Fall is all about road trips, and we recently explored a cute town on the North Fork of Long Island, called Greenport. While the NoFo is known for its beautiful vineyards and farmland, Greenport itself is only two hours from NYC and offers so many amazing restaurants, antique stores, boutiques and farm stands. A very idyllic fall vacation.
Instagrammable Moments: In Search Of The Perfect Sunflower Field
Let's be real -- there are SO many Instagrammable moments at the many vineyards, beaches and farm strands on the North Fork. However, nothing compares to a sunflower field with blooms for as far as the eye can see. We drove around the island in search of the best sunflower farm, and found North Fork Sunflower Maze. Make sure you bring your market tote bag for carrying freshly picked flowers and farm stand finds.
Sustainable Vineyards To Visit
North Fork visitors head east in the fall for pumpkin picking, beautiful landscape, and of course, vineyards! Sipping wine all day in the sunshine and crisp fall air is so heavenly. Our favorite sustainable wineries include:
Lieb Cellars - Lieb Cellars is one of the best known and most widely distributed Long Island wine brands, known for their merlot! Their vines are some of the oldest on Long Island!
Bedell Cellars - We (three couples and our babies) spent Saturday afternoon at a picnic table and Adirondack chairs, overlooking the vines. Our favorite wine was the sparkling rosé. The laid back vibe and make-your-own charcuterie platter had us wishing we could stay for longer.
Fall weather doesn't mean straw bags are going out of style. Quite the contrary, with our "Vote Tote," which we will be wearing every day until the election. We loved how the town of Greenport had tables set up in key locations, helping locals register to VOTE! We were happy to see that our messaging was right on trend!
East End Eating
There are so many amazing restaurants in Southold, Greenport, Orient, and Shelter Island. Below is by no means a full list -- it is only a quick list of where we went this past weekend!
Claudio's Pizza - This was a perfect late night meal for when we arrived on day 1! You pick up the pizza at the waterfront and can enjoy the view. This was also walkable from our air BnB.
The North Fork Table And Inn - This restaurant is a must for a visit to Greenport. The chef, John Fraser, studied at The French Laundry under Thomas Keller. The restaurant celebrates produce and products from Long Island's farmland and waterways.
Bruce & Son - Right in the heart of Greenport's town, grab a good coffee and a decadent (and beautiful) breakfast at Bruce & Son.
The Halyard - This restaurant at the newly redone Sound View Hotel is so amazing, that we went two days in a row. Ask for a table near the window (or outside on the deck) so that you feel like you're eating on a boat. Watch the sunset as you sip on a Death & Co. cocktail and enjoy the best fish & chips we've ever tasted!
The Weekender Tote
What to pack and how to pack it? As the weather changes, you have to be prepared for cooler mornings and evenings mixed with warm and sunny afternoons. This means layering! We love our Teddy Tote bag because it's extremely light weight, fits comfortably over your shoulder, has pockets for easy access to essentials (masks / hand sanitizer), and is spacious enough to store your layering item (cashmere wrap, cardigan, or even a blanket)! The fuzzy sherpa fleece is so chic and appropriate for fall.
Another weekender option is our top-selling Essaouira tote bag. This style features an interior zip pouch, which can be easily removed for washing. This medium size market tote is perfect for farm stand visits, or for carrying 1-2 bottles of wine back to NYC!
