Long Island Getaway

Paul Morrone |
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By Thomas Morrone, CFP®, CPA

Mini vacations are always welcome on my calendar. A recent four-night trip to Long Island (LI) was just that and was a fabulous getaway. The main reason for the trip was to attend a wedding for Michael, the son of our friend’s Armen & Maryellen. Cathy and I have never been to LI so the wedding was a perfect scenario to attend the ceremony, enjoy the reception and add two extra days to our trip so we could experience what the area had to offer. The first step of our little journey started with a drive to Bridgeport to catch the Thursday morning ferry to Port Jefferson in LI. That into itself was an experience. What added to that initial phase of our journey was the picture-perfect weather. Sitting up on the main deck with a bright blue sky, abundant sunshine and a light breeze made the hour and 15-minute ferry ride that much more enjoyable. We arrived in Port Jeff right on schedule, just in time to have a delicious lunch. After lunch we walked around the village, stopped in a few shops and were then ready to continue our journey. We hopped in our vehicle and drove about 45 minutes to Riverhead which was our home base for the next four nights.

When we arrived at the hotel, we continually saw people we knew from CT and elsewhere that were attending the wedding and were staying at the same hotel. You can feel an enjoyable time brewing. All the excitement and anticipation leading up to our little journey to attend the wedding did not disappoint. We did arrive a day early, as did others, so we went to dinner with Cathy’s sister Joan and her husband Rick who were also attending the wedding. The weather was beautiful, and we had dinner outside on the patio overlooking a marina. It was an enjoyable evening. The next day we shopped around the outlets that were nearby, had lunch and before we knew it, it was time to go to the ceremony. I always get emotional up at weddings and this one was no different. Seeing a young couple exchange vows as they began their life journey together is a beautiful thing. Onward to the reception….

Again, the weather was a perfect ten. The venue was at Gorgio’s, which was in Baiting Hollow LI, and it was set high on a hill surrounded by a majestic golf course and vineyards. Cocktails and appetizers were served on the terraced patio. There was enough food available during the cocktail hour to feed three armies for a month. If you did not find something good to eat while enjoying a cocktail, it was your own fault. Well, we all took full advantage of the scrumptious spread of food that was available for us to enjoy. We eventually moved inside for the formal reception. The quality of everything offered was superior. The band was excellent and began playing while dinner was served. The highlight of the evening was when Michael, who is an accomplished musician himself, played four songs with band. He played the guitar and sang “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton to Laurie, his new bride. There was not a dry eye in the house. It was very classy. Of course, we danced the night away and wished the wedding couple many years of good health and happiness. Everyone had a wonderful time.

The next day we were up early and made our way up the North Fork of LI to Greenport. It was a beautiful drive through farm country, and we passed countless vineyards. I was not aware that there are over sixty vineyards on LI. We arrived in Greenport, drove on a ferry that took us to Shelter Island. We drove around Shelter Island and took another ferry to Sag Harbor where we had lunch at the American Hotel. It was a wonderful experience. We made our way back on both ferries to Greenport and drove back to Riverhead. It was a long but adventurous day. The next day we explored the South Fork and drove all the way to the lighthouse at Montauck. Along the way, we saw many vineyards and farms as we saw as we drove out the North Fork. The South Fork took us through “the Hamptons”. So, for the day we were hob knobbing with the ultra-wealthy and famous. Some of the homes were beyond comprehension. What was amazing was how many of these palatial properties there were. There was never a shortage of something to see. After lunch in Montauck, we worked our way back through the Hamptons to our hotel after another long and exhausting but fabulous day.

It is always fun to experience something new and exciting. The wedding was wonderful, and we spent time with old friends and made new ones. We now know the basics of LI and know that our trip there will not be a one and done. We will make another trip across the sound to visit LI.

Congratulations to Michael & Laurie!

Until the Next Tom’s Take…………..

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