Pretty much as soon as summer hits, I start thinking about escaping the city (okay, and in the fall too). Even though we have two weeks in Maine booked for the beginning of August, I still convinced Rob we should go somewhere for the 4th. I shared a little bit about why this holiday means a lot to me (it has nothing to do with patriotism), and it’s just not the same in NYC. While the Hamptons has its perks, summer on the North Fork is much more our speed.
If you aren’t familiar, The North Fork is a 30-mile-long peninsula in the northeast part of Suffolk County, Long Island. It’s pretty much parallel to the South Fork where the Hamptons are, but known for the Long Island Wine Trail and a more laidback vibe.
Where We Stayed
We lucked out with a great Airbnb in a town called Cutchogue, about halfway out on the North Fork. The location was perfect. It was a short drive to a private beach and a bunch of restaurants, plus close to wineries and farms. The towns are pretty close together out there, so if you can’t find somewhere in your “ideal” location, you’ll likely only be a short drive away.
Where We Ate
Since we had Seth with us, we decided to go out for breakfasts and lunches, and pick up dinners. Here’s the rundown:
- Breakfast: North Fork Donut Company; Black Sheep Bagels; North Fork Roasting Company
- Lunch: Windamere, Rose Hill Vineyard
- Dinner: Red Rooster Bistro; Mattitaco; Braun’s Kitchen
- Ice Cream: Magic Fountain
We enjoyed everything, but special mention for Windamere. It’s a beautiful setting (where the picture at the top of the post was taken), and they have tons of outdoor seating. The Caprese salad I got there (see above) was the perfect summer dish with peaches and honey!
What We Did
The most exciting thing we did was take Seth to the beach for the first time. He loved it, which filled my heart with such joy. The beach closest to where we stayed was private, but there are plenty of public beaches on the North Fork too.
It’s not a North Fork trip without at least one vineyard visit. Fortunately, we were still able to make it work, even though we had both Seth and Bones with us. Thankfully, a number of the wineries (and many restaurants) are dog-friendly, and Bones made a lot of friends.
We ended up at Rose Hill, where we’d been before. The food is great (see photo above), the property is beautiful, and they have wine we both like. Our second stop was at Bridge Lane. It ended up raining, but we were able to sit inside for a bit. I also wanted to go to Croteaux, which specializes in rosé, but I couldn’t convince Rob. Maybe next time! Side note: There are a number of breweries and tap rooms out there too, if wine isn’t your favorite.
We didn’t make it to Harbes Family Farm, but it was the top recommendation from anyone with kids. I snuck away to Wickham’s Fruit Farm, which happened to be near our house. We didn’t have a chance to pick our own fruit, but I got a few things from their fruit stand.
It’s also fun to walk around the downtown areas of some of the towns. Greenport is probably the cutest, with the most places to see and shop. Speaking of, if you’re in the mood for shopping of a different variety, there’s an expansive Tanger Outlet Center in Riverhead.
All in all, it was a fantastic long weekend. I love being near the water and it’s so nice to take a break from the noise and the pace of the city. I don’t think we’ll make it out to the North Fork again this summer, but we will definitely be back! Check out the North Fork highlight on my Instagram profile for more snapshots from our weekend away.
