Looking for the perfect day trip? A trip out to Long Island Wine Country is only a little of 2 hours from New York City, so pack some snacks, load up your playlist and hit the road!
The North Fork of Long Island is close enough to the city to not be exhausted after traveling and far away enough to feel like you’ve been transported out of the state. You’ll take in beautiful views of the bay and feel all of the stress of the city melt away with the quiet quaintness of each town you roll through.
Lavender by the Bay
I got to live out my elegant faux French countryside fantasy. No seriously, I frolicked through lavender fields. Lavender by the Bay is a family run farm that has been in operation for over 15 years. When I first stepped on the field, I was immediately hit with the soothing smell of the purple blooms.
There are plenty of photo-ops (get all those photos in for Instagram!) and a gift shop where you can purchase items such as dried lavender, lavender honey, and bath sets. Just a heads up from the site, “Lavender is typically in bloom late June thru mid-July but is ultimately up to Mother Nature.” When I went to the field, there was only a small patch of lavender left (but it was large enough to really “wow” you) and the workers were hard at work harvesting it. Because of this (and because it was a Monday and not very busy), entry was free.
I’d also like to add that walking through the lavender fields isn’t for the faint at heart! There are plenty of bees around, hard at work, so if you’re interested in visiting and capturing great photos, I recommend that you exercise caution… or at least wear long pants.
Lavender by the Bay is located at 7540 Main Rd in East Marion, NY
Photo from Pindar Vineyards
Pindar Vineyards
Next on the list was checking off my boho fantasy of traipsing around in a field of sunflowers. I had read that Pindar Vineyards had an awesome sunflower field in addition to great wine, so I knew I needed to be there.
Pindar Vineyards is situated on 500 scenic acres; and when I say that it’s peaceful… it’s beyond peaceful. Just imagine gazing at miles of blue sky and greenery while sipping on one of their delicious glasses of wine while sitting on their patio. Doesn’t that sound like heaven? They offer $10 tastings in which you get to sample 5 wines of your choice from their extensive list. They also have live music from 1 pm to 5 pm on the weekends.
Their sunflower field blooms in July and, yes, you are allowed to pick your own. It’s $1 per stem. Ask about it in the wine tasting room, and they will give you a pair of shears to cut your own!
Pindar Vineyards is located at 37645 New York 25 in Peconic, NY
Patty’s Berries and Bunches
Our last stop of the day was Patty’s Berries and Bunches. On our way to the lavender field, we saw a gorgeous field of sunflowers that we wanted to explore on our way back to the city. Patty’s Berries and Bunches is situated on 40 acres and grows 24 different varieties of berries.
We showed up about an hour and a half before closing, asking if we could take photos in front of the sunflowers. Because the field is situated near the berry bushes, we had to pay $6 for entry, however that money gets you a carton you can fill up with delicious berries. Another positive is that we weren’t rushed! We made sure not to linger around too long after closing time, but we noticed that everything in town moves at a slower pace and is relatively chill which made for a super relaxing experience.
While sunflowers are not available for self-picking, bunches of them along with other flowers are available for purchase. Cartons of berries are also available for purchase if you’re not up for the adventure of picking them yourself.
Patty’s Berries and Bunches is located at 410 Sound Ave in Mattituck, NY
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