sailboat races new suffolk

$100.00 early bird entry ends.  Entries after 2400 will be charged a $50.00 late fee.

September 23 (2400)

Last day to order gear

September 30 (2400)

Late entry deadline.  Changes between divisions will not be accepted.

October 2 (2400)

Entries of boats without ratings will be cancelled and entry fees refunded.

@2023 Peconic Bay Sailing Association

• Best of the North Fork
• Classifieds
• Read Digital Edition
• Write the Editor

Browse By Location .st123123{fill:none;stroke:#000000;stroke-width:10;stroke-miterlimit:10;}

• Baiting Hollow
• East Marion
• Long Island

New Suffolk

• Off the Fork

Shelter Island

Wading River

Sign up for our Newsletter

A northforker guide to the neighborhoods of the north fork, stay up to date.

Get the latest North Fork stories, recommendations, and upcoming events right to your inbox with our daily newsletter.

A bird’s eye view of New Suffolk. (Photos by David Benthal)

Since March,  Northforker has been publishing guides to the neighborhoods of the North Fork. 

These essays aimed to highlight some of what makes each of our communities special places.

They included suggestions for places to eat, drink, live and breathe across the North Fork and Shelter Island. If you’re planning an upcoming visit to one of our local neighborhoods, be sure to check out our guide before heading east.

Jamesport and Aquebogue

Orient and East Marion

Cutchogue is a wine-lover’s paradise and so much more

The Long Island Wine Trail begins on Sound Avenue in Baiting Hollow and continues up Routes 48 and 25 to Greenport. Along the path, there are dozens of wineries, each with its own distinct features.

But the true beginning of Long Island Wine Country exists in Cutchogue, where the first vines were planted and 11 tasting rooms are open today. If there were a capital for Long Island wine, its flag would fly somewhere in the rows at Castello di Borghese, among the oldest vines in the region.

Cutchogue isn’t just home to the first winery — Hargrave Vineyard was founded in 1973 on the Borghese property — or the most tasting rooms, it’s also a hamlet where some of the area’s top producers grow, crush and bottle their wine.

The Hargraves’ son, Zander, has continued the family’s legacy at Pellegrini Vineyards, Bedell Cellars (pictured) has been noted for its “breathtaking views” and  

McCall Wines was named Winery of the Year at the 2013 New York Wine & Food Classic.

If you’re seeking a casual experience and live music, Lieb Cellars and Pugliese Vineyards are good choices, and Coffee Pot Cellars and Suhru Wines will stimulate your palates in boutique settings.

If you’re a wine lover, Cutchogue is an important stop on a trip to the North Fork, and the Sannino Vineyard Bed and Breakfast is a good choice for anchoring your stay. You can even spend an entire day without leaving the hamlet, by enjoying lunch at the Cutchogue Diner and dinner at Touch of Venice, which boast’s a wine list that’s perennially ranked at the top of the North Fork by Wine Spectator.

Of course, wineries aren’t the only reason to visit Cutchogue and like so much of the North Fork it features spectacular farm stands. 8 Hands Farm is a must-stop on any visit to the North Fork. The 28-acre sustainable farm is home to a flock of icelandic sheep, livestock and vegetable and herb gardens. Food and goods produced from what’s raised on the farm are available inside the store and a food truck on the property.

You can also get in touch with Long Island’s farming history with a stop at Wickham’s Fruit Farm, which has been in the Wickham Family since the end of the 17th century. More than 200 acres are dedicated to fruits and you can pick them yourself for a more complete experience. Be sure to also pick up some of their fresh baked goods, too.

Springtime is also a great time to get your own garden going with a stop at Trimble’s of Corchaug nursery, which prides itself on customer service and is a great place to find both indigenous and unique plantings,

Of course, Cutchogue’s finest feature might just be its nature. The region’s Native American history can be felt as you hike Downs Farm Preserve — the former Fort Corchaug property. And the bayfront real estate is a boater’s dream along a series of creeks that open up into the Peconics.  

