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Macaroni Kid South Birmingham Travels to Long Island, New York

Sponsored by Discover Long Island

By Jess Searcy October 24, 2017

Have you ever thought about taking a family trip to Long Island, New York?  Living in Alabama, a thousand miles away, I know it was not really on MY radar.  So, let me share with you my recent adventure, and maybe it will inspire your next family trip!

To me, there is nothing more exciting than traveling to a destination I’ve never been to before.  Especially, if that destination is NOT at the top of everyone else’s bucket list and I know nothing about it.  I don’t know, there is just something special about discovering “gems” that aren't that well known.  I have always been an explorer; unknown places equal satisfying adventure, in my mind.

So with that in mind, I am very lucky to be working as a Macaroni Kid Publisher, where several times a year, we can apply for press trips, to different locations around the country, from Macaroni Kid National.  This year, Macaroni Kid Meet Up, our annual publishers conference, was set to take place in Montauk, New York, on the tip of Long Island.  A press trip to discover Long Island was, naturally, the perfect addition to MK Meetup, and Macaroni Kid South Birmingham was chosen to take part!

On day one of our “Discover Long Island” trip, we visited Stony Brook Village, most well known for the university located there, by the same name.  This tiny, walkable village, full of boutique shops set around lovely green spaces, had the most surprising tourist attraction: a 266 year old, working grist mill, with a 318 year old history!

Taking a guided tour of the Stony Brook Grist Mill, originally built in 1699 and rebuilt in 1751, was like becoming a time traveler.  Pictures of the working machinery, all powered by a water wheel, don’t do it justice, so I’ve patched together a short video for you.  All these gears, belts and wheels work together to turn grain from surrounding farms into flour.  I have visited many mills in my life, most of them in complete ruins.  Seeing a living, operating grist mill was so special.  This is a history nut’s dream.  This would also be a fascinating stop for kids!

If you are more interested in nature, Stony Brook Village also has a beautiful, 200+ acre park called Avalon Park and Preserve, located directly across from the grist mill. This park offers a glimpse into New York’s natural past, showing visitors what Long Island looked like when Native Americans lived here.  But exploring the park also yields some surprises!  The Labyrinth, a memorial dedicated to Paul Simons, a native Long Islander who loved nature and the outdoors, and for whom the park was created, is hidden in the woods. Don’t tell the kids about this part of the park!  Let them walk the trails and “discover” it for themselves.  It will be a magical experience.

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This magical glade, called "The Labyrinth," is at the center of the park, hidden in the woods.

Another fascinating spot in the park, is a large, metal sphere located in the wildflower meadow.  This sculpture, by artist Alicia Framis and  titled “Cartas al Cielo,” meaning “Letters to the Heavens,”has a slot in its side where visitors can place letters written to “those who have no earthbound address.”  What a cool way to honor the memory of a loved one!

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"Cartas al Cielo," a spherical sculpture set in the meadow, is where you can send messages to the beyond.

Stony Brook Village also boasts several unique food options.  Stop at the Chocolate Works for a treat or souvenirs.  They had the most amazing Halloween themed treats, like haunted houses made of candy and monster marshmallow pops.  We were also amazed by the hand painted chocolate portraits.  For a snack and a drink, The Brew Cheese, located next to Stony Brook’s post office (with a flapping eagle figurehead), is a great option.  We had a delicious cheese tasting tray to share, and I tried one of their hard ciders on tap for my drink.

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One of the Chocolate Works many Halloween haunted houses made of candy and chocolate.

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Next to Stony Brook's famous post office with the flapping-winged eagle figurehead, is the Brew Cheese, a cozy little cheese and beer tasting shop.

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Here I am, happy with my hard cider.  I loved the cheese grater garland they used for decoration in the Brew Cheese!

For dinner, we had “high tea,” at Robinson’s Tea Room.  This is a wonderful option for a parent-child date afternoon!  In addition to tons of teas to choose from, the fancy china and three-tiered tray of finger foods, will really make your kiddo feel special.  Make sure you point that pinky finger skyward when you sip your tea!

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I was sure they picked this bird and butterfly place setting just for me!

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Three trays piled with scones, toppings, fingers sandwiches, hors d'oeuvres and tiny desserts.  All scrumptious.  There was also a chocolate fondue station.

On Day 2 of discovering Long Island, we visited the Long Island Maritime Museum, another must-see for history buffs.  The museum houses maritime art, artifacts and has a warehouse full of small craft boats.  An interactive map tells the stories of many, many ship-wrecked sailors and their rescuers, along the coast of Long Island.  An oyster house tells the story of the island’s oyster industry.  But MY favorite part was visiting the Bayman’s Cottage, a two-bedroom house where a family of TEN made their living in the late 1800's.  I love when you can walk into an exhibit and really imagine what it must have been like to live back then.

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This two-bedroom house was moved to the museum property from its original location on the main street not too far away.  It is furnished like it would have been when it was called home by a local mariner and his family.  The couple had EIGHT children!

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The kitchen of the cottage.  Stove in the middle of the room, washing area in the corner.  The family bathtub where the entire family would bathe once a week, starting with the eldest member of the family is right next to the stove.

For accommodations during this part of the trip, we were hosted by the Hilton Long Island-Huntington Hotel.  This hotel had an amazing indoor pool, with a stone waterfall, which was beautifully lit at night.  My kiddos were SO jealous.  See for yourself!

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The heated, indoor pool at the Hilton Long Island-Huntington Hotel.

After spending a day and a half exploring central Long Island, it was time to travel to the Montauk Yacht Club, located at the Eastern tip, for the official start of our publisher’s conference.  If you ever want to plan a family trip to Long Island, Montauk is a beautiful destination!  Rocky, remote shorelines and a gorgeous light house, give you just a glimpse of what this part of Long Island has to offer.


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Please excuse my ridiculous expression!  I was just so excited about this view from my room at the Montauk Yacht Club.  Open up the sliding doors and you are right there on a covered porch with the water and sand steps away.

On the last day of the trip, I spent the afternoon hiking at Shadmoor State Park.  This park reminded me so much of the west coast, with scrubby, windswept hills and crazy eroded cliffs along the beach.

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Doesn't this look like the coast of Oregon?  The shells and rocks along the shore were gorgeous here.  I found a mermaid's purse (a shark or skate egg case).


My friend and fellow publisher, Toni, checking out the rock formations caused by the erosion of the beach cliffs.

Of course, I was not able to include all of my pictures in this article.  Go check out Macaroni Kid South Birmingham's Facebook and Instagram pages for more pictures and video.  In addition, there were two other groups of Macaroni Kid publishers exploring other parts of Long Island, so we would be able to cover more ground.  If you want to hear and see even more of Long Island, search hashtags #MKdiscoversLI and #MKMeetup on social media and be on the look out for their review articles.  

Disclosure:  The writer received complimentary accommodations for two nights, as well as several meals and activities to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are her own.

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