The South Fork has activities that are as much a part of its whole experience as a gondola boat ride is in Venice! In fact, there are so many things to do, you may choose to honeymoon here so that you really have time to absorb the magic. There are farm tours and wine tastings, charter fishing boats and harbor tours, kayaking and bicycling, trail riding and carousel riding, swimming and snorkeling, concerts and fairs! The list is simply endless. Your guests will most likely be here for a few days and how delighted they would be if you arranged for them to engage in some of these South Fork activities. While making your wedding plans, do some of them yourself! It doesn't matter if you are from New York City or New Suffolk; locals often forget to enjoy what is available to them all of the time! The listings below will offer you a glimpse into some of the activities available. Be sure to check out "Insider's Advice" for suggestions.

Attractions

Atlantis Marine World
431 East Main Street
Riverhead, NY 11901
(631) 208-9200
www.AtlantisMarineWorld.com

All the drama of the sea, without the worry about the weather!! Events held within the Aquarium are as beautiful as they are unique. Tables are set up directly in front of the huge tanks filled with aquamarine water and colorful fish. There's a grand staircase for the bride's and groom's entrance leading into a center of it all. Of course, Atlantis also has wonderful outdoor facilities overlooking the Peconic River. This must be one of the most unique and lovely locations for a wedding ever. Full catering is available. Don't be intimidated from calling here. Bob Lanieri is the person to speak to for catering. He is a down to earth guy who works very hard to make all events special.

Bay Street Theater
PO Box 810
Sag Harbor, NY 11963
(631) 725-9500
www.BayStreet.org

Sophisticated , yet casual , silly, scrumptious, sensitive and superior describe this premier professional not-for-profit regional theater that is quintessential East End. It's a place where known talent can practice their art without hindrance and where new talent can break upon the scene. And such a scene it is! The Target Mainstage. Season presents exceptional plays: comedies, dramas, and musicals. KidsStreet provides exceptional entertainment for children including circus acts, pageantry, musical productions, and stories. The Comedy Club at Bay Street Theater makes the nights as deliciously fun as the days in The Hamptons with top name stand up comics. Bay Street Theater has so many programs that you really have to visit its website to absorb them all. You just can't say you've experienced the East End if you haven't experienced Bay Street Theater.

Hallockville Farm Museum and Folk Life Center
6038 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901
(631) 298-5292
www.hallockville.com

Hallockville Farm Museum and Folk Life Center is situated on the original Hallock Family Homestead and has been restored to reflect the traditions and cultural heritage of Eastern Long Island. The vineyards are the newest chapter in Long Island's agricultural and cultural history, but to truly "get" the East End, you should visit this museum located in Riverhead, on historic Sound Avenue, at the very gateway to the North Fork Wine Country. Popular annual events include A Victorian Christmas, Fall Festival, Civil War Reenactments, Antique Car Shows, and, of course, Tractor Pulls! Educational programs are ongoing and school children are invited to experience life as it once was. Even if there is no special event, the museum grounds are open and there is a charming museum shop offering hand made toys, quilts, and art work. The oldest building was erected in the 1700's and the Naugles Barn was built in 1938, a peak time for farming on the East End. Be sure to make this your first stop on your visit to LI Wine Country.

Specialties

Corporate entertaining is one way to bind your clients to you by showing them they matter and that you are unique. Instead of the expected golf outing or dinners at a posh restaurant, can you imagine the buzz a gentleman's estate outing would create? Wide skies, sweeping vistas, creeks, shoreline, and open lands are the backdrops for led game bird hunts and clay shoots led by an experienced guide, owner Dan Heston, a guy who knows hunting and the land like few others. For those inclined to gentler activities, croquette and tea on a lawn surrounded by flowering hydrangeas is perfect. All arrangements for a superior event for corporations and bachelor parties can be taken care of arranged. This is upper class with no pretension, substance not frilly, and style, not stuffy. . Freddy's House B&B, a completely restored 1789 farmhouse, can provide accommodations for your most important guests of honor and accommodations for others are easily arranged in the area.

Indian Island Golf Course
661 Riverside Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
(631) 727-0788
www.indianislandcatering.com

Indian Island Golf Course is a Suffolk County owned and operated 18 hole golf course. It's stupendous location and course design makes it a popular destination for golfers all over. I am not a golfer, so I can not personally comment on its design, but friends of mine who are golfers tell me it is one of their favorite courses. There is an on site restaurant, Indian Island Clubhouse, that is reviewed on this site in the restaurant category. Corporate outings are easily arranged and groups are accommodated. For full information, please check their website!! (See also: Restaurants, Catering, and Venues)

Ram's Head Inn
108 Ram Island Drive
Shelter Island, NY 11965
(631) 749-0811
www.shelterislandinns.com/ramshead/

The inn plays hosts to many special events. Wine dinners, wine tasting weekends, music, and special holiday events are popular with tourists and locals. It is also known for its great holiday celebrations. You would be wise to add your name to its mailing list so that you receive advance notice. Ram's Head Inn provides lodging, private dining, banquet facilities, and outdoor activities. (See Restaurants, Venues, & Lodging)

Tours & Carriage Rides

LI Vineyard Tours
718-WINE-TOURS / 718-946-3868
(718)-LI-WINE-TOURS / (718)-549-4638
www.LIVineyardTours.com

LI Vineyard Tours has grown with the same care and attention as the wine industry here on Long Island. Far from a casual endeavor, LI Vineyard Tours spares no effort in ensuring that your Wine Tour is an experience to be savored, enjoyed, and remembered. This company took the time to learn about the wineries, invested in a transportation fleet capable of meeting the needs of wedding parties, tourist groups, or corporate clients, and hired a sufficient and knowledgeable staff that is courteous and well educated. A visit to The Hamptons is not complete without seeing the local wineries and tasting the superb wine. LI Vineyard Tours offers door-to-door service and is the limo company of choice for many of the finest lodging establishments on the East End and the metropolitan area. Safe, comfortable transportation is critical to the success of any event or outing and clients of this company can assure Reliable, Comfortable, and Luxurious Service and Transportation.

M & V Limousines, Inc.
1177 Jericho Turnpike
Commack, New York
(631) 543-0908
www.mvlimo.com

Tours of Long Island Wine Country are provided by this exceptional limousine company owned and founded by Mark Vigilante. Not only does he have a fabulous fleet of vehicles, but he also understands how to give his clients a real taste of the North Fork. He knows the East End and he knows his customers' need. Hugely popular for bachelor/bachelorette parties and corporate outings, these tours are truly "parties on the move." Celebrate an anniversary, a birthday, a promotion, or a graduation with a safe drive through the gorgeous North Fork. This is the way to taste the wines.

Wayne's Water Limo
(631) 834-5977
WaynesWaterLimo.com

Wayne Baylis is the owner and operator of this pristine, flawless, Formula speed boat, a veritable "limo" on water. As your chauffeur, a.k.a. "captain," Wayne will gladly transport you from Greenport to Shelter Island where you can disembark to enjoy a lovely dinner at a delightfully romantic restaurant. Naturally, he will also take visitors from Shelter Island to the historic North Fork! If preferred, the water limo is available for general tours. Swimming is permitted off the boat. Wayne is a super fellow who will do all he can to accommodate your requests.

Wine Country Carriage
PO Box 211
Calverton, New York 11933
(631) 727-8679
www.winecountrycarriage.com

Jane Murray and her two sons own and operate this exceptional company providing custom carriage rides for weddings, corporate event, anniversaries or birthday parties. Their two matching leopard appaloosa horses are magnificent looking and the carriages are impeccable. The horses are extremely well mannered and under the capable and experienced guidance of Jane or one of her sons, they perform their tasks beautifully. Nothing is more dramatic or romantic for a bride and groom than to arrive and depart in horse drawn carriage and, of course, photo opportunities are tremendous. Jane has offered her company's services for events at wineries, private homes, catering halls, and restaurants and she is familiar with the most scenic places and roads. Quiet spoken and sensitive, Jane pays great attention to details and finds joy in providing people a truly special experience. A visit to her website provides further information, but Jane will gladly speak to you and help you create the experience you want.

Wine Tasting

Galluccio Family Wineries
24385 Main Road (Route 25)
Cutchogue, NY 11935
(631) 734-7089
www.gallucciowineries.com

Galluccio Family Wineries is one of "the" wineries on the East End. There are couches facing the fireplace to tempt you to set a while. The views outside the wide doors tempt you to gaze awhile. And the wines, well, they are just tempting! The winery frequently has events and music so that it is lively and exciting also. Visitors are urged to bring picnic lunches and enjoy the beauty of the winery while sipping some award winning wines. If you prefer to have a lunch provided, call ahead for reservations or e-mail tara@gallucciowineries.com. The winery has scheduled tours and scheduled tour busses, so check its website for information. The staff is friendly and informative and will answer questions for the novice and the wine connoisseur. Visit this vineyard! (See Gifts, Event Planners, and Wineries)

Drinking wine may be a pastime; tasting wine may be a delight; but distinguishing wine is a soul satisfying experience. Wine is, after all, an art form! To get the full benefit of its complexities and nuances, you need some education. An exciting new opportunity is now being presented by Grand Cru Classes. Offering three series of programs Wine Discovery Series, Great Grape Series, and Beyond the Basics, Grand Cru Classes urges us to "learn more about wine, one glass at a time." Embracing the entire process of wine production, the "classes with glasses" are held at local wineries and provide hands on opportunities. Private group classes can be arranged and I can't imagine anything more fun for a bachelorette party, a pre or post winery wedding event, a corporate outing, or just a way to entertain friends. Long Island Wine Country was begging for this sort of program and Grand Cru Classes has answered the call of neophytes and seasoned wine drinkers with experience, knowledge and whimsy! Visit the website for detailed information.