As you sail away into the open waters, you’ll realize Cutchogue is a place you won’t soon forget. 

There’s no place quite like Greenport

F our years ago we launched an online interactive contest to see what our readers felt was the best hamlet or village on the North Fork. It was the most anticlimactic game of all time as Greenport, a heavy favorite going in, stomped everyone en route to the title.

The North Fork is filled with hidden gems like New Suffolk and scenic wonders like Orient, but Greenport was a tall order for any community to have to go up against.

A one-time whaling port, Greenport, which was colonized in the mid-17th century, features a little something for everyone. Even as a top stop for visitors to the North Fork, the community’s enormous local pride still shines through in the way it celebrates its heritage. That’s particularly true at the annual Maritime Festival in September and through the East End Seaport Museum, Stirling Historical Society and the old jail, blacksmith and schoolhouse buildings that leave you feeling as if you’ve escaped to some other time or place.

Even as the fishing industry has died down, what remains of it is visible from Greenport’s picturesque docks and open waters, where tour boat companies like Glory Going Green and Peconic Cruise Line can take you out to breathe in the salt air and see the community from a new vantage point.

Hours spent killing time in Mitchell Park (drinking a cup of Aldo’s coffee no doubt!) also offer a prime snapshot of the village. Watch the boats dock at Claudio’s or ride the carousel as you wait for the Monday night Dances in the Park series to get underway again in July.

Foodies, of course, could spend a lifetime in Greenport and never get tired of the dozens of restaurants that combine to satisfy virtually any craving at any time of day. In this village it’s not about finding a place to eat, but rather narrowing down your options to just one. Do I want Bruce & Son for breakfast or Crazy Beans? Am I in the lunchtime mood for tacos at Lucharitos, fried chicken at Salamander’s or pizza at 1943 Pizza Bar? These are questions not easily answered.

Other popular dining spots include Noah’s, The Frisky Oyster and First & South for small plates, entreés and a drink; Little Creek Oyster Farm & Market, Port, Porto Bello and The Halyard for waterfront dining; and don’t even think of leaving town without a trip up Main Street to Stirling Sake and Brix & Rye.

Before visiting any of these or the many other fine choices along Front Street and beyond, patrol the shopping district for great finds at shops like The Weathered Barn, One Love Beach, Beall & Bell and more.

Anchor your stay by thinking outside the box with a suite at American Beech (also a first-rate dining spot), a bed-and-breakfast like the Tapestry House or a more traditional experience at the cozy Greenporter Hotel.

And while Greenport makes its mark as a respite from wine country, the community features Kontokosta Winery, the only Soundfront tasting room in town, and Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., the North Fork’s first brewery.

Wherever your next stop takes you in Greenport, it’s hard to go wrong. Just be sure of one thing: Don’t let a visit to the North Fork pass you by without checking out this charming, historic village.

The magic of Jamesport and Aquebogue

There’s a turning point as you head east into Aquebogue and Jamesport.  

The big box stores that dot Route 58 in Riverhead suddenly feel hundreds of miles away — not five as the GPS reminds — as you enter Aquebogue and Jamesport.  

The first communities flanked by both the Peconic Bay and the Long Island Sound, it’s where the small town coastal ambience that radiates across the North Fork begins.  

As Route 58 fades into Route 25 at the start of Aquebogue heading into Jamesport the shift is subtle, but instantaneous. The two-lane highway turns into one and scenes of farm fields and vineyards come into view.

There are several farm stands and markets for fresh produce and local provisions on your journey — Bay View Farm Market among the most prominent on the main drag.

The downtown Main Street is deceptively small in comparison to all its offerings.  

Dinning satisfies every craving. The newly opened Main Road Biscuit Co. has become a popular breakfast and lunch spot   — get those chicken and waffles — while Junda’s Pastry Crust & Crumbs across the street never fails to deliver with its locally famed strudel.  

