Departure times are from the Holiday Inn in Ronkonkoma. For special arrangements contact trip leaders. Travel times are one-way from the Holiday Inn. Note that certain outings, such as sea kayaking, sailing and fishing, may require a fee paid to the outfitter or boat captain. Note: All NYS parks require Empire Pass or a parking fee. Outing leaders will work to arrange carpools to limit such fees.

Paddlers must have basic paddling/swimming skills and wear NYS-approved PFDs (personal flotation devices). Canoes and kayaks are available for rental at launch sites. See outing descriptions for details. Bikers must wear helmets and bring their own equipment.

Leaders make all trip decisions and have the final say on participant preparedness and ability. Group safety and enjoyment are the primary objectives. Please select trips within your current level of ability and fitness.


1. FULL Walk Connetquot River State Park Preserve (E). Once a private trout and hunting reservation for elite sportsmen like Tiffany, Vanderbilt and Carnegie, this 3,500-acre preserve offers a fish hatchery, a restored grist mill, a trout-filled river, a pond, hardwood-evergreen forests and pine barrens. An easy 2-mile walk introduces this section of old Long Island rich in wildlife, including deer, waterfowl, rare nesting birds and rare plants such as trailing arbutus and pyxie moss. Travel time, 15 minutes. Departs 3:00 p.m. Leaders June Fait and Herb Coles.

2. FULL Walk Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park (E). This easy 2-mile walk introduces a stunning 690-acre property, designed in the late 19th Century as an oasis of outdoor beauty and informal plantings. We’ll explore the Island’s most extensive collection of conifers, as well as dwarf evergreens, rhododendron, azaleas, hollies, oaks and wildflowers, all in sprawling lawn plantings and along the Connetquot River. Travel time, 15 minutes. Departs 3:00 p.m. Leader: Micheline Kagan.

Saturday, June 18

3. FULL - Winery Tours and Wine Tasting on the North Fork (E). On this tour we’ll soak up the renowned ambiance of the North Fork, home of Long Island’s award winning wineries. We’ll enjoy wine tasting tours of several top wineries and a personalized visit to Paumanok Vineyards, voted 2004 's “Winery of the Year” by the N.Y. Food and Wine Critics. Moseying through New-England-like villages and farmland, we’ll lunch on the Sound in New Suffolk, a quaint sailing town surrounded on three sides by water. Then on to Greenport to tour refurbished sailing vessels from the 19th Century. We’ll head home in time for those who want to shop at the massive Tanger discount mall (shoppers should bring their own cars). Designated drivers wanted. Travel time: 45 minutes. Departs 10 a.m. Leader: Carol McHugh.

4. FULL -  Introduction to Sea Kayaking at Setauket Harbor (M).  Sea kayaking is the intimate way to explore the Island’s varied coastline. This 5-hour outing for beginners and veteran sea kayakers alike will start at Setauket Harbor on the North Shore, where we’ll head into shallow water for a lesson by Ken Fink, a certified instructor (www.kayaken-outfitters.com). Then we’ll explore the harbor and paddle to the beach where Ken will serve lunch. After lunch, weather and your nerves permitting, we’ll head for open water in Long Island Sound, or explore Stony Brook Harbor on foot. Cost including lunch and sea kayak rental is $50, with your own kayak $20. Travel time: 30 minutes. Departs: 9:00 a.m. Leader: Pat Tauber.

5. FULL - Ferry, Bike & Hike Mashomack Nature Preserve on Shelter Island (M). Shelter Island is a special place between the North and South Forks of eastern Long Island. After driving through the North Fork’s scenic wine country, we’ll begin this spirited trip with a short ferry ride from Greenport to Shelter Island. Then we’ll bike around Shelter Island with a hike in the Nature Conservancy's impressive Mashomack Preserve. Expect lots of pretty water views plus osprey nests and prickly-pear cactus in bloom. Distance: 25 miles biking (hilly terrain, bring your own bike), 3 miles hiking (flat). Travel time: 90 minutes. Departs: 8:15 a.m. Leader: Joan Gossner.

6. FULL - Ferry to Shelter Island and Hike Mashomack Nature Preserve (E). For those not inclined to bike, we’ll travel the same scenic route as the previous trip, except we’ll carpool to Shelter Island on the ferry and drive to the 1,200-acre Mashomack Preserve, “the Jewell of the Peconic.” Once there we’ll hike 6 to 8 miles to explore Mashomack’s rewarding combination of interlacing tidal creeks, woodlands, fields and coastline. Travel time: 90 minutes. Departs 8:15 a.m.

