1. Hilton Garden Inn
City: Riverhead, NY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (631) 727-2733
Address: 2038 Old Country Rd.
Description: This is one of the newest hotels to open in the area. It contains 114 nicely appointed guestrooms, an indoor pool, restaurant, lounge, and fitness center. It’s conveniently located close to Long Island’s wine country and many of the popular vineyards, as well as the Hamptons, plus it’s literally across the street from Tanger Outlet, a popular shopping destination. For kids, Splish Splash Water Park is also very close by. This is a 100 percent nonsmoking hotel that offers spacious, three-star accommodations that are affordable and comfortable. Each guestroom contains one or two queen- or king-size Sleep Number beds, a microwave, and a refrigerator, along with a desk and other basic furnishings. The on-site Great American Grill is open for breakfast and dinner.
2. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
City: Riverhead, NY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (631) 548-1000
Address: 1707 Old Country Rd. (Rte. 58)
Description: Located near the downtown business district in Riverhead, this budget-oriented hotel is brand-new (as of 2009). It features affordable, clean, and comfortable guestrooms that are within a short drive to the Hamptons and many popular attractions. This is a three-story hotel containing 89 guestrooms and 41 suites. Guestrooms are available with a variety of bed configurations, and both smoking and nonsmoking rooms are offered. It’s a pet-friendly hotel with free parking.
3. Peconic Bay Medical Center
City: Riverhead, NY
Category: Health Care
Telephone: (631) 548-6000
Address: 1300 Roanoke Ave.
Description: Since 1951 this hospital has been committed to improving the health of nearby communities by providing quality, comprehensive, and compassionate care. The 182-bed facility includes a 60-bed Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and a certified home-care agency. The medical center is a regional provider of orthopedics through the Hamptons Orthopedic & Rehabilitation Institute, and is home to the Richard Rubenstein MD Center for Bariatric Surgery. Through a partnership with Stony Brook University Hospital, Peconic Bay Medical Center has trauma-trained specialists staffing its emergency center.
4. Martha Clara Vineyards
City: Riverhead, NY
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (631) 734-7070
Address: 6025 South Ave. (Rt. 48)
Description: Also encompassing about 200 planted acres, Martha Clara Vineyards specializes in producing Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Semillon, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. Here you’ll find a wine-tasting room, gorgeous outdoor areas, tours of the production facilities, and a wide range of special events.
5. Palmer Vineyards
City: Riverhead, NY
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (631) 722-9463
Address: 5120 South Ave. (Rte. 48)
Description: Established in 1986 and occupying more than 125 planted acres, Palmer Vineyards has developed a reputation for its Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. Guests can experience the wines for themselves in the tasting room, enjoy a picnic (and often live entertainment) on the public grounds, or partake in a tour of the production facilities. This is a family-owned-and-operated vineyard.
6. Roanoke Vineyards
City: Riverhead, NY
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (631) 727-4161
Address: 3543 Sound Ave. (Rte. 48)
Description: Roanoke Vineyards is a smaller property that occupies just 10 planted acres in Long Island’s wine country. It was founded in 2000 and specializes in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. A wine-tasting room and public grounds are among the offerings for visitors. Roanoke Vineyards is one of the many vineyards and wineries in the region that sponsor a wine club. Members receive a variety of perks, including discounts on purchases and the opportunity to preview new wines before the general public.
7. Tweed’S Restaurant & Buffalo Bar
City: Riverhead, NY
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (631) 208-3151
Address: 17 East Main St.
Description: Open daily for lunch and dinner, Tweed’s is a classic, all-American steak house that welcomes businesspeople and leisure diners alike. What’s unique about this restaurant and bar is that it’s been in continuous operation since 1896, and is believed to be the oldest continuing restaurant, bar, and hotel in the entire North Fork. The restaurant is now restored to its original charm, featuring Victorian chandeliers, stained glass, the original stamped-tin ceiling, and a mantled oak fireplace. Decade after decade, the restaurant continues its reputation of offering the finest-quality food, in many cases created using locally grown ingredients. Several of the featured menu items that have made this restaurant famous, and set it apart from other steak houses, include Tweed’s bison hanger steak, grilled bison cowboy steak, and the restaurant’s famous bison burgers. Rounding out the menu are more traditional items, like duck, New York strip steak, baked salmon, vegetable napoleon, roasted rack of lamb, double roast chicken, and pasta. Tweed’s also features an impressive shellfish bar. If you’re a steak lover but want something slightly different than your typical, run-of-the-mill steak house, give Tweed’s a try. You won’t be disappointed, whether you drop by for lunch or for dinner.
8. Stonewalls Restaurant
City: Riverhead, NY
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (631) 506-0777
Address: 967 Reeves Ave.
Description: Open for lunch and dinner and overlooking the Woods Golf Course, Stonewalls Restaurant is a fine-dining establishment on eastern Long Island. The restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch. Dinner is served daily, except Tues. On Sun, brunch is served between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. In addition to a traditional menu, a seasonal prix fixe dinner menu is available on Sun, Mon, Wed, and Thurs nights. Much of the produce used to prepare the meals is homegrown. This is primarily a seafood restaurant that boasts that it serves the freshest fish available, so offerings change daily, based on availability. The dining room is simply decorated, open, spacious, and features plenty of windows.
