Peconic Wine Tourism

Whether you’re in Long Island for a vacation or a weekend, drive down to Peconic and try some of the best wines New York has to offer. Whatever you’re in the mood for, a Merlot, Chardonnay or perhaps Cabernet Sauvignon, you’re bound to find it in Peconic. The area produces some great wines.

Raphael Winery

You’ll love this Mediterranean-style winery. As you’re driving down the Main Road (Route 25), you can’t miss this huge Tuscan villa called the Raphael Winery (pictured). The 28,000-square-foot building is owned by the Petrocelli family and has been producing the best Merlot in Long Island since it’s opening in 2001.

They offer guided tours and wine tasting on a daily basis by appointment. Reservations are required and there’s a fee of $12 per person. It takes about an hour for the tour. The Raphael Winery has been featured in The Wine Spectator Magazine, New York Times and the NBC hit show The Apprentice.

The winery is opened daily from 11am - 5pm. It is located at 39390 Main Road, Peconic N.Y. For more Information, contact 631.765.1100.

Pindar Vineyard

As you’re driving east on Route 25 to Peconic, turn left to Pindar Vineyard, Long Island’s largest and oldest vineyard. It was founded by Dr. Herodotus “Dan” Damianos in 1979. Their wines have received many awards, in both national and international wine tasting competitions. The 2004 Reserve Chardonnay is highly recommended by the Beverage Testing Institute. One of the most popular wines they produced is the 2000 Mythology, which is a red wine. They also produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Viogner and Syrah.

Their wine tasting is available daily from 11am - 5:30pm, with a $4 tasting fee per person. The winery is open from 11am - 6pm for sales. The Pindar Wine Shop, Port Jefferson is open from Monday-Sunday, 11am - 7pm. The Pindar Vineyard is located at 37645 Route 25,Peconic, New York. For more information, contact 631.734.6200.

Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards

The Osprey’s Dominion Vineyard is one of many Long Island’s vineyard located in Peconic. If you’re driving down Route 25, Osprey’s is about a quarter mile on the left. This 90-acres of vinifera grapes produces Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon among others. Their wines has received many awards from both national and international wine competitions.

The tasting room is open daily from 11am - 5pm, with extended hours from Memorial Day through September. The vineyard features live entertainment on weekends. For more information call 888.295.6188 / 631.765.6188.

Lenz Winery and Vineyard

The Lenz Winery is small compared to other wineries around the area, but it produces fine-quality wines that are all estate bottled. There’s nearly 70-acres of vinifera grapes varieties, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet franc.

The Lenz tasting room is open daily, 10am - 5pm from November-May, 10am - 6pm from Memorial Day-Columbus Day. They’re closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Tours are offered in February and March. Tour fees are $25 per person. For reservations contact Barbara Reuschle at 631.734.6010.

If you’re a wine enthusiast, stop by any of this winery in Long Island’s, North Folk and you will not be disappointed.

Photo credit: Brian Dorsey Studios - Raphaelwine.com

Family Fun in the Big Apple

A trip to New York City with your children is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They’ll be in awe from all the skyscraper buildings, dinosaur sightings, and to all the cool places you’re going to take them. The big city has lots of activities for families to experience.

The American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the best places you can spend time with your children. The dinosaurs and other exhibits will amaze them. The dinosaur fossils are a kid favorite.

Besides the dinosaurs, they also have a planetarium, which features the space show “Cosmic Collections.” The show starts every half hour between 10:30am - 4:30pm daily. Tickets are $22 for Adults and $13 for children 2-12.

Other highlights of the museum are the Summer Camps, The Butterfly Conservator, which features over 500 live butterflies, Dinosaurs Alive, a 40-minute narrated movie about dinosaurs, and the sleepover in the museum, where kids ages 8-12 can spend the night at the museum, an experience they’ll never forget. The fee is $109 per person (members $99). Call 212.769.5200 for dates and availability. Space is limited and this one sells out fast. One adult is required for every 1-3 child attending.

