Take a daytrip to Shelter Island
It's an area many residents of Long Island have never visited. The 8,000 acres of land between the North and South Forks is marked by lush trees, beach grass and near-pristine ponds. Its quiet streets are dotted with a mix of old Colonials and ultramodern mansions. But there's a surprisingly contemporary personality here, too.
You can make a day of exploring Shelter Island's communities - you'll find galleries and shops to wander, and a number of different eateries where you can linger. While some places of interest are within walking distance of each other, you'll need a car to get around efficiently.
BY CAR Shelter Island is only accessible by ferry from Greenport or Sag Harbor.
Greenport: Cars line up on Wiggins Street for the North Ferry ($13 round-trip for car and driver, $4 for passengers, northferry.com).
Sag Harbor: Take Montauk Highway east to Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike. The South Ferry terminal is on Route 114 ($15 round-trip includes passengers, southferry.com).
TAKE A BREAK
Reddings, 184 N. Ferry Rd., 631-749-0003, www.reddingsmarket.com
Comfort food is the name of the game at this quaint kitchen. Open at 7:30 a.m. daily, you can start the day here with familiar breakfast plates or come later for pastries and homemade pies, gelato or cotton candy.
Stars, 17 Grand Ave., 631-749-5345. A couple of always busy sidewalk tables sit in front of this otherwise cozy stop that could easily double for a typical college coffee house.
Tuck Shop Ice Cream, 75 Menantic Rd., 631-749-1548
A classic ice cream parlor, you'll be wowed at what looks like it could be one of the oldest-model cash registers still in use. There are 29 flavors in all and nothing on the menu is more than $9.50.
Sunflower Marketplace, 13 Grand Ave., 631-749-0196
Homey and simple, save for an odd collection of sneakers hanging in the side window, you can come here for breakfast or lunch. Soups and panini are the specialties.
TO DO
Relax and enjoy
Part of Shelter Island's appeal is the escape factor. Head to Sunset Beach, where folks tend to wander between the hotel's back patio and rooftop decks - which serve food and drinks - to nearby Crescent Beach (37 Shore Road, 631-749-3000, sunsetbeachli.com). For more seclusion, head to the massive Mashomack Preserve, a protected expanse of land where you can see rare plants, wildlife and hike - just be sure to use bug repellent ($2 suggested donation, 79 S. Ferry Rd., 631-749-1001, nature.org).
Play mini-golf
Whale's Tale is a tidy 18-hole miniature golf course with a nautical theme. A snack stand serves ice cream fresh lemonade, root beer floats and old-fashioned Brooklyn egg creams (3 Ram Island Rd., 631-749-1839).
Go kayaking
Shelter Island Kayak Tours leads guided daily tours of the wetlands and waterways in a nature-packed trail few other kayaking locations on Long Island can match ($60 adults, $30 age 12 and under, reserve in advance). Experienced paddlers can rent single or double kayaks and explore on their own (about $45-$70 for four hours, Rt. 114 and Duvall Ave., 631-749-1990, kayaksi.com).
See art
You don't have to be an art enthusiast to appreciate an up-close look at Boltrax Gallery's every-changing collection of contemporary and progressive art. On select Friday nights, the space hosts artists for salon-style meet-and-greets - just RSVP in advance (21 N. Ferry Rd., 631-749-4062, boltaxgallery.com).
WHERE TO SHOP
Coastal Cottage, 11 Grand Ave., 631-749-2544
The name says it all-this high-end boutique offers shoreline-inspired furniture, as well as kitchenware, bedding, vintage items and other accessories that are designed to bring a beach-house feel to any room.
Thé à la Menthe, 13 Grand Ave., 631-749-5250
A home decor shop with a large selection that ranges from expensive furniture to colorful knickknacks - great for mementos.
Wish Rock Studio, 17 Grand Ave., 631-749-5200, wishrockstudio.com
This gallery is for more than just looking around. All sorts of pieces - from modern abstract to more traditional nautical items and sculptures are for sale - some with price tags less than $1,000.
Marie Eiffel, 8 Grand Ave., 631-749-0707
Fashionable clothing - many pieces hail from Europe, but everything is bright, hip and fun.
WHERE TO EAT
The Dory, 185 N. Ferry Rd., 631-749-4300, doryrestaurant.com, COST $$-$$$
This creek-side restaurant serves burgers, steak and other Continental fare and sometimes has live music. Try a breezy cocktail such as the tropical "Yellow Polka-Dot Martini."
Planet Bliss, 23 N. Ferry Rd., 631-749-0053, planet-bliss.com, COST $$
Afro-Caribbean is the inspiration here - fresh fish tacos, veggie dumplings and Mediterranean tapas. Dine outside on the porch or inside the funky lounge.
Vine St. Café, 41 S. Ferry Rd., 631-749-3210, vinestreetcafe.com, COST $$$
Done up with upscale pale whites and earthy browns, the menu is heavy on steak and seafood. Eat outside or on a covered deck upstairs that overlooks a forest.
Sweet Tomato's, 15 Grand Ave., 631-749-4114, COST $$-$$$
On a nice day, everybody's eating on the shaded storefront deck at this Italian spot.
Chequit Inn, 23 Grand Ave., 631-749-0018, COST $$$
A lovely mansion-like structure atop a hill gives guests dining in the outdoor courtyard a beautiful town view. Continental fare includes roasted Long Island duck and littleneck clams served over linguine. After 10 p.m. on weekends, there's often live music in the lounge.
Bob's Fishmarket, 87 N. Ferry Rd., 631-749-0830, COST $
This low-key stop doesn't offer much more than cafeteria-style ambience, but the food is fresh and reasonably priced.
'A different situation at every airport' FAA data analyzed by Newsday shows the number of bird strikes voluntarily reported by airports in New York City and Long Island has increased by 46% between 2009 and 2023. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.
'A different situation at every airport' FAA data analyzed by Newsday shows the number of bird strikes voluntarily reported by airports in New York City and Long Island has increased by 46% between 2009 and 2023. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.