7. FULL - Wilderness Beach Hike on Fire Island National Seashore (S). This classic beach loop between Smith Point and Watch Hill hugs the Atlantic on the way out, returning through the back bay and swale of Otis Pike Wilderness, New York’s only Federal wilderness. Expect beautiful views of ocean, dunes and Great South Bay, as well as nesting piping plovers and least terns, waterfowl, and spring flora such as heather, beach plum and wild rose. The outing starts with an orientation by the park ranger. Maximum distance: 14.2 miles with several cutbacks to shorten the loop,. Bring sunscreen and beachwear. Travel time: 30 minutes. Departs: 8:15 a.m. Leaders: June Fait and Herb Coles.

8. FULL Ferry Ride and Field Trip to Fire Island’s Sunken Forest (E). Hikers, birders and ecologists will be fascinated by this field trip to the Sunken Forest on Fire Island National Seashore, one of the last remaining maritime forests on the eastern seaboard. A diverse ecosystem formed after the retreat of the continental glacier some 15,000 years ago, it is abundant with hardwood groves, dunes, swamps, marshland and wildlife. After ferrying to Fire Island across Great South Bay at Sailor’s Haven (fee), we’ll take a guided tour of the Forest’s 40 acres on roller-coaster boardwalks over two rows of sand dunes. We’ll also explore the ocean beach, so bring sunscreen and beachwear. Travel time: 30 minutes. Departs 8:45 a.m. Leader: Chuck Brock.

9. FULL - Tour Montauk Lighthouse, Hike the Bluffs and Watch the Birds (E). This epic journey to Montauk State Park on the eastern tip of the South Fork is worth it! Join us to experience the freshest salt air, unmatched seascapes, the race of merging tides and highly varied wildlife. Led by a birding expert, we’ll travel through the Hamptons for a tour of the lighthouse ordered by George Washington in 1796, then hike the beach and bluffs, visit the Fisherman’s Memorial and even climb the interior staircase. Bring binoculars for birding at Montauk State Park and at Camp Hero, an adjacent state park that was once a WWII military installation. Travel time: 100 minutes. Departs 7:30 a.m. Leader: Richard Furmin.

10. FULL Photography Hike on the Suffolk Greenbelt Trail, Nissequogue Section (E). Join us for a photographic outing lead by a noted amateur photographer. We’ll hike at a leisurely pace starting near the beach at Sunken Meadow State Park, climbing moderate hills to see breathtaking water views of Long Island Sound and the Nissequogue River. Expect ample opportunities for working on photo compositions of seascapes, riverscapes, wooded landscapes, shore birds and the group. Maximum distance 6-8 miles with lunch on the river. Travel time: 35 minutes. Departs: 9:30 a.m. Leader: Mike Vetrano.

11. FULL Hike and Poetry Reading on the Walt Whitman Trail and Museum (E). Explore this hilly section of the Ronkonkoma moraine on the same trails hiked by poet Walt Whitman, just minutes from Whitman’s birthplace in Huntington. We’ll hike approx. 6 miles through attractive hardwood forest and mountain laurel to Jayne’s Hill, Long Island’s highest point at 401 feet (some say you can see the ocean from there). Whitman’s poem “Paumanok” about Long Island from Leaves of Grass is carved in a huge glacial erratic atop Jaynes Hill, where we’ll lunch and read Whitman’s poetry (bring your favorite verse). This literary outing ends with a tour of the Walt Whitman Birthplace Museum. Travel time: 25 minutes. Departs 10 a.m. Leader: Jeanne Millspaugh.

12. FULL - Canoe the Beautiful Carmans River (E). With crystal clear water, picturesque vegetation and abundant wildlife, the 12-mile Carmans is arguably the most beautiful of the Island’s three main spring creeks. We’ll put-in at the historic hamlet of Yaphank on the South Shore and canoe 5 to 6 miles through Southaven County Park and Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge on Bellport Bay. Following the Carmans’ twisty and narrow path as it meanders through woodlands, we should see many birds, including egrets and great blue heron, and deer (with two short portages). We can also explore the Wertheim Refuge on foot. Canoe rentals available from Glacier Bay Sports, 8-boat maximum so register early. Travel time: 30 minutes. Departs 8:30 a.m. Leaders: Chris and Lou Visconti.
 
13. Party-boat Fishing at Captree State Park. This briny destination is located on the eastern tip of Jones Beach Island bordering Fire Island Inlet. A charming picnic area, it is home to a large fleet of charter boats that pursue flounder, bluefish, weakfish, striped bass and more in Great South Bay, the inlet and offshore. Join us for a half-day of fishing for whatever’s running on an “open” party boat. Captain’s fee is approx. $35, including tackle, bait and fish cleaning. Travel time: 30 minutes. Departs: 9:00 a.m. Leader: Gerry Barsky.

14. FULL Hike Connetquot River State Park Preserve to Great South Bay (M). This flat, 9-mile through-hike will cover two lovely areas in central Suffolk County. We’ll begin in Connetquot River State Park Preserve, a 3,473-acre park rich in history and nature that gives a feel for old Long Island. Once a sportsman’s preserve for the rich and famous, today the park is preserved for fly fishing for monster trout, hiking, nature observation and horseback riding. After a stop at the trout hatchery and a tour of the historic mansion, we’ll continue south to the Suffolk Greenbelt Trail, which winds its way underneath Sunrise Highway past creeks, woods, ponds, beaches, backyards and even highways, before finishing on the beach at the Bay. Travel time: 15 minutes. Departs: 8:45 a.m.  Leader: Kathy Daly (Flynn).


15. FULL - Explore the Pine Barrens with a Noted Expert and Environmental Activist (E). Long Island’s Pine Barrens is an area of unique natural beauty and diversity, with glacial kettles and erratics, rolling hills with panoramic vistas, parabolic dunes, coastal plain ponds, white Atlantic cedar swamps, dwarf pines and much more. This hike, interpreted by John Turner, noted environmentalist and co-founder of the Pine Barrens Society, starts in Manorville and covers a small section of the Paumanok Path, the 125-mile trail from Rocky Point to Montauk. We’ll traverse 8 flat miles of woodlands, grasslands and scrub with lunch at Sandy and Grassy glacial kettle ponds. Travel time: 30  minutes.  Departs 9:00 a.m. Leader: Joan Gossner.

16. ‘Old Money’ Bike Ride on the Oyster Bay Peninsula (M). Bring your bike to ride some of the beautiful roads of the Oyster Bay peninsula and surroundings. We’ll pedal past estates and former estates that are now nature preserves, an arboretum, toney private schools and world class institutions. Highlights include good birding country and a visit to Theodore Roosevelt’s wonderful home, Sagamore Hill National Historical Site. If time permits, we can visit the Theodore Roosevelt nature trail and sanctuary adjacent to TR’s burial site. We’ll lunch at a waterside park in historic Cold Spring Harbor, which may also include a quick visit to the whaling museum. Distance, about 30 to 35 miles, with some challenging hills, moderate pace. Travel time: 45 minutes. Departs: 8:30 a.m. Leaders: Goodie and Orrie Frutkin.

17. FULL - Sail on the Historic Christeen Oyster Sloop from Oyster Bay. Join us for a 3-hour afternoon sail, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., on the Christeen, a 40-foot gaff-rigged sloop and the oldest remaining oyster sloop in North America. Whether raising the sails, hauling oysters or enjoying the view, the Christeen offers a fun and relaxing experience in one of the most beautiful and cleanest harbors on the North Shore. Cost is $20 per person, payable at the boat. Travel time 45  minutes. Departs 11:30 a.m.. Leader: Christine Gillen.

Note: The following outings are less then a full day and begin either west or north of Ronkonkoma. They will jump-start your trip home if you’re traveling towards New York City or upstate via the Thruway or the ferry.

18. FULL - Canoe or Kayak the Nissequogue River from Smithtown to Long Island Sound (E). Considered by many to be Long Island’s most beautiful river, the Nissequogue is a tidal spring creek running between Smithtown and Kings Park on Long Island Sound. Assisted by a perfect tide for running downriver from Smithtown, we’ll paddle along 5.5 miles of incredible unspoiled nature on the scenic North Shore. This one-way paddle will last approximately 3 hours, with lunch on the beach. Canoe and kayak rentals are available for about $37 or bring your own boat. Travel time: 30 minutes. Departs: 9:00 a.m. Leader: Nancy Hodson. Possible outing extensions: Paddling the lower Nissequogue and hiking the Suffolk Greenbelt Trail.

19. FULL - Sea Kayak in Oyster Bay and Bayville — Equipment Rentals Available (E): This leisurely half-day paddle explores the sheltered waters of Oyster Bay, one of our cleanest ports. Starting at Beekman Beach, we’ll paddle in Oyster Bay Harbor out toward Long Island Sound, heading back toward Centre Island Beach and Bayville for lunch and a rest stop. We’ll then circle back before finishing at 2 p.m.. Bring your own boat or rent a sea kayak for $30 to $40. Travel time: 45 minutes. Departs: 8:30 a.m. Leader: Mark Steinhacker.