The American Girl Store and Café

For every girl that owns an American Girl doll, this store is for you. You cans shop at the store and have lunch or tea at the café, or have your doll’s hair redone or styled while chatting with other girls in the shop.

Reservations are required in advanced for the café, if you don’t want to disappoint your little princess. Call 877.247.5223. Store is open Monday to Friday, 10am - 9pm, Saturday, 9am - 9pm and Sunday, 9am - 7pm.

Central Park

Here’s a little trivia for you, did you know that Central Park (pictured) is the first public park in America and it’s all man-made? Yes, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed this 843-acre park. It took 15 years to finish this project.

Today, the park features 51 sculptures, including the Bethesda Fountain, 36 bridges and arches, 21 playgrounds, two ice skating rinks, 26,000 trees, a carousel, 58 miles of pedestrian paths, nearly 9,000 benches, the Belvedere Castle, over 275 migratory birds, artificial lakes, and of course, the Great Lawn.

It also feature activities and programs for children all throughout the year. Central Park was declared National Historic Landmark in 1965 and a NYC Landmark in 1974. Central Park is open from 6am - 1am, daily.

Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum

Would you like to have your pictures taken with your favorite stars? Go to Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum and take as many pictures as you want. You’ll enjoy the wax figures of your favorite celebrities, rock stars, athletes, political figures, and movie characters among others.

They have over 200 popular figures to view. The wax museum is open daily, 10am - 5:45pm. It’s closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Fees are $20-$30. It takes about 1-2 hours to see everything.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is a unique environment of interactive exhibitions and programs for children to explore. It features school and outreach programs and exhibits including the Discover Ancient Greece, Playworks, Dora the Explorer, Little west Side and City Splash.

The museum is open Tuesday - Sunday, 10am-5pm. It’s closed on Mondays for school and outreach programs. They have free admissions on every first Friday of each month, from 5 - 8pm.

Admission for children and adults is $9 and seniors are $6. Children under 1, CMOM and Corporate members are free.

Enjoying the Bronx

It’s kind of hard imagining anyone not knowing something about The Bronx. Its name is legendary. It is where Hip Hop originated and it’s the home of the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden—and the world-famous New York Yankees.

The Bronx has many other attractions such as historic sites, culturally diverse neighborhood, and natural parklands among others.

The Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo is home to more than 4,000 animals; many are of endangered or threatened species. These animals span the 265-acres of parkland, which is the largest metropolitan zoo in the US.

The highlights of the zoo are the “Wild Asia” tramway, a monorail that allows onlookers to watch Asian animals, “Jungle World”, an indoor display on plants and animals on tropical rainforest and the “Congo Gorilla Forest”, the largest manmade rainforest in the world.

Also featured are “World of Darkness”, an exhibit of nocturnal animals such as bats and caimans, and the “World of Birds”, a two-story birdhouse that contains hundreds of different species.

The zoo is open Monday - Friday, 10am - 5pm, Weekends and Holidays, 10am - 5:30pm.
Admission fees are $14 for adults, $11 for child (3-12), and $13 for seniors (65+). POP (pay-one-price) pass includes seven admissions to any of the seven attractions (except camel rides), at one low price. POP fees are $25 for adults, $19 for child, and $21 for seniors.

New York Botanical Garden

Take a walk at the New York Botanical Garden (pictured) and explore the most amazing collections of plants and experience the wonders of nature.

The New York Botanical Garden offers natural beauty everyday of the year, most especially in the spring and summer, where the 250-acres botanical garden have flowers blooming all over, such as the magnolia, cherry, and crabapple trees and the spring favorites such as the daffodils, azaleas and tulips. It is filled with beautiful colors and lovely scents.

The autumn foliage brings great colors in the fall, where the leaves turn into gold, orange and crimson colors.

The garden offers activities for children and families. You’ll get to explore and learn about plants and experience hands on activities about the plant worlds.

Make sure to visit the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, a Victorian style glasshouse, which houses a tropical rainforest, a desert and a seasonal landscape of flowers and foliage. It is a National Historic Landmark.

