NOVEMBER 2018 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 61
AN ICONIC BAYSIDE HAMLET
Ave., 631-472-7016, sayville.com/
parks.asp#grange), boasting a
collected “village” of restored authentic
early buildings that have
been moved to the 12-acre park
from their original locations.
Structures like the Bicentennial
Cottage, Dutch Reformed Church,
Estate Managers Cottage, Ockers
Barn and The Mill provide a
striking portrait of the lifestyle
and aesthetics in a pre-Civil War
Long Island hamlet.
History buffs can also experience
Sayville’s early 20th century
Gold Coast era at the Meadow
Croft estate (299 Middle Rd., 631-
472-4625, bayportheritage.org/
meadowcroft.asp), formerly the
summer home of John E. Roosevelt
and family. Now owned by
Suffolk County, Meadow Croft
is composed of a restored 19th
century farmhouse (including
an 1891 addition designed by
Sayville’s Isaac H. Green Jr.) as
well as a carriage house, an auto
house, a caretaker’s cottage and a
swimming pool. The main house
features some impressive original
Roosevelt family items, including
a grand piano and the original
dining room set, where in 1903 the
family hosted a lunch with former
President Theodore Roosevelt, who
was John’s cousin.
ON THE BALL
As integral as Sayville’s historical
attractions may be, no seaside
vacation (or daylong excursion) is
complete without a little mini golf, as
well. In Sayville, the putting frenzy
goes down at Sayville Falls Mini
Golf (30 Hanson Pl., 631-256-5632,
sayvillefallsminigolf.com), which is
known for its attractive, well-manicured
course. There are numerous
water features, including waterfalls,
streams and pools, so putt with caution,
or prepare to go fishing for your
ball. The course is also a popular destination
for special events, parties,
and camp group visits.
Sayville’s spherical fun doesn’t
stop there, either. Bowlers regularly
flock to Bowlero Sayville (5660
Sunrise Hwy., 631-567-8900, bowlero.
com/location/bowlero-sayville)
PRESS BUZZ: DESTINATIONS
to get their fix; the recently
revamped 50,000-square-foot
bowling alley now features 60
lanes of black-light bowling,
plush lane-side lounge seats,
high-definition video walls
and an extensive snack bar
menu. There’s also a retro
themed cocktail lounge,
video arcade and popular
party games, like cornhole
and beer pong. If you spend
more time racking up gutter
balls than rolling strikes, you
can always blame the booze.
WIDE OPEN SPACES
Be sure, though, not to
spend your entire trip to Sayville
just bowling and playing
beer pong. Get outside and
enjoy nature too, especially
at Sans Souci County Park
(Broadway Ave., 631-854-
4949, suffolkcountyny.gov/
Departments/Parks/Our-
Parks/SansSouciCountyPark.
aspx), named for the French
phrase “without worry.” Living
up to its billing, a stroll
through this 316-acre nature
preserve — once a cranberry
farm — will literally make
your worries melt away. Three different
nature trails originate at the
preserve’s parking lot.
Another favorite Sayville spot
for a stroll is The Common Ground
at Rotary Park (located between
Gillette and Candee Aves., 631-459-
6603, thecommonground.com), a
reflective garden created by community
members in memory of the
victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist
attacks. The Common Ground features
lush gardens, walkways lined
with personalized stones, memorial
benches, the Peace Labyrinth and
the Pamela Raymond Performance
Pavilion, where outdoor concerts
are regularly held (often as part of
the Wednesdays in the Park weekly
event). Other special events there
include Family Fridays, Yoga in the
Park, and special labyrinth walks.
And if the salt air is what you crave,
head over to the Sayville Marina
Park (400 Foster Ave., 631-854-4949,
sayville.com/parks.asp#marina),
offering a lengthy pier where you can
relax on benches, do some fishing in
the bay and enjoy classic Long Island
waterfront scenery. The park — former
site of the massive Tidewater
Inn, which was built in 1916; the inn
became known as the Shoreham in
1937 and burned down in 1973 — also
includes a playground, picnic tables,
tennis courts, boat docks and a small
beach.
DRINKING AND DIPPING
Perhaps the most surprising Sayville
attraction is Loughlin Vineyard
(253 S Main St., 631-589-0027,
loughlinvineyardny.com), which
saves many wine lovers from having
to make a trip to the East End, where
the majority of LI’s vineyards historically
reside. A family business
for the last 34 years, the vineyard
is located on the grounds of John E.
Roosevelt’s former Meadow Croft
estate, where it typically produces
five wines per year from its 7-acre
crop. Spend an afternoon tasting
Loughlin’s popular red, white, and
blush wines, then enjoy a picnic
lunch (bring your own) among the
grapes.
After you’ve purchased that
perfect bottle of wine (or 10) at
Loughlin, head over to the Crushed
Olive (31A Main St., 631-256-5777,
thecrushedolive.com/locations/
sayville-ny), which is part of a local
chain of stores that now have six
LI locations. Sample the selection
of extra virgin and infused olive
oils, aged balsamic vinegars, and
various other gourmet oils, then
watch them fresh-bottle and cork
your selection(s). Recommended
varieties to try include the espresso
balsamic and dark chocolate balsamic
vinegars, which pair well with
ice cream or fresh fruit, as well as
the lemon-infused olive oil. Online
shopping is available on the Crushed
Olive website, in case you run out
before your next Sayville visit.
WHERE TO DINE
Butera’s
100 S. Main St., 631-563-0805,
buteras.com/sayville
Bistro 25
45 Foster Ave., 631-589-7775, bistro-
25li.com
Off The Block
501 Montauk Hwy., 631-573-6655,
offtheblockmeats.com
Café Joelle on Main Street
25 Main St., 631-589-4600,
cafejoelle.com
Cull House
75 Terry St., 631-563-1546,
cullhouse.com
Cricket’s
98 Main St., 631-567-6345,
cricketssayville.com
Aegean Café
35 Main St., 631-589-5529,
sayvilleaegeancafe.com
Downtown Burger
at Five Points Café
1 Main St., 631-567-5655,
fivepointscafe.com
WHERE TO STAY
Land’s End Motel & Marina
70 Browns River Rd., 631-589-
2040, motel.landsendweddings.com
Sayville Motor Lodge
5494 Sunrise Hwy., 631-589-7000
Downtown
Sayville is
a shopper’s
paradise.