Pearl of the Outing: Country Taste
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| North Fork Wine Country, take your pick! Image: LI Wine Country |
There's something about the fresh country air entering this suburban mom's lungs which cleanses the soul and has me crooning Marie Osbourne's pearl "just a little bit country, just a little bit rock n roll".
With 3 generations in tow, my family rocked on out to the North Fork, Long Island’s Wine Country. It’s a relatively quick drive and from Riverhead to Greenport there are sprawling vineyards, farms, farm stands and local attractions for the whole family.
We cruised straight to lunch at the Lobster Roll (the country cousin to "Lunch" in the Hamptons). I had the place's namesake which was yummy, my dad had his served in a bright red heirloom tomato. We sat around the table watching the tree in the middle of the outdoor room.
In the country, you work with and around nature.
After we perused the adjacent mini market, the Gingerbread Factory's wafting smells of freshly baked pastries and homemade fudge. To the stained glass store next store where David is mastering the lost art in repairing a stained glass lamp. Ironically, he used to live in my town and went country 20 some odd years ago and never looked back.
We moved right along to Palmer Vineyards. My parents always loved visiting the North Fork to stock up on local Long Island wines for their holiday, dinner parties and gifts. My mom loves seeing the vineyards saying, "there's something amazing seeing how orderly the rows of grapevines are and the precision in which it takes to make the best wine."
I've grown allergic to wine in my middle age, used to love it, particularly a nice full bodied Bordeaux, but alas, my system rejects wine now. (all kinds, I've tried!!)
Once upon a time, the North Fork wineries were for serious enthusiasts only and the tastings were free. It's popularity among traveling bachelor parties and increasing tourist mobs who drank but didn't buy led to the paid tastings. Palmer charged $2 per glass or $10 for an assortment.
To add to the ambiance and kitsch, the vineyards and farms feature live music and Palmer had a gourmet food truck. Many visitors bring their own snacks and perch for hours.
Nestling on a picnic blanket under a shady tree is a most relaxing atmosphere to kick back, leave the city and burbs behind. Let your thoughts travel the grapevine and meditate on how each thought is connected and draws from the earth below and sun above into bursts of love.
To add to the ambiance and kitsch, the vineyards and farms feature live music and Palmer had a gourmet food truck. Many visitors bring their own snacks and perch for hours.
A North Fork trip isn't complete without visiting the farm stands and picking up at least one pie.We visited a few but perhaps the most famous and busiest is Briemere Farm.
Briemere is best known for their cream pies. We picked up an apple pie, strawberry rhubarb pie, banana bread, fresh jam and some other freshly picked produce.
Leaving the country with warm memories boxed in a pie dish. Country produce celebrates the organic process of tending to your own crops and reaping life's rewards.
Harbes Farm is a perfect family friendly destination. Time for my kids to get into the action. Watching them explore as they walked the farm stand and the tractor playground felt so natural and effortless. We hopped aboard the singing hayride (watch the video) led by a down home country girl around the corn field, the soon to open pumpkin patch and back over the rainbow.
We moved quickly through the North Fork whereas its true nature is stillness. Re-purposing Gabrielle Bernstein's A Course of Miracles pearl, in the country landscape's stillness, its power truly lies. The country is in a constant perpetual motion of growth and renewal. The state of being is more important and vital to the survival of the town than a state of doing.
Yee haw!!
Resources:
North Fork Wine Country
Bed and Breakfasts
Rapheal Vineyards: Another family favorite spot, it's Tuscany on Long Island.
The Cooperidge Inn
Related Mommas Pearls Content:
Country Crooners Video
Quiet Time
More photos from my family outing via Instagram.
Next Up: More Day Trips - Apple Picking
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Copyright © 2013 Cynthia Litman d/b/a Tigris Imprints. All Rights Reserved.
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