Long Island’s North Fork: Farm Stands, Lighthouses & Wine

September 24, 2025

The Hamptons may grab the spotlight, but the North Fork is where you exhale. Out here, two-lane roads wind past rows of vineyards and weathered farm stands, and life seems to move at half-speed. September is the sweet spot — harvest season, cooler evenings, and a little extra breathing room.

Morning: Farm Stand Hopping

There’s no wrong way to start a day on the North Fork, but following the roadside signs is a good bet. Wickham’s Fruit Farm in Cutchogue presses cider so fresh you can taste the orchard in every sip, and their doughnuts are the kind you eat warm, standing in the parking lot. Harbes Family Farm is another must-stop — apple picking, hayrides, and a corn maze that somehow feels more magical when the air has that September edge to it.

Hidden gem: Lavender by the Bay in East Marion. The fields are finished blooming by fall, but the little farm shop is open year-round with dried bundles, soaps, and jars of lavender honey. It’s the kind of stop you don’t plan, but end up remembering.

Midday: Wine Country with a View

You don’t hear people talk enough about the North Fork as wine country — but you should. Route 25 is lined with vineyards, each with its own personality. Bedell Cellars has a sleek, modern vibe; Paumanok feels classic and timeless.

Hidden gem: Kontokosta Winery in Greenport — the only one perched right on the water. Pour yourself a glass, step out onto the bluff, and let the Sound do its thing. It’s one of those views that makes you linger longer than you meant to.

Afternoon: Harbors & Lighthouses

Drive out toward Orient Point and you’ll feel the island narrow, the road flanked by blue water on both sides. Off the tip, the Orient Point Lighthouse stands watch like it has for more than a century. On the way back, Greenport is worth the stop — working docks, little boutiques, and an antique carousel that still spins on the edge of the harbor. For something quieter, duck into Southold General for coffee and a pastry. It’s the kind of spot where the screen door creaks open and someone behind the counter probably knows your name.

Evening: Dinner by the Water

By the time the day winds down, you’ll want to stay close to the harbor. In Greenport, The Frisky Oyster puts a creative spin on seafood, Claudio’s has been dishing up lobster rolls and oysters for over a century, and Noah’s is a relaxed choice if you’re in the mood for small plates and local wine. Grab a table near a window — the September sunsets here stretch slow and golden over the water.

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The takeaway: The North Fork doesn’t try to impress you. It doesn’t need to. It’s the cider still warm from pressing, the lighthouse on the horizon, the carousel ride you didn’t expect to take. It’s the kind of place that feels like a secret someone let you in on — and once you’ve been, you’ll want to keep it that way.