20. FULL - Tour Fire Island Lighthouse and Walk the Beach at Fire Island National Seashore (E). Don’t forget your beach attire, sandals and sun block for this early four-mile hike along Fire Island National Seashore. It includes a Ranger-led tour of the Fire Island Lighthouse, a walk to the community of Kismet and a tour of the village where cars are prohibited. We will see great views of the Atlantic Ocean and Great South Bay, then return along the beach to our starting point at Robert Moses State Park. Fee is $3.50 for the lighthouse tour. Travel time: 30 minutes. Departs: 8:15 a.m. Leader: Bud Kazdan.

21. FULL Interpretive Walk at Avalon Park Preserve Guided by a Park Biologist (E). Located in the village of Stony Brook, Avalon Park features a dramatic restoration of native plantings that blends art, design and restoration ecology. Guided by a park biologist, we’ll walk along scenic Duck Pond and through woodland gardens and wildflower fields with occasional ups and downs. We’ll also trace the stone labyrinth that represents the progressive stages of our existence, from infancy to old age, and symbolizes the joyful and painful experiences of our lives. Hiking distance 5 miles. Travel time: 30 minutes. Departs: 9:00 a.m. Leader: Yoshiko Takeshita. Possible outing extensions: Take the Discovery Cruise in Stony Brook Harbor, visit the acclaimed Stony Brook Carriage Museum or shop in the village.

22. FULL Tour Caumsett State Park on Scenic Lloyd’s Neck (E). This 1,500-acre park, once an estate owned by Marshall Field III, is located on the scenic Lloyds Neck peninsula north of Huntington. Enjoy the wooded trails to the beach on Long Island Sound, where we’ll lunch in the shade atop a high point of land. We'll walk back through gardens to the Marshall Field mansion with its sweeping views down to the water; we’ll also stop to visit the live birds of prey. Participants can determine the outing length at this uniquely open area that appeals to Long Islanders in all seasons. Travel time: 50 minutes. Departs 8:15 a.m. Leader: Arlene Scholer

23. FULL Hike the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail from Cold Spring Harbor (M). The prettiest — and hilliest — section of the 20-mile Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail begins in the quaint village of Cold Spring Harbor, passing over the Harbor Hill glacial moraine through dense mountain laurel and hardwood forests. A side loop to the Nature Conservancy’s Uplands Farm Sanctuary hints at Long Island’s rural past — bluebird sighting are common. Distance: 6 miles, some elevation. Travel time: 45 minutes. Departs: 8:45 a.m. Leader: Lori Maynard. Possible outing extensions: Tour Cold Spring Harbor Labs or the Whaling Museum, or shop in the village.

24. FULL Hike the Scenic Nissequogue Section of the Suffolk Greenbelt (M). This hilly Greenbelt hike offers exceptional water views and shore bird sightings. We’ll start on the water at Nissequogue River State Park in Kings Park, continuing along hilly bluffs overlooking Long Island Sound into Sunken Meadow State Park. Then we'll loop back to Nissequogue for a rest stop. Those heading home may choose to end here, where the cars are parked. For a longer day we’ll continue south into the woods and along the river toward Smithtown Landing. Maximum distance 9 miles. Travel time: 30 minutes. Departs: 8:45 a.m. Leaders: Betty and Jim Murns.

25. Walking Tour of Historic Lower Manhattan (E). This classic 3-mile city walk will visit some of lower Manhattan’s most architecturally significant buildings and landmarks. Starting at City Hall Park, we’ll pass historic Trinity Church, City Hall, the Municipal Building, Tammany Hall and the Woolworth Building. Then we’ll pass the Old Customs House (now the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian). We’ll also visit the former site of the World Trade Center, Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange and the original U.S. capitol. We’ll finish at South Street Seaport with lunch at a restaurant of your choice.. Travel time: 65 minutes. Departs 9:00 a.m. Leader: Silvana Falco. Possible outing extensions: Tour the Smithsonian Museum, ride the Staten Island Ferry, tour the Seaport’s museum or get discount tickets to a Broadway show.

26. CANCELLED -  Explore the Bronx Botanical Gardens and Food on Arthur Ave. (E) For those heading upstate, break up the trip with a lovely walk along the Bronx River and through this garden paradise. A National Historic Landmark and one of the oldest and largest botanical gardens in the world, the 250-acre estate includes tree and shrub collections, specialized gardens and subtropical plants. ($6 fee, seniors $3.) We’ll have lunch on Arthur Avenue at Giovanni’s, a superb Italian restaurant.  Travel time: 70 minutes. Departs: 9:00 a.m. Leader: Carol McHugh.

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