The garden is open Tuesday - Sunday, 10am - 6pm. For admission fees call 718.817.8700.

Bronx Museum of the Arts

The Bronx Museum of the Arts features art collections from Asian, African and Latino artists. Founded in 1971, the museum has ever-changing exhibits that focus on contemporary arts. It is the only fine arts museum in the Bronx.

It offers a variety of programs to provide hands-on experience with contemporary arts.
The museum is open Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 12 - 6pm and Friday, 12 - 8pm. It’s closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission fees are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students. Members and children under 12 are free (must be accompanied by an adult).

The Poe Cottage

Visit the mid-1800’s home of famous poet, Edgar Allan Poe. He lived here from 1846-1849. This cottage was his final home. The cottage became a museum in 1917 and has been visited by people from all over the world.

The cottage was declared an official city landmark in 1966. The Bronx County Historical Society named it as a national, local and state landmark in 1975.

It’s open on Saturdays from 10am - 4pm and Sundays from 1 - 5pm and it’s open weekdays for groups by appointment. Admission is $3 for adults and $3 for seniors/ children/students.

Long Island Fun Spots

Long Island is known for its palatial homes, influential people and glittering ocean beaches. It has inviting fishing villages and award winning wineries too. With plenty of activities from swimming to horse racing to amusement parks, whatever you decide to do it will bring memories you’ll never forget.

Splish Splash Water Park

The Splish Splash Water Park (pictured) located in Riverhead (Long Island), New York is a 96-acre park like environment, nestled in the woods, which provides a lot of shades, and a lovely landscape.

Voted as one of the best water parks in America by the Travel Channel, they offer 25 thrilling water slide rides, some of them very tall and steep. They have a section for the little ones too and they’re quite whimsical and will entertain the kids for hours.

When planning to go to the water park, make sure to leave all beverages, glasses and food in the car, for they do not allow outside food to be brought inside. Lockers are available for your valuables.

The best time to go there is right when they open, so that everyone can enjoy the water rides before it gets too crowded.

They open in late May and close in early September. The General admissions are $34.99, Seniors 62+/ Handicapped/ under 48”, $24.99, under 3 are free. Call 631.727.3600 for hours of operation.

Belmont Park Race Track

The 430-acre Belmont Park Race Track in Elmont, New York is the home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown. The 11/2-mile main track is the largest dirt racecourse in Thoroughbred racing, thus the nickname “Big Sandy” by racing followers.

There are two race seasons at Belmont Park, the Spring/Summer meeting and the Fall Championship meeting. Gates open at 11am.

There is a total seating of 32,941, but the park can accommodate 85,000-90,000 people.
The Belmont Park features children’s playground, backyard picnic area, food court, concession stands and bars throughout, the Belmont Café`, Clubhouse, and the Garden Terrace Dining room.

Dress code is strictly enforced at the Belmont Park. Elegant attire is recommended. It has been a tradition here for many years. At the Box seats and the Garden Terrace, gentlemen should wear suits or sports jackets and ladies should wear dresses, skirts or pant suits. For business casual attire, men are required to wear collared shirts. Absolutely no shorts, jeans and abbreviated wear permitted. For more information call 516.488.1740.

Adventureland

The Adventureland, located at Route 110 in Farmingdale, New York, is the only amusement park in Long Island. The park opened in 1962 and is situated in a 12-acre property. It features 29 rides and attractions, including 2 roller coasters and 3 water rides the family can all enjoy. One of the best rides in the park is the Ladybug coaster.

Take a walk in the Bavarian Village and buy souvenirs and other great items or have lunch at the air-conditioned, sit down family fun restaurant where they serve pizza, hotdogs, salad, and other great food.

There is no admission fee, but they have p.o.p (pay one price). For 48” and taller it’s $23.99. Smaller people are charged $19.99. Single tickets are $1 each and one ride takes 3-5 tickets.

Photo credit: Splish Splash - splishsplashlongisland.com