Best Fall Destinations
BEST FARM STAND
Briermere Farms
The advantages of living on Long Island include farm stands like Briermere Farms that we can look forward to visiting when spring arrives. It’s no surprise that this combination fruit farm and bakery on the North Fork has been voted Best Farm Stand on Long Island again. After all, customers just love the breads, cakes, cookies, jams, jellies, and muffins made from scratch on the farm. There are no prepared ingredients or fillings used and most of the fresh fruits used by its bakery are grown on the farm. If you can’t wait until spring for one of the farm’s jams and jellies or its apple butter, honey, or syrup, place an order on its website to be delivered right to your door. 4414 Sound Ave., Riverhead, 631-722-3931, briermerefarms.com
BEST FARM
The Napolitano Family Farm
The Napolitano Family Farm is everything you could ask for from a local community-based agriculture organization. The farm, located at Sisters of St. Joseph in Brentwood, grows a wide variety of fresh produce and is committed to “clean growing” – no pesticides or chemicals used. Farmers Dan and Gina Napolitano started the farm in 2018 to provide Long Islanders with a source of quality fruits and veggies grown on their farm. They launched a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program, where individuals and families can become members, buying a share of the farm before the season begins and then receiving a weekly share of produce throughout the season. Membership applications for 2023 were available starting Oct. 1; sign up for the mailing list on the website. 1725 Brentwood Rd., Brentwood, 646-283-4682, napolitanofamilyfarm.com
BEST HAUNTED HOUSE
Darkside Haunted House – Wading River
Beware! This haunted house is seriously scary. Darkside Productions has been giving Long Islanders a fright every October leading up to Halloween since it opened in 1998. Buzzfeed.com even put this Wading River attraction on a list of 25 haunted houses in America that will “scare the crap out of you.” Darkside Productions sets up on 14,000 “scare” feet of land and offers both an indoor and outdoor house chock full of creepiness. Professional actors in realistic costumes and makeup stage scenes in front of movielike backdrops. Critics have even called it too realistic. One thing is for sure: It’s the ultimate place to get into the horror movie mindset for Halloween season. 5184 NY-25A, Wading River, 631-369-7227, darksideproductions.com
BEST LOCAL WINERY
Pindar Vineyards
Pindar Vineyards consistently produces award-winning wines from its vineyards and touts the largest tasting room on Long Island, with more than 5,000 square feet of event space. It is one of the most historic and well-known vineyards on Long Island. Located on the North Fork, Pindar has been making wine since 1982, when the winery was founded by three friends with an interest in producing premium wines in New York State. After their first vintage in 1987, Pindar Vineyards went on to receive abundant accolades year after year from the likes of Wine Spectator and the New York Wine Classic competition, which awarded Pindar the Governor’s Cup, the top prize in that contest, last year. 37645 Main Rd. Rt. 25, Peconic, 631-734-6200, pindar.net
