Long Island Lights in One Day

A request for help from our "three stooges" or anyone else familiar with the Island:

We will have perhaps one full day to hit the LI Lights during our NJ stay this year. Working out of our base in central NJ, we'd like to see at least Fire Island and Montauk. I realize that's a lot of driving, but we're used to that.

Does anyone know how long we should plan to drive from NYC to Montauk? Are there any other lights that we would have time for and are accessible by car? I'm pretty sure that none of the lights will be open between Christmas and New Year's Day, but if you know of any, please let me know that, too. Thanks in advance.

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-Art

Art,

Mike Seewald, one of the LI Stooges, escorted Pam and yours truly on a one day LI lighthouse tour in Oct. We saw Execution Rock, Sands Point, Eaton's Neck, Fire Island, Montauk, Horton's Point and Old Field. It really does help to know every little road to take and helped us see so many.

Email Mike and perhaps he can give you directions that will help you see them all. You will have to get up and leave NJ at o-dark-thirty in order to do that. Enjoy your trip.
Derith

[This message has been edited by Derith Bennett (edited 12-21-99).]

Art, you're asking alot. You'll need a Suffolk County Map- Get a Hagstoms - about $20.

Veranzanno Bridge to Montauk can take from 2 1/2 to 4 hours.
The earlier the better as far as timing.
I wish you had asked earlier, I could have sent you a map.
Here's a quick try!
Verranzano Bridge to Belt Parkway which becomes Southern State Pky which becomes Sunrise Hwy which continues east as Montauk Hwy to Montauk Lighthouse. - about 65 miles and 3 hours.
Montauk back to Easthampton follow signs for Cedar Point Park.
- about 15 minutes and 1 1/2 mile walk to Cedar Island Lighthouse on beach.
Follow the signs for Sag Harbour take the ferry to Shelter Island. On Shelter Island head to Ram Island which is attached to SI. Don't go onto Ram's Island but find Cornelius Point where you can get the closest land view of Long Beach Bar 'Bug Light'.
- 30 minutes.
Now head to Shelter Island Heights for the ferry to Greenport.
- 15 minutes.
When in Greenport head to E Main St going north to 25 East. Make a right heading east to Orient Pt Ferry. Park in long term Parking and walk out about 1/2 mile to see Orient Pt Lighthouse 'Coffee Pot' from the beach.
- 45 minutes.
Now get back on Route 25 heading west.As you pass the Sound View Inn look for Horton Point Lighthouse sign. Follow the signs to Lighthouse Road to see the light. - 20 minutes
Back track to Route 25 and head west. The road turns into Sound Ave and then 25A again. About 30 miles look for it turning into 347/ Nesconset Highway. Follow it to Route 112, turn right and follow it to Pt Jefferson Ferry. Make a left on 25A, and head up the hill. Go about 3 miles to Old Town Rd. Make right. Road turns into Main St then Old Field Rd. Stay on Old Field Rd about 4 miles until you reach the Old Field Lighthouse.
- 1 hour & 15 minutes.
Your on the last leg now. Back track to 25A. Turn right (east) and follow the winding roads until it 25A becomes Route 111. Stay on Route 111 until you get to Route 347. Turn right on 347 west and follow it until it turns into Veteran's Hwy. Stay on Vets 9stay on left side) and go onto Northern State Pky heading west. - about 10 miles. 20 minutes.
Look for the exit to Sagiktos Pky South. Go South to Southern State Parkway west. - about 8 miles.
Get off Southern State at Robert Moses Pky South and head for Robert Moses State Park as you cross the bridge you should see the Fire Island Lighthouse (should be blinking at you by now) - 5 miles, 15 minutes,
Now head back on Robert Moses Pky to Southern State Pky west (New York) become Belt Pky to Verrazano.- and your on your way home!

PS That's the 3 'Long Island' Stooges!

- Bob




[This message has been edited by rscroope (edited 12-22-99).]

This is great!! I'm from central (western) NJ also and was planning a trip to see the LI lighthouses. This makes my trip much easier! You never answered the question as to whether or not any of the lighthouses are open this time of year. Any idea? Thanks for the tour guide!!

Thanks for your help Derrith, Bob and Mike (on the back channel). I'll let you know how we do.

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-Art

>>You never answered the question as to whether or not any of the lighthouses are open this time of year.<<

Some are, Carol.

The Fire Island light will be open for Sunday tower tours. Call them at 631-661-4876 to reserve a spot and check times. Groups of ten or more can arrange special tours. If I can get ten people, I'd like to do a sunset tour at the tower. Interested folks can contact me.

Montauk is open sometimes during the winter. 631-668-2544.

Cedar Island is accessible after noon during duck hunting season, all day otherwise. Call Cedar Point Park at: 631-852-7620

Horton Point is closed until Memorial Day, unless you have a group that would like to arrange a special tour (631-765-5500). It is possible, however, that I may conduct another slide presentation there before then. Keep an eye on the Events page on my site.

You can tour the grounds at Old Field any time of year. You may wish to e-mail Mike Seewald ahead of time about that light.

Eaton's Neck should be available for tours. Call the USCG Station at 631-261-6959 to get the okay.

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Bob Muller
Stony Brook, NY
wildbird99@aol.com
www.longislandlighthouses.com

Oh yeah - one more thing I should mention:

There are a couple of travel aids on my site: A link to get maps of the area(s), and a link to check the weather forecast at the lights. Both of these links are on the main page.

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Bob Muller
Stony Brook, NY
wildbird99@aol.com
www.longislandlighthouses.com

And a big "Thank you" to you, too, Bob M. I utilized your site for my visit.

Even as Bob S. was re-doing his North Fork assault on Thursday, Mariann, David and I were storming the second front along the South Shore.

We set out from North Brunswick, NJ at 06:00 hours. Headed south on I-287 to 440S and across the Outerbridge Crossing into Staten Island, then across the Verrazanno Narrows Bridge. Belt Parkway past JFK to the Southern State Parkway. Paused around Islip for breakfast (who could pass up a *real* bagel from Long Island?), then North on the Sagtikos Parkway to the Long Island Expressway. Headed East until we ran out of LIE, then crawled through the Hamptons on 27. Finally arrived at Montauk at around 10:15.

Montauk is fine old tower in a location that to me seems very unlike New York, especially on this clear, warm winter morning with very few souls about. Unfortunately the lighthouse grounds were closed, but we spent some time lingering on the beaches to the north and south of the lighthouse, photographing the tower and just thoroughly enjoying being there.

We backtracked a bit to Cedar Point park to see Cedar Point Light. Mariann's cold was getting the best of her, so regrettably, instead of walking out onto the peninsula we took some long shots of this one from the grounds of the little store at the end of the public road, then moved on.

We ate at a deli in Bridge(?)hampton. Just think: Lunch in the Hamptons! Boy did I ever feel special paