Address
38 North Ferry Road, Shelter Island, NY 11964 (Town Center)
Phone Number
(631) 749-0291
Date Visited
9-12-25
Website
Shelter Island, NY
Description
Shelter Island is located between the North and South Forks on the eastern end of Long Island.It can only be accessed by ferry from either Greenport or North Haven.
This scenic island is 27 sq. miles.
There are many beaches, the Mashomack Preserve, a pubic golf course, and a variety of dining establishments.
It is easily driveable.
- Attraction Type: popular places
Transportation to venue offered: the island can only be accessed by ferry
Point of Contact: Roberta Rosenberg
When both of us had an unexpected free day on a beautiful day in September, we decided to visit to Shelter Island, a place we had never been.
Shelter Island can only be accessed by ferry. Nestled between the North and South Forks of Long Island, this 27 sq. Mile, scenic island is known for its natural beauty.
We drove out to Greenport, and joined the short line for the North Ferry. Cars drive right on for this quick (approx 5 minute ) ride to Shelter Island. No need to make a reservation, as they don’t take them!
One can also get a ferry from North Haven, (Sag Harbor) on the South Shore.
Having never been there, we really had no idea where we wanted to go. The island has eleven miles of coastal areas, with lots of beaches. We thought we would check out a few, but didn’t realize that beach permits were still required until September 15th, Upon learning that, we decided we would leave the beaches until our next visit.
Our next idea was to check out the Mashomack Preserve, a venue that is cared for by The Nature Conservancy. This turned out to be a lovely place to visit (see Mashomack Preserve page for details). It is 2,350 acres of interlacing tidal creeks, mature oak woodlands and is called the “Jewel of the Peconic.” There is easy accessibility for part of it.
After our time here, my better half wanted to visit the Shelter Island Golf Club, to get an overview of what it is like. It turns out it is a really hilly course. Even though it is not called a mountain course, it sure looks like one to me. We will definitely return for him to play a round.
Of course, no trip is complete with stopping to dine. We decided on The Islander, which turned out to be a great choice. (See www.destinationaccessible.org, for details on The Islander).
We drove around the Island, stopping along the way to view some of the beautiful vistas that abound.
Shelter Island is a tranquil place that provided us with a lovely first visit. We will definitely be back for more.
The Islander - restaurant
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