A traditional steak dinner calls for the tried-and-true Cliff’s Elbow Room, while crave-worthy tacos are found just west of downtown at the recently opened Little Lucharitos.

Jamesport has two notable restaurants for fine dining the Jedediah Hawkins Inn and Jamesport Manor Inn. Each boast farm-to-table menus and the former also features storied accommodations in close proximity to Main Street. Bay Breeze Inn & Bistro — slightly off the beaten path in South Jamesport — offers a lodging option for those who prefer to be steps away from the beach and a park for picnicking.  

The juxtaposition between old and new in Jamesport is hard to deny. The centuries old Jamesport Meeting House anchors the downtown and still serves as a place for community gatherings. Just around the corner at the Red Salvage Barn, antique furniture and wood reclaimed from historic North Fork barns and houses gets new life with on-trend painting techniques and treatments.  

If it’s imbibing you seek, you’ll find it here.  

There are a handful of award-winning wineries throughout the hamlet. Jamesport Vineyard is the place for local wine in a relaxed outdoor setting while Sherwood House has a cozy fireplace that warms souls on brisk spring evenings. Paumanok Vineyards in Aquebogue is renowned for its stellar winemaking reputation.

Martha Clara and Palmer Vineyards are popular stops on the north side of the hamlet, where you’ll also find Jamesport Farm Brewery. The Sound Avenue brewery is a haven for craft beer enthusiasts looking to sip the terroir from something other than a wine glass.  

Located on the Long Island Sound, the recently established Hallock State Park Preserve across the street from Martha Clara is the premiere place to catch a sunset and enjoy a hike. A visit to the hamlet would be remiss without a stop at Hallock Museum Farm next to the preserve. The historic campus is a testament to Riverhead Town’s potato farming roots and home to particularly adorable farm animals.  

Jamesport is a hamlet of new and old — quintessentially North Fork in every way.  

Mattituck has everything that makes the North Fork special

If we were to pick one word to describe Mattituck, it would have to be “central.”

Located on the western edge of Southold Town, it’s positioned at the center of the North Fork.

But liked a baked apple pie you might pick up at a local farm stand, the hamlet itself is elevated by all the good stuff in the middle.

Located right in the heart of Mattituck is Love Lane, a go-to destination for residents of the hamlet and visitors alike. A microcosm of the entire North Fork retail scene, it features everything from clothing boutique Mint, to the Roanoke Vineyards tasting room, the Village Cheese Shop and Love Lane Sweet Shoppe.

But your primary reason for stopping on Love Lane is generally to fill your belly at one of several great lunch spots, including Love Lane Kitchen and Lombardi’s Love Lane Market. (Quick walks around the block also lead you to tasty choices like goodfood. and North Fork Donut Co.)

There’s also much beauty in the center of the hamlet, particularly in the way Mattituck Inlet cuts through the north side of the community, creating scenic waterfront vistas.

That’s not to say all of Mattituck’s glory is in what lies between the crust. Its shorelines are havens for boaters and offer some of the best waterfront living opportunities on the North Fork. Breakwater Beach on the Long Island Sound and Veteran’s Beach on the Peconic Bay are two of the North Fork’s finest public parks, and Bailie Beach offers a less crowded swimming oasis.  

Restaurants like a Mano and Pace’s Dockside further cement Mattituck’s claim as a dining destination and the Bridge Lane and Macari Vineyards tasting rooms are two spots worthy of a stop on your next visit to the North Fork, which should center around a stay at Cedar House on Sound Bed and Breakfast.

Mattituck is also a great place to get lost off the beaten path, where you’ll find great farm stands like MarGene and Cooper’s, and an Instagram-worthy drive up Oregon Road in to Cutchogue.

Of course many people know Mattituck for its series of annual seasonal events, which kicks off with the Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Festival in June, continues throughout summer with the Chamber of Commerce’s First Fridays on Love Lane, and concludes with autumn weekends spent at Harbes Family Farm.

Mattituck isn’t just in the middle of everything it is a little bit of everything that makes the North Fork such a special place. 

