opposed to the plastic-ridden espresso machines that most hotels have.
My favorite part about the hotel is the outdoors. The property is right on Pipe's Cove and has its own private beach with chairs and umbrellas. The water is calm and great for swimming; and the beach is sandy. The spa area is situated alongside a protected salt marsh where you can watch birds (we saw cranes, osprey, gulls and more) with the provided binoculars. Don't skip on booking a treatment. The massage service allowed for extra time to enjoy the spa's sauna, steam shower and cold plunge. It was such a treat!
Our room had a little garden area where I found a sweet little rabbit each morning. The hotel also provides nightly fire pits and has two really great restaurants on property. We also enjoyed having access to bikes so we could explore other nearby beaches and the town of Greenport, without having to worry about parking.
What to Do: Orient State Park
We loved the day we spent on Orient State Park, situated at the easternmost end of the island. The drive alone through the park is very scenic. We started our visit by spending a couple hours paddle boarding through salt marshes and bay water. We were the only ones on the water at the time, so it was very peaceful. Afterwards, we strolled to the beach to cool down. The current here is much stronger and the waves are bigger, so depending on your preferred type of beach you may like this better (or not). On our way back to Greenport, we passed a home with a stand out front selling hand-picked blueberries. A note by the stand said they were extras from their own garden, and they were a delicious, refreshing snack for the drive.
What to See: Farm stands and Vineyards
Part of what makes the North Fork feel so peaceful is the long stretches of farms and vineyards. We also loved that many of the restaurants, including the two on the Silver Sands property, sourced ingredients from local farms. From what we saw, most of the farms had their own stands you could shop from. Deep Roots had a great selection of veggies and meats. There was also a small market in the town of Greenport on Saturday morning. We picked up organic peaches from Treiber Farms.
We didn't visit any of the vineyards on this trip, but it is on our to-do list for next time. Kontokosta is supposed to have a spacious tasting room with beautiful views of the water. The hotel had recommended McCall's. We will check out both next time!
What to Shop: Antiques
There are a plethora of antique shops to choose from in the North Fork. Salt & Lumber is very popular and also has a cafe inside. My favorite was Beall & Bell right in Greenport center. It had a large, but well organized and beautifully curated selection of mostly mid-century modern furniture.
What to Eat: Seafood and more seafood
As a pescatarian, I was in seafood heaven. From oysters to lobster rolls to shrimp pasta, there was really so much selection to choose from. My favorite restaurant overall was Nookie's, on the property of Silver Sands. It had both a delicious breakfast, as well as a wonderfully executed dinner. I really loved how the owners maintained the old school diner feel of the space, while serving top quality food.
Other Favorite Spots are:
- Aldo's: for pastries and coffee in the morning
- Southold Fish Market: a fish market that also serves fresh oysters and lobster rolls
- First & South: Loved their watermelon feta salad (and their oysters)
- Little Creek Oyster Farm: the name says it all
- Little Fish: great place to sit outside, enjoy fresh calamari and then stroll along nearby Kenney's Beach
- Southold Social: had a delicious squid ink pasta with lobster bisque and shrimp
- Halyard: beautifully situated over the sound. Usually places with a great view lack a great menu, but this spot had both.
- Eddie's: the second restaurant on Silver Sands and perfect for a beach-side pizza
Bonus Recommendation: Looking to get a meditative workout in? Check out Karuna Hot Yoga for their lovely classes.
Finally... What (Jewelry) to Wear:
Rainbow Sapphire Necklace
A timeless classic that adds the perfect pop of color to any beach chic outfit. Handstrung in an ombre rainbow pattern and finished with 14K gold hardware.
Petite Croissant Ring
A stackable, goes-with-anything ring that also kinda looks like a seashell. The perfect on or off the beach ring!
Cartilage Huggie
So comfortable, you'll forget your even wearing it. Plus the hoop design will never poke your ear while you are sleeping. It is 14K solid gold, so you never have to take it off, even when you swim.
Amethyst Bracelet
Amethyst is a durable stone that carries the energy of protection. A beautiful deep purple color that is also the birthstone for February.
Opal Necklace
These magical opals reflect a rainbow of colors in the sunlight. Strung by hand and finished with 14k solid gold hardware.
Want to travel some more? Check out our guide to Austin, TX.