Port Jefferson‘s appeal usually centers on its harbor, old houses and beautiful gardens. On any given day, you only need to walk a three block radius to satisfy your urge to window-shop. The downtown shorefront area hosts everything from quaint antique shops to boutiques to art galleries. Here is a guide to chart out an entire day at Port Jeff, when all you have to do is shop, shop and shop!
Start walking along historic East Main Street. Pause at the Pink Grasshopper, which harbors an amazing array of resort clothing and dresses. Next, visit the Lavender Fields, where you can find a full selection of home decor, bedding, pajamas, candles, and bath and body products. If you have a dog, bring him along to Fetch, a truly unique pet boutique and bakery. Here, you’ll find a full selection of treats, clothing, toys and even healthy foods. For the historical fanatic, visit Pattern Finders, which hosts a wonderful collection of antiques.
Tired yet? Unwind your knotted self with a massage at Body Wise. Hungry yet? Eat an amazing blend of vegetarian food at Tiger Lily. While you’re here, take a deep breath and simply appreciate the majestic splendor of the Long Island Sound. If you have the time, go on a sightseeing cruise on the Martha Jefferson, an 85 feet Mississippi River Paddleboat.
And if you enjoy your visit so much that you decide to stay over for dinner. Then you should enjoy it at Ruvo, an Italian restaurant. If you liked the Long Island Sound view, you can still enjoy it at Lombardi’s on the Sound at the Port Jefferson Country Club. End your dinner with any of the ice cream shops around Main Street. You can finish your ice cream cone while visiting any of the art galleries in the area. Some of my personal recommendations are Studio 703 on 703 Main Street, Gallery 4222 on 318 Wynn Lane, Home Art Gallery on 213 Main Street, and C. Rose Art and Living Shop on 154B W. Broadway.
If you’re in Port Jeff during the first weekend in December, you’ll see the town transformed into a Dickensian Village. The Charles Dickens Festival takes over the village. All festivities are scheduled every 15 minutes. Now you can shop at the old market, while listening to a choir sing on a church corner, eat a traditional dinner with live entertainment, and to top it off, finish your day with an opera or show.
Lastly, when you are around, don’t get lost. Pick up a walking guide at the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce for a self-guided tour. While you are picking the guide, don’t forget to take a peek at the wonderful vintage shop right next door. Its stunning display of perennial gardens will leave you sighing for more.
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