New Suffolk is a tucked-away gem

I t was only fitting that with our special Working Waterfront issue, which will be released the middle of next week, we included a profile of the tiny neighborhood of New Suffolk.

The community’s connection to the working waterfront is a unique one. 

While it’s been home to many boatyards and marinas over the years, it holds the rare distinction of having also been a submarine base. In fact, from 1899 to 1905 New Suffolk was home port for the USS Holland, the United States Navy’s first commissioned submarine.

Everything about New Suffolk is small, rare and special. The hamlet itself is tucked away along the road less traveled.

Unlike most communities across Long Island, New Suffolk features no major east-west thoroughfare (unless you want to count the bucolic New Suffolk Avenue). Instead, it sits well south of Cutchogue, far removed from the hustle and bustle of Main Road and Route 48.

Those fortunate enough to spend any time in New Suffolk immediately recognize its charming beauty in the unique architecture of the homes and the variety of waterfront views.

New Suffolk has fewer than 350 full-time residents, many of them second-home owners, and boasts one of New York’s tiniest school districts. About 15 elementary students attend classes inside the community’s iconic red schoolhouse.

A largely singular place, it features just one (gorgeous!) public beach, one shop — the appropriately named Summer Girl emporium — and a small post office so adorable it will make you wish email had never been invented.

If New Suffolk has more than one of anything, it’s restaurants — and they’re both worth checking out. Legends, now in its 25th year in business, boasts perhaps the North Fork’s best neighborhood bar and a menu that stacks up well against those at some of the area’s better restaurants. The newer Case’s Place is a formidable waterfront seafood option.

The nonprofit New Suffolk Waterfront Fund, which owns the property where Case’s Place is located, is a shining example of a community investing in the place it calls home. The group raised money from local residents to preserve the 3.5-acre waterfront parcel, which is also now home to a community garden and marina.

The waterfront is also a great place to catch the Wednesday evening sailboat races around Robins Island.

If you visit New Suffolk on just one day of the year, make it the Fourth of July, when the entire community comes out for a quaint parade that embodies the small-town values of the country whose independence we celebrate on that day.

New Suffolk is far from a self-contained community — you’ll have to go someplace else for your milk and bread — but it occupies a unique corner of the North Fork, where the pace is even slower than everywhere else and the sun seems to shine just a tiny bit brighter. 

Orient, East Marion offer a welcome escape

Depending on your direction of travel, Orient typically serves as the beginning or the end.

The Cross Sound Ferry, located just west of the very tip of Orient Point, is the gateway to and from New England.

A “Welcome to New York” road sign greets you as you exit the boat and begin your journey along Route 25.

But for those traveling to the North Fork from the west, Orient is a welcome escape from other parts of New York and the last stop on the road.

Unlike Montauk, its counterpart to the south, which has ocean beaches and a downtown that attracts the masses, Orient is recognized for its tranquility. If it’s nightlife you seek, Greenport is just a few miles to the west.

Orient — like its neighbor East Marion — is built for slow days and quiet nights. There’s no excess in these sibling neighborhoods.

You have your choice of places to visit here, but not an abundance of them.

For many, mornings in Orient start at the Country Store, with hot coffee and fresh baked goods. The popular Brooklyn pie shop Four & Twenty Blackbirds also has an outpost a few storefronts away. East Marion’s Fork & Anchor, which uses lettuce, tomato and basil mayo to create the best egg sandwich on the North Fork, is a perfect bookend to these other spots.

Drive slowly through Orient and you’ll enjoy some of the most peaceful rides you’re likely to ever experience on Long Island. Narrow River Road, named for the body of water that lines most of one side of the street, is a natural wonder that ends at Long Beach Bay, where you’re treated to views of boats passing.

Even Orient Beach State Park includes a scenic drive, so packed with sighting opportunities, you’re almost disappointed to reach the beach at the end.

