JULY 2018 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 83
PRESS BUZZ: DESTINATIONS
FARM COUNTRY, PLUS A WHOLE LOT MORE
in its communities. For one, a can’tmiss
stop for photography fans is the
Alex Ferrone Gallery (25425 Main
Rd., Cutchogue; 631-734-8545; alexferronegallery.
com), renowned for
its stunning displays of Long Island
photos. The gallery exhibits and sells
contemporary works by mid-career
and emerging photo artists; it also
hosts special events like public receptions,
gallery talks and workshops.
From there, you can branch out
into other media at the Old Town Art
and Crafts Guild (28265 Main Rd., Cutchogue;
631-734-6382; oldtownartsguild.
org), a nonprofit facility offering
a gallery, historical art collection
and gift shop, as well as special events
like art classes, artist receptions and
art fairs. Its Guild House displays
member works throughout the year
in juried competitions, regular shows
and artist of the month exhibits.
Continue on your North Fork art
adventure by visiting Jamesport, home
of the William Ris East Gallery (1291
Main Rd., Jamesport; 609-408-5203;
williamris.com), owned and directed
by Mary Cantone, a dedicated collector
of original art and supporter of
local artists. The gallery showcases
an extensive selection of original contemporary
works by East Coast artists,
particularly from Long Island.
A HISTORICAL HAVEN
The North Fork holds some of LI’s
oldest hamlets, so historical tourism
is also embraced. To delve deep into
North Fork history, especially its
maritime past, spend an afternoon
at the Horton Point Lighthouse
and Nautical Museum (Lighthouse
Rd., Lighthouse Park, Southold; 631-
765-5500; southoldhistoricalsociety.
org/lighthouse). The 1857 lighthouse
and its accompanying museum
offer a unique collection of marine
artifacts, like sea chests, paintings,
maps, scrimshaw and photographs.
The tower is 58 feet tall and once held
a third order Fresnel lens; in 1990 the
tower was repaired and relit.
Another splendid source of exhibits
is the Oysterponds Historical Society
(1555 Village Lane, Orient; 631-323-
2480; oysterpondshistoricalsociety.
org), home to an extensive collection
dispersed throughout a number of
historic buildings and green spaces.
OHS’ free exhibits include art and
manuscripts, as well as historical objects
donated by local residents. OHS
also hosts annual seasonal exhibitions,
programs and community events. This
summer’s displays spotlight Orient
and East Marion.
The North Fork’s love affair with
local history doesn’t end there, either.
Stop in at the Southold Historical
Society museum (54325 Route 25,
Southold; 631-765-5500; southoldhistoricalsociety.
org), which contains a
large archival collection of original
diaries, letters, documents, ledgers,
daybooks, genealogies, photographs,
drawings and other related historic
materials. The society also maintains
more than a dozen buildings in Southold,
ranging in date from 1750 to 1900;
it opens many of these buildings to
the public throughout the year.
NATURAL PURSUITS
All one needs to do is view a map of
the North Fork, and it’s pretty clear
that the region’s extensive waterfront
is one of its main charms. And
fortunately, a good portion of that
shoreline is still freely accessible for
the public to enjoy.
To enjoy the refreshing salt air and
all the picturesque scenery the North
Fork has to offer, start with Orient
Beach State Park (40000 Main Rd.,
Orient; 631-323-2440; parks.ny.gov/
parks/106), with 45,000 feet of frontage
on Gardiner’s Bay and a rare maritime
forest with red cedar, blackjack
oak trees and prickly-pear cactus.
The park was dubbed a National
Natural Landmark in 1980. It was also
deemed an Audubon Important Bird
Area due to its prevalent populations
of great blue herons, egrets, blackcrowned
night herons and osprey.
Another North Fork seaside favorite
is Goldsmith’s Inlet Park (Soundview
Ave., Southold), a relatively
quiet, lengthy stretch of pristine
North Shore beach with water on
both sides, adjacent to a narrow inlet
connecting the LI Sound to a large
salt pond. Watch the small inlet become
a swift-moving river as the tide
changes. Bring flip-flops for walking;
North Shore beaches are notoriously
rocky, and this spot is no exception. A
Town of Southold parking permit or
day pass from town hall is required
to use the parking lot.
And don’t forget a recent addition
to the North Fork’s bounty of public
open space: the Hallock State Park
Preserve (6062 Sound Ave., Riverhead;
631-315-5475; parks.ny.gov/
parks/181), a 225-acre shorefront park
preserve with nearly one mile of gorgeous
North Shore beachfront on the
Sound. It’s a serene spot for hiking,
nature walks and bird watching.
Finally, with all of the dazzling
scenery in front of you, don’t forget
to occasionally look up, too; one of
the great unsung draws of the North
Fork is its breathtaking views of
the nighttime sky. You can take that
stellar experience up still another
notch with a trip to the Custer Institute
& Observatory (1115 Main
Bayview Rd., Southold; 631-765-2626;
custerobservatory.org), Long Island’s
oldest public observatory (circa 1927).
Open Saturday evenings from dusk to
midnight, the staff offers tours of the
facilities and allows guests to view
the night sky through its powerful
telescopes. It’s the perfect ending to
WHERE TO STAY an ideal North Fork day.
ON THE NORTH FORK
The Duncan Inn
1399 Main Rd., Jamesport, 631-722-
4024, duncaninn.com
The North Fork Table & Inn
57225 Rt. 25, Southold, 631-765-
0177, northforktableandinn.com
The Blue Inn At North Fork
7850 Main Rd., East Marion,
631-496-1630, theblueinn.com
Heron Suites
61600 Route 25, Southold,
631-596-4521, poemarine.com/
heron-suites
Jamesport Bay Suites
67 Front Street, South Jamesport, 631-
722-3458, jamesportbaysuites.com
Hotel Indigo Long Island - East
End
1830 West Main St., Riverhead,
631-369-2200, indigoeastend.com
WHERE TO DINE
ON THE NORTH FORK
The Jamesport Manor Inn
370 Manor Ln, Jamesport, 631-779-
3488, jamesportmanorinn.com
Legends
835 First St., New Suffolk, 631-734-
5123, legends-restaurant.com
Southold Fish Market
64755 Route 25, Southold,
631-765-3200, facebook.com/
southoldfishmarket
Jedediah Hawkins Inn
400 South Jamesport Ave.,
Jamesport, 631-765-5121,
jedediahhawkinsinn.com
Touch of Venice
28350 Main Rd., Cutchogue,
631-722-0500, touchofvenice.com
Orient Point lighthouse at the point
where the Long Island Sound and
Peconic Bay meet.
Star trails at Custer Observatory at the Custer Institute in Southold, NY,
caused by the Earth’s rotation_ approximately 1.5 hours. Vega creates
a very bright streak in the middle.