Orient
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At the far, far end of the North Fork is Orient, one of the most glorious spots on Long Island. Only a few buildings dot this narrow windswept piece of land. Instead you’ll find osprey nests, gentle beaches, and a tiny historical town.
In the 1930s, the WPA guide described the village of Orient in terms that still apply today: “The little weathered shingle houses, few more than one-and-a-half stories high, sit primly behind picket fences. In sun or storm the Atlantic winds roll in. . . .”
To reach Orient proper, you cross a narrow isthmus. To the left are crescent-shaped Truman Beach and Long Island Sound, to the right, Orient Harbor and Gardiners Bay.
The town centers around an old-fashioned post office and the Orient Country Store. The former is still equipped with turn-of-the-century stamp windows, while the latter sells sandwiches at bargain prices.
Historical Sites
At the end of Village Lane is the Oysterponds Historical Society (1555 Village Ln., 631/323-2480, www.oysterpondshistoricalsociety.org, 2–5 p.m. Thurs. and Sat.–Sun. July–Sept., adults $5), a group of seven well-preserved historic buildings. The Webb House is a pre–Revolutionary War inn, while the Village House is a 19th-century home containing memorabilia from the 1800s. Back then, Orient was a popular resort with two big hotels. Temporary exhibits are showcased in the Schoolhouse Building, the only building open year-round.
If you continue down Village Lane to King Street and turn onto Narrow River Road, you’ll come to an early slaves’ burial ground, in a pretty spot overlooking the sea. Twenty slaves are buried here along with Dr. Seth Tuthill and his wife Maria. “It was [the Tuthills’] wish that they be buried with their former slaves,” reads a plaque near the cemetery.
Orient Point and Beach
A few miles beyond Orient, at the very tip of the North Fork, is Orient Point, where ferries dock on their way to and from New London, Connecticut. Abutting the point is Orient Beach State Park (N. County Rd., off Rte. 25, 631/323-2440, dawn–dusk, $6–8 parking), one of the finest beaches on Long Island. Stretching west over a long finger of land, the 357-acre park features endless miles of white, ocean-washed sands. It’s especially popular among bird-watchers and nature-lovers. Facilities include a bathhouse, refreshment stand, horseshoe court, and hiking trails.
© Avalon Travel and Sascha Zuger from Moon New York State, 5th Edition
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