Trumans Beach in East Marion is a popular spot for swimming in summer and for casting a fishing pole in the fall. If you’re searching for a more remote escape into nature, you’ll find it at the nearby Ruth Oliva Preserve at Dam Pond.

If Orient and East Marion have an overabundance of anything, it’s preserved history — with farm stands for produce and flowers running a close second.

Village Lane is home to the Oysterponds Historical Society, which boasts several historic buildings on its property located between historic Poquatuck Hall and the Orient  Yacht Club.

As for the aforementioned farm stands, Sep’s and Latham’s are among the best on the North Fork and a trip to East Marion and Orient would not be complete without a stop at either Garden Fusion, Lavender by the Bay or North Fork Flower Farm.

A handful of bed-and-breakfasts offer quiet places to rest your head — we’ll recommend Quintessentials Bed & Breakfast and Spa — to complement the rest of your low-key weekend away.

If it’s action you seek, Orient and East Marion might not be for you. The thrills here are found in the sounds of birds chirping and the fresh air that fills your lungs. 

Riverhead is more than just our most populated hamlet

Despite being the largest, most populated hamlet on the North Fork, Riverhead also has a bit of an underdog tag.

With a sprawling commercial business corridor that skews more big box than mom and pop, and a downtown in a forever state of revitalization, it’s easy to overlook so many of the qualities that make Riverhead a special place.

On one hand, it’s Goliath, bigger and louder than its neighbors to the east.

But as you start to pay closer attention to the progress made downtown as it introduces new restaurants, better lodging options, tourist attractions, a focus on the arts and a growing number of affordable rentals, Riverhead becomes a place you start to root for.

There is a pride among Riverhead residents that rivals any other community — and for good reason.

The Long Island Aquarium, The Suffolk Theater, Splish Splash and Tanger Outlet Center are all major draws for visitors to the East End, based right in Riverhead. The Riverhead Business Improvement District, East End Arts and other organizations also host events throughout the year that bring people downtown for community and culture — the Carboard Boat Race, Holiday Bonfire, Polish Town Fair and Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival are among our favorites.

With each of these events and attractions, visitors of Riverhead are exposed to a food scene that rivals the rest of the North Fork, even if it doesn’t get as much attention.

For breakfast, there’s Sunny’s Riverhead Diner & Grill, Star Confectionary (aka Papa Nick’s) and Lolly’s Hut.

Farm Country Kitchen and Maple Tree BBQ are top lunch destinations.

And if it’s a casual dinner experience you’re looking for, you can’t go wrong with Turkuaz Grill, Mazi and Pera Bell Food Bar East — or dial it up a notch for a more formal dinner at Preston House.

While several wineries dot the northeastern edge of town (which we talked about in a previous neighborhood profile) Riverhead proper is all about the suds. A downtown to Polish Town walking tour of breweries is a great way to spend an afternoon here, checking out what’s on tap at Long Ireland, Moustache, North Fork Brewing Co. and Crooked Ladder. (Or get some fresh air and work off the beer with a Brew Crew Cycles tour).

Of course, a trip to Riverhead wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the farm stand, so be sure to stop by Garden of Eve Organic Farm or pick up some local horseradish from Schmitt’s Family Farm.

If it’s the outdoors you seek, be sure to rent a kayak from Peconic Paddler or experience camping at the beach at Indian Island.        

Riverhead might not always get the credit it deserves as a North Fork destination, but the more time you spend there, the harder it is to ignore just how much there is to experience. 

Much fun to be had on Shelter Island

It takes little more than a peek at a map to figure out how Shelter Island got its name.

The island is nestled between the north and south forks of Long Island with Robins Island to the west and Gardiners Island to the east. Its Native American name, Manhansack-aha-quash-awamock, literally translates to “island sheltered by islands.”

This rare geography has shaped Shelter Island as a nature lover’s paradise.

