The North Fork is Long Island’s wine and farm country. It is an area for scenic drives through small villages, roadside farm stands selling local produce, miles of fruit and vegetable farms and rows of grape vines in dozens of wineyards throughout the fork.
While the summer season bustles with strawberry, peach and vegetable picking, the North Fork emerges a spectaculat red, orange and gold sight in autumn. Many out-of-towners go apple and pumpkin picking, or visit corn mazes, haunted houses and fall festivals. The many wineries are in full operation year round harvesting and transforming the seasons bounty of grapes into a variety of wines.
The North Fork of long island is made up primary the Town of Southold, with the very western end of the north fork containing two hamlets from the Town of Riverhead: Jamesport and Aquebogue (covered in the Town of Riverhead Section). This section of the website only deals with the areas in the town of Southold. The body of water north of this region is the Long Island Sound. The southern water boundary is comprised of several connected bodies of water, including the Great Peconic Bay, Little Peconic Bay, and Gardiners Bay.
Lying between the North Fork and the South Fork, are several islands, including the two large islands of Gardiners Island and Shelter Island. The dividing line between the two forks in the west is the Peconic River. The easternmost tip of the North Fork is Orient Point. Beyond that point is one additional significant part of the Town of Southold, Plum Island (see Islands).
The North Fork offers beautiful views of the Long Island Sound and Peconic/Gardiners Bay. Wine vineyards, produce farms, raspberry patches, and sod farms are what characterize the North Fork. The tip of the fork is Orient Point State Park. Areas like East Marion, Southold, Mattituck and Greenport are just some of the towns to see along the way on the North Fork. The North Fork also offers great fishing, crabbing, and clamming spots along the bay or sound. The locally caught fish are often sold in the hamlets and villages along the north fork. Also from the North Fork, you can access Shelter Island, which sits in the Peconic Bay and catch a ferry to Connecticut as well.
Agriculture has been a large part of The North Fork way of life for 360 years and its farms, vineyards and nurseries continue this tradition. Due to the unique climate, the flowers & sunsets in the North Fork are more brilliant, the sky bluer and the air clearer. The North Fork is also home to many antique shops. There are quaint Bed and Breakfasts for those romantic weekends away and motels with plenty of area recreational fun for families whether its fishing, boating, or even just spending a day in the village of Greenport. Even just a walk down the shores of the North Fork is an enjoyment in itself. The North Fork is truly a great place to experience.
Learn more about the The North Fork Hamlets and Villages: