It's a bit unusual to begin a review at "The End," but a recent trip to Long Island showed me that sometimes "The End" is where it all begins.
When people think of New York, the Big Apple is what usually comes to mind. While New York City is definitely a bucket list destination, after having the privilege to tour parts of Long Island with several other Macaroni Kid publishers earlier this month, I suggest adding it to your bucket list as well. Whether you are a nature lover, history buff or foodie, there's something for everyone.
"The End," or eastern edge of Long Island, is where New York State's oldest lighthouse, the Montauk Lighthouse, stands. This sturdy structure not only serves as a guide to incoming ships, but as a beacon of history and inspiration.
If this lighthouse isn't already on your bucket list, you'll want to add it - not only does it boast a rich history, but the view is spectacular, both from above and below.
Historical sites speak to me - as a guide talks about a building or location, it transports me back to another era and makes me view the scene before me with a fresh perspective. That's how I felt as I stood as I stood at the foot of the Montauk Lighthouse, commissioned by President George Washington and first lit in 1796.
After walking dozens of narrow spiral steps to the top, I was greeted with a panoramic view of the island and the Atlantic ocean. We ended up visiting on a perfect day with clear skies and little wind. As I stood there, I could picture the ships of yesterday in the distance as they sought out the light in hopes of making it safely to shore.
The museum at the bottom of the lighthouse is full of great information related to how and when the lighthouse was constructed, what life looked like for the person in charge of manning the lighthouse and a stark view of how much the landscape of that side of the island has changed due to erosion. Our guide was animated and knowledgeable, which made it even easier to soak in all of the information.
Speaking of history, I loved our visit to the Long Island Maritime Museum - talk about a treasure for history buffs! The museum, founded in 1966 and located in historic West Sayville on the south shore, gives visitors a glimpse of life in 1800s Long Island.
We began our visit learning about the various ships that wrecked along the barrier islands en route to New York and how the US Life Saving Service worked tirelessly to rescue people and bring them to shore. We saw a display of 30 sail and power boats in a building that was once a WWI U.S. Navy seaplane hangar. We toured the Bayman's cottage, which is decorated with original furnishings to show what life was like for baymen and family in the late 19th century.
My favorite part of the tour though had to be the Rudolph Oyster House, a national historic landmark, that shows the tools and resources used in the oyster and shellfish industry. Oysters are harvested in the "r" months, which means September through April. That means workers would spend hours, in the cold, to get the oysters ready for market. It was interesting to learn more about how this field changed over time with more sophisticated boats and methods, and the impact these changes had on the industry, the island and the surrounding areas.
Central Long Island - Stony Brook Village
Rich in history, shopping and food is Stony Brook Village, located in the northern part of Central Long Island. Visiting in mid-October meant we got to see this beautiful New England Style Village taken over by scarecrows for their annual scarecrow contest. I loved the creativity that went into these creations!
The village is full of a variety of shops and eateries. Chocolate Works stood out to me for their gorgeous chocolate creations! Look at the detail on this dracula piece! They also create Halloween-themed treats that would please anyone.
The Brew Cheese is perfect for cheese and beer lovers. We sampled a variety of cheeses and I was impressed with their selection of beer options. My favorite cheese by far was the manchego, which surprised me as I tend to prefer softer cheeses, but I couldn't get enough of it!
My sister is engaged to a British man, so I was very excited to learn we would be having high tea at the Robinson Tea Room. I couldn't get over how many tea varieties they offer. I opted to try a customer favorite, the almond sugar cookie. It did not disappoint and paired perfectly with the 3 tiers of sweet and savory treats, including sandwiches, scones and pastries.
Just down from the village center is a nature lover's dream - the Avalon Park and Preserve. This 200+ acre park shows visitors what Long Island looked like when Native Americans lived there. There are beautiful plants and some hidden surprises, such as the labyrinth and sphere. You definitely want to allow enough time for exploration.
Across from the park entrance is my favorite feature of Stony Brook - a Grist Mill that dates back to 1751! In colonial America, a mill served as the epicenter of the community. What makes this particular mill so special is that it is a working mill! We not only learned about the process of how grain is ground into flour - we got to experience it. From the water wheel to the machinery inside, everything shows you how things originally worked. Our guide was fantastic and explained one of the most unique features of the building is the post and beam Dutch-style construction. This is important because it allows the building to withstand the constant movement of the machinery in the mill.
Lodging and Transportation
Ready to make your travel plans? We stayed at the Hilton Long Island/Huntington Hotel in Melville. Not only was the hotel room spacious and clean and the
building had a gorgeous waterfall by the indoor pool, but the location in central Long Island makes it perfect for visiting a variety of locations around the island.
We also rode in style (my first time in a limo!) thanks to Transtar Executive Limousine Services, who took us to each destination on our trip.
Planning to go to "The End"? We had our annual publisher conference at the Montauk Yacht Club, it offered amazing views of the water. I loved the nautical theme of the rooms.
The pictures in this article are just a glimpse from my trip! Check out Macaroni Kid Franklin/Spring Hill on Facebook and Instagram for more pictures and video. Want even more info on Long Island? There were two other groups of Macaroni Kid publishers exploring other parts of Long Island and you can find lots of great photos, videos and information on a variety of Long Island attractions by searching the hashtags #MKdiscoversLI and #MKMeetup.
*Disclosure: Discover Long Island hosted Macaroni Kid for a 2-day press trip. Accommodations and most meals and activities were complimentary. No other compensation was received in the consideration of this article and all opinions are my own.*