A profile of the island must start with mention of Mashomack Preserve, which features 2,039 acres of interlacing tidal creeks, mature oak woodlands, fields, and freshwater marshes. Occupying 12 miles of coastland, the preserve, which is maintained by the Nature Conservancy, envelops nearly a third of the island and is often referred to as the “Jewel of the Peconic.” It’s a haven for hikers and birdwatchers alike and is considered one of the richest habitats in the northeast.

The island’s remote locale has also made it a destination for people seeking a summertime escape from New York City and beyond, particularly boaters who spend their weekends patrolling Shelter Island Sound and Gardiners Bay.

Once the boats are docked its on to one of the island’s handful of bay beaches — Wades ( with its comfort stations), Hay ( with views of Bug Light), Shell (which is largely secluded) and Crescent (with its close proximity to hotels and bars) all have unique qualities that set them apart from each other.

Coffee and pastries at Marie Eiffel Market or Stars Café are a great way to start your mornings on the island. For lunch, we recommend a takeout burrito from the unassuming Maria’s Kitchen or freshly caught fish from Commander Cody’s. Boaters can’t go wrong docking and dining at SALT.

The island boasts several fine dining options, most notably 18 Bay, Vine Street Café and Isola. Enjoy cocktails and live music at the Ram’s Head Inn or have a nightcap at The Dory.

The Chequit is a more than formidable option for luxury accommodations and the Candlelite Inn is a casual bed and breakfast spot.

Of course, no stay on Shelter Island is complete without a little shopping and you’ll definitely want to experience the two Dabney Lee locations, one for home goods and the other for children’s and women’s clothing. Coastal Cottage is another great spot for houseware finds.

Families can scratch any itch at Jack’s Marine, a hardware store that also sells toys and more.

It’s no accident we’re highlighting Shelter Island in July. Summer is the perfect time of year to visit.

There’s just one problem with visiting an island as special as this. No matter how sheltered it is, you’ll still have to return home eventually. 

So much to see and do in Southold

For many transplants and second-home owners, their North Fork story begins wherever they had that first great experience here. It’s the weekend they spent in Greenport Village or that winery trip where they ended up making it no farther east than Mattituck.

But the true story of settling on the North Fork begins at what is now a park in the hamlet of Southold, appropriately named Founders Landing. That’s where John Youngs, a Puritan minister, arrived with his family in the autumn of 1640, establishing the first English settlement here. The main settlement consisted of a four-acre lot with a church, built in the northeast corner of what is today the cemetery of First Presbyterian Church.

While Southold sometimes gets overlooked in favor of its neighbor to the east, the Village of Greenport, or points west that are closer to home for many visitors to this region, it remains a prime destination for people looking to escape New York City and plant new roots in the country.

That’s particularly true for people looking to eat, drink, live and breathe the North Fork.

The hamlet of Southold is home to North Fork Table & Inn, the restaurant consistently rated tops on Long Island by Zagat. The nearby Caci North Fork is a wine lover’s paradise, serving rustic Italian fare and boasting a wine list perennially ranked by Wine Spectator among the best in the area.

Both restaurants are ideal landing spots for wine country guests. Southold also lays claim to being the home of some of the region’s finest wineries. Sparkling Pointe, with the bubbly offerings reflected in its title, and Croteaux Vineyards, which bottles only rosé, provide perfect niche tasting spots for connoisseurs. The ambience at The Old Field Vineyards or the Tap Room at Corey Creek offer different unrivaled experiences.

Great lunch spots abound. There are Southold Fish Market — where you leave with a full belly and bag of fresh caught local fish — and The North Fork Shack, which effortlessly blends the farm-to-table experience we’ve come to expect on the North Fork with Mediterranean influences. The banh mi at Wednesday’s Table on Main Road is also guaranteed to please.

Southold is also where many, visitors and residents alike, seek out the latest in home furnishings — from the rustic chic of White Flower Farmhouse to the mid-century modern offerings of touchGOODS. Every room of your house can be improved at 1670 Furniture House and Complement the Chef is sure to up your game in the kitchen.

Of course, the Southold experience begins for many with their first cup of coffee from North Fork Roasting Co. or first breakfast at Erik’s on the North Road.

You barely even need to step on land to experience all the hamlet has to offer. The still waters of Southold Bay and Jockey Creek become open highways for boaters and office spaces for fishermen. And Long Island Sound in Southold is home to Horton Point Lighthouse, a landmark worth checking out for both its history and its serene setting.

Three public beaches in Southold also call Long Island Sound: Town Beach, Kenny’s Beach and McCabe’s Beach. We’d tell you about many other great beaches along the Sound and bay, but that might get us in trouble with the locals.

Of course, after you’ve read this and made up your mind that Southold is the next place you’ll call home, scan these pages for advertisements from local real estate agents, who will help you find that dream destination. In Southold, everyone’s a first settler.

Wading River feels like the start of something

The hamlet of Wading River often leads a double life.

It’s part of both Riverhead and Brookhaven towns and it’s split between a pair of school districts, with children sent to Shoreham-Wading River and Riverhead schools. Its more-often-traveled main roads are also far different from its bucolic back roads.

Wading River is ultimately where the North Fork way of life begins — with its farm stands and nature — though geographically speaking, it’s not quite on the fork.

The feeling you’re someplace different starts as you travel on North Country Road into the hamlet’s sleepy downtown. There you’ll find the peaceful Duck Ponds and a handful of dining options you can easily take to-go for a picnic. Directly across from the ponds is Mesquite, a Tex-Mex spot offering up some of the best specialty tacos around. Just to the west is the always smoky North Fork Bacon & Smokehouse and My Creperie, located where the old Wading River General Store once existed.

Unlike the hamlets to the east, no vineyards dot the landscape in Wading River, but they do have Phil’s, a top neighborhood bar and grill that has operated out of the former Judge’s Hotel for the better part of three decades. And at the western edge of Sound Avenue, Pure North Fork is a refuge for fans of craft drinks and tasty bites, a great final stop after a day spent at the nearby spa and shops at East Wind.

If you’re planning a beach day in Wading River, it’s not a bad idea to consider fueling up first at Brekky, a tiny coffee shop serving up fresh baked goods and acai bowls.

Located on the Long Island Sound, Wading River Beach is widely considered one of the best places to catch a sunset in town and many locals and visitors to the hamlet make it a date night with a walk across the street for drinks and fine dining at La Plage — a true hidden gem of the East End.

Located west of the Peconics, only the north side of Wading River features waterfront views — a minus when compared to points east — but the rural farmhouse charm north of Route 25A is akin to what can be found in the historic hamlets of Orient to the east and Stony Brook to the west. And like those other communities, Wading River boasts a state park that draws many visitors to the area for camping, swimming, fishing and hiking. Located on the eastern edge of Wading River, Wildwood State Park encompasses 767 acres on the Long Island Sound.

What ultimately makes Wading River the gateway to the North Fork is its handful of farm stands, which include the always popular Lewin Farms, the quieter Andrews Family Farm, the more agritainment-based Fink’s, and Leannes Country Gardens, which boasts plants and flowers to beautify your yard.

Wading River may not be the North Fork, but it still carries a similiar charm.

Grant Parpan is the content director for Times Review Partners, a division of Times Review Media Group in Mattituck. Grant joined the Times Review staff in 2006 as a reporter and has covered nearly every beat in the newsroom. He currently writes about lifestyle and business content, including writing about the North Fork food, wine and arts scenes for northforker.com. Grant began his career in 2003 as a reporter and editor at The Signal, a daily newspaper in Santa Clarita, California. In his career, he has won dozens of awards from the New York Press Association, the Associated Press, the National Newspaper Association and the Press Club of Long Island.

Related Content

North Fork Open Houses: 8 listings for the weekend of Sept. 6

Living on the North Fork, with its picturesque villages, varied restaurants, historic farms and...

North Fork Open Houses: 5 listings for the weekend of Aug. 31

North Fork Open Houses: 8 listings for the weekend of Aug. 23