9. Hallockville Museum Farm
City: Riverhead, NY
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (631) 298-5292
Address: 6038 Sound Ave.
Description: This 1765 homestead offers an authentic peek at the past—between 1880 and 1910, to be exact. Learn what life was like through photos, exhibits, and genuine artifacts. The 28-acre property has 18 historic buildings, including houses and barns, that can be visited. This is also a working farm, so live animals, including cows, sheep, and chickens, can be seen. One of the goals of this museum is to showcase and teach about eastern Long Island’s agricultural history. Open year-round, hours vary by season. Throughout the year, private parties, festivals, and craft fairs are held here.
10. Suffolk County Historical Society Museum
City: Riverhead, NY
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (631) 727-2881
Address: 300 West Main St.
Description: As you explore this museum, you’ll delve into the past and see a wide range of artifacts, crafts, furniture, and exhibits that relate directly to Long Island’s history. The museum regularly hosts lectures and workshops that cover a wide range of topics, from a Civil War symposium to lectures about ghosts and haunted locations hosted by the Long Island Paranormal Society. There’s also a gift shop on the premises. The museum was founded in 1886 with the goal of collecting, preserving, and interpreting the ongoing history of the region. Open year-round, hours vary by season.
11. Atlantis Marine World
City: Riverhead, NY
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (631) 208-9200
Address: 431 East Main St.
Description: Open all year long, this is Long Island’s largest and most impressive indoor/outdoor aquarium. Plan on spending between a half day and a full day here, especially if you’re visiting with kids. On display are hundreds of animals, ranging from penguins to sharks, which are showcased in more than a dozen impressive exhibits. Some of the other animals you’ll see within the indoor displays are electric eels, jellyfish, puffer fish, sea horses, and a giant pacific octopus. Some of the outdoor exhibits include a massive koi pond, a sea lion exhibit, and seals. For kids, there are also a handful of interactive exhibits. Beyond the experience you can have here as a basic guest, the aquarium hosts a variety of separate programs for kids, teens, and adults (for an additional fee) that offer a behind-the-scenes look at the aquarium and the animals that live here. For example, guests can participate in a shark dive in the aquarium’s impressive 120,000-gallon shark tank, or go snorkeling with the stingrays.With the purchase of a full-price adult ticket, a child can receive a 50 percent discount if you download a coupon from the aquarium’s Web site.
12. Hallockville Museum Farm
City: Riverhead, NY
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (631) 298-5292
Address: 6038 South Ave.
Description: This historic farm is on the National Register of Historic Places, and has been fully restored to replicate farm life in the period from 1880 to 1910. On display are period rooms, restored barns, a farmhouse and workshop from the 1930s, plus dozens of farm tools. The 28-acre farm preserves a total of 18 historic houses, barns, and outbuildings. Visitors are invited to tour the museum’s buildings, gardens, and collections; experience real farming in the museum’s fields; and see live farm animals, including cows, sheep, and chickens. Tours are offered Fri through Sun from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. On the premises is a small gift shop that sells unique, handcrafted items, like birdhouses, pottery, and knitted and crocheted items. This is the site where the Annual Hallockville Fall Festival and Craft Fair is held in early Oct. Visit www.hallockville.com/fall_festival.html for details.
13. Tanger Outlet Center
City: Riverhead, NY
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (631) 369-2732
Address: 1770 West Main St.
Description: This outdoor outlet mall features more than 70 brand-name shops—all offering excellent discounts on designer merchandise and clothing. Some of the stores you’ll find here include Kate Spade, Calvin Klein, Juicy Couture, Giorgio Armani, Williams-Sonoma, J. Crew, and Nike. From Jan 1 to Mar 8, hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sun through Fri, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sat. Between Mar 9 and Dec 31, hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon through Sat, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sun. A second Tanger Outlet location is located at 152 The Arches Circle in Deer Park (631-242-0239). Parking at both locations is free.
14. Atlantis Marine World
City: Riverhead, NY
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (631) 208-9200
Address: 413 East Main St.
Description: Themed around the lost city of Atlantis, Atlantis Marine World is an indoor/outdoor aquarium that’s open year-round. The more than 100 exhibits blend science and nature with myth in order to create an informative, memorable, and entertaining environment for visitors of all ages. Live shows, interactive exhibits, and plenty of exotic marine life are on display. Admission is $21.50 for adults and $18.50 for children; however, discount coupons are available online and from various tourism guides distributed free at hotels, tourist attractions, and the chamber of commerce offices throughout Long Island.Plan on spending at least a full day here. If you’re visiting the region for the summer, season passes (annual memberships) allow for unlimited visits and are an excellent deal. The aquarium is open year-round every day except Christmas. In addition to the shows, attractions, and exhibits included as part of the standard admission, the aquarium offers a handful of special programs, such as a Pirate Snorkel Adventure, Shark Dive, Animal Trainer program, the Atlantis Explorer Boat Tour, the Scientist for a Day program, Summer Adventure Days, Winter Adventure Days, and Member Sleepovers, which can be experienced for an additional fee.