Here’s the dilemma: you only have one day to spend on the North Fork. Some family members want to travel miles of scenic farmland and vineyards. Others look forward to taking a hay wagon ride, watching a pig race, and taking a ride on an antique carousel. And you want to pick berries and try an old-fashioned farm sport.
It’s not easy to please everyone, but North Fork just might. We found a way to fit the highlights of the area into a day trip. What will you do and what will you see?
FOR THE FARM PARTY TYPE
If a barnyard bargain is your style, you’re a match with Harbes Family Farm. When you enter this working farm, take a musical wagon ride, visit more than 40 farm animals, and even hoist goat feed to the goats. Visit the bunnies in Bunnyville – a small village for rabbits with a mini bunny cinema, a hair salon and a school. For a less hairy experience, watch an animatronic musical chicken show or milk an imaginary cow.
Teenagers love getting lost in the hedge maze or congregating in the farm sports area which features a jumbo jumper and human foosball game. Kids, teens and adults can play the new Apple Blaster game, where apples are fired from a cannon and hit a target.
While you can easily spend a day in Harbes, barnyard manager Tim Mulrain says it’s possible to have a full farm experience in two or three hours. Before you continue, you might want to buy some Harbes wine or wrap your car in some apple cider donuts. Fresh donuts are prepared daily on site. Add some apple cider ice cream and granita and you’ll be in Harbes heaven.
DETAILS OF THE DAY: 715 Sound Ave, Mattituck; 631-482-7641; harbesfamilyfarm.com; open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and until 7 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until August. Admission: weekdays $14.95 per person, weekends, holidays and Fun Fridays $23.95 per person (includes pig racing and musical wagon rides). Children 2 and under are free.
FOR THE “PICKY” TYPE
Tony Yu pushes 7-year-old Ethan Yu from Queens around the loop track at Garden of Eve Organic Farm and Market in Riverhead on June 4, 2022.
Credit: Morgan Campbell
If picking vegetables, fruits and flowers is your passion, Eve’s garden is your match. Depending on the season, grab a container when the farm is open and pick your own berries, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, pumpkins, lavender, tulips and sunflowers. “Teenagers love picking sunflowers and taking selfies,” says co-owner Eve Kaplan-Walbrecht. “It’s a big thing.”
Take a break from picking and climb a 2 meter hay tower, take a ride in a hay wagon or drive a pedal cart along a looping track and under a brand new tunnel covered in cucumbers and squash . There are also baby animals to greet and a play castle to explore.
Before leaving, take a stroll among the 70 types of organic products on the market. You’ll notice vegetables you might not find in a supermarket, like the very sweet Japanese red kuri squash. There are also bouquets of herbs, flowers and lavender.
If you haven’t had your fill of lavender, head to two lavender farms known as Lavender by the bay. You can make bouquets of about 20 different kinds of lavender there as well as lavender-based products sold in the farm shop.
DETAILS OF THE DAY: GARDEN OF EVE ORGANIC FARM & MARKET: 4558 Sound Ave., Riverhead; 631-722-8777; gardenofevefarm.com; open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; admission: weekdays $8.95 per person, weekends $10.95 per person, children under 2 are free.
LAVENDER BY THE BAY: 7540 Main Rd., East Marion and 47 Manor Rd., Calverton; 631-477-1019; lavenderbythebay.com; daily 9am-5pm
FOR THE TIME TRAVEL TYPE
If you love the fun of yesteryear, you’re a match with Greenport’s Centennial Carousel. Take a ride on antique horses that spin around water views in the village of Greenport. It’s also a short hike to a blacksmith shop and skateboard park. In the main street, enjoy the vintage shops or go by car Drossos where the North Forkers congregate for mini golf, ice cream and burgers. There is also a beach in Greenport. If you need a sun hat or flip flops, stop by a fun shop in Greenport known as Not just bows. You’ll find over 200 types of hats (including sun hats), beach shoes galore and everything for the seaside.
DETAILS OF THE DAY:
ANTIQUE CAROUSEL: 115 Front Street, Greenport; 631-477-1133; hours: daily from 9 p.m. to 8 p.m., admission $2.50 each way.
DROSSOS MINI-GOLF COURSE: 69125 Main Rd., Greenport; 631-477-1339
NOT JUST GREENPORT ARCHES: 122 Front Street, Greenport; 631-477-2808; greenportnotjustbows.com; open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
FOR SCENIC ROAD TYPE
If staring out the car window at incredible scenery sounds magical, you’re a match for Route 48. The route begins in the Mattituck area. If you take it all the way you will drive for about half an hour and arrive at Orient Point. Along the way, you’ll pass farmland, farms, vineyards, beaches, and charming homes.
Catapano Dairy Farm is a peaceful place to stop. You will be welcomed by baby goats and the staff will offer you brushes to comb the goats’ fur. There’s even an official time to cuddle baby goats. You can also watch cheese making and goat milking.
There aren’t many restaurants along Route 48. Before leaving the goat farm, you might want to stop at the dairy and pick up some exotic goat cheeses and snack crackers on your way. In the shop, there are also moisturizing creams and goat’s milk creams. At the end of your journey, you will arrive at Orient State Park. Discover the beach, the playground and the grills for barbecues.
DETAILS OF THE DAY: CATAPANO DAIRY FARM: 33705 County Rd. 48, Peconic; 631-765-8042; catapanodairyfarm.com; open Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday to Thursday. Baby Goat Cuddle Time: Saturday 10 a.m. Admission: $15 per person for 30 minutes.
THE SOUVENIR TYPE
If you enjoy shopping in souvenir shops, you’ve come to the height of the many unique stores in the North Fork. Here are the highlights of four creative boutiques:
Unlimited Gifts: It is an innovative jewelry store. Instead of blowing gray dandelion balls while you make a wish, in this shop you can buy the gray hairballs encased in bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. In addition to dandelion jewelry, bring your own sea glass to co-owner Sunny Park. She will make a necklace out of it.
Disset workshop: Unique, handmade chocolates are created by chocolate maker Ursula XVll. Stop and enjoy a Lemonade Truffle spiked with his Ode to the North Fork collection. Other truffle flavors include Black Duck Porter and Herbal Experience.
Kate’s Cheese Co.: The store’s co-owner, Kate McDowell, sells nearly 75 international and domestic cheeses. To name a few, there’s mutton brie and Utah cheeses made with wildflowers, honey and porcini mushrooms. In the cafe section, order unique cheeses in sandwiches.
Also in the attic: Store owner Heather Ganguzzi explains, “There are probably over 1,200 individual items in the store. You have to go around the store three times to see everything. She references everything from vintage, custom-finished and unfinished furniture to antique glassware, old wooden signs, classic washboards and more.
DETAILS OF THE DAY: UNLIMITED GIFTS: 1116 Main Rd., Mattituck; 631-298-1700; sunvdesigns.com; open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 10:30 a.m. — 5:30 p.m.; closed Sunday, Monday, Thursday.
KATE’S CHEESE CO. : 19 Front Street, Greenport; 631-333-2722; open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday
DISSET WORKSHOP: 28080 Main Road, Cutchogue; 631-734-8387; dissetchocolate.com; open Thursday 11am-3pm, Friday-Sunday 11am-5pm, closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
ALSO IN THE ATTIC: 10200 Main Rd., Mattituck; 631-745-3848; intheattictoofo.com; open Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday/Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Monday to Thursday
