Travel The East

The perfect North Fork Long Island trip needs to include two things- 1) beaches and 2) vineyards. With temperatures hovering around the upper 60's this holiday season, who says you can only enjoy these two in the Summer?! On our drive out east, we detoured to Wildwood State Park in Wading River.  There are great rewards for discovering lesser-known locations, off the beaten path.  Not as well-known as some of the other North Fork beaches, Wildwood encloses 600 acres of woodsy trails that open up to a beautiful Long Island Sound beach.  The beach at Wildwood is never too crowded and the water is always crystal blue. What we love about this park is the diverse terrain and scenery.  Just a few steps away from the beach, you'll find long, winding trails through the woods.  The trails are clearly marked with many intersecting routes, which are also ideal for mountain biking.  Wildwood has campsites available for fun weekend getaways with family and friends too.

No snow, no winter jackets, means more chances to get outdoors & explore! On our last trip to New York we took advantage of this warmer, winter weather and visited some lesser known parks on Long Island. Some of which I never even knew existed while growing up on Long Island, like  Connetquot River State Park . Connetquot River State Park is located in Oakdale, New York off of Sunrise Highway. The park charges an $8 entrance fee for cars. It stretches across 3,473 acres with 50 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, as well as snowshoeing and cross country skiing in the snow.  As with many parks on Long Island, it is always important to  watch out for ticks , which often hide out in tall grass and under fallen leaves in the Autumn. The park is a popular destination for fishing.  It was once referred to as the ' Disney World of Trout Fishing .' There is a hatchery for the breeding and hatching of fish in the Connetquot River. In add

Although the Northeast has been experiencing abnormally warm temperatures for this time of year, that has not stopped us from getting an early start on some of our favorite winter activities.  We decided to take in some new scenery and fresh air this weekend by escaping to Stowe, Vermont. Even without snowfall, the town's characteristics evoke a winter paradise.  So much so, that leaving Stowe on Sunday to return back home was a struggle! Our room at the Topnotch Resort & Spa There are many hotels to choose from in Stowe, but few offer the combination of luxury and cabin appeal like Topnotch Resort & Spa .   Whether you like to embrace the cold or escape it, Topnotch fits the needs of everyone's ideal winter getaway.  Departing from the Boston area on Friday afternoon, the drive up took us around 4 - 4.5 hours.  Upon our arrival at the resort, we received top-service from the front desk and staff, welcoming us to their mountain oasis for the weekend

A few weeks back, we got a request from South Shore Living Magazine asking to do a feature on Travel The East and our outdoor winter adventures on Massachusetts' south shore. And what an amazing opportunity this was; our first printed press feature! We are always amazed and appreciative of all the love and support we have received for Travel The East since our beginnings just over a year ago! South Shore Living magazine and Editorial & Content Director, Janice Randall Rohlf, did an amazing job capturing our south shore recommendations for this winter and our photography in their magazine's December 2015 edition.  You can purchase the magazine in stores across the south shore including Stop & Shop, Barnes & Noble, and CVS, or subscribe monthly and stay up to date with all the latest and greatest happening on the south shore! Travel the East  © Kristy Albano & Matt Pickering                                                        

Imagine this:  60 degree weather just a few days before December 1st.  We hop into a Classic Chevrolet Station Wagon; windows down with Jimi Hendrix streaming through the speakers. And we're off, driving down rows of a vineyard cascading over 500 acres, with blue skies overhead.   Maybe not your typical day at the vineyard, but this is a snapshot of our unforgettable experience at   Macari Vineyards   in Mattituck, Long Island. The Macari Family welcomed us with open arms for a tour and wine tasting at their vineyards nestled in North Fork's   Long Island Wine Country .  For those less familiar, Long Island Wine Country is the Sonoma Valley of the east coast.  It is a premier location for wine lovers, with 60 vineyards and 30 wineries set in a picturesque countryside setting.   Macari Vineyards being family-owned, creates a very friendly and easygoing atmosphere for the visitor’s experience. Each family member is actively involved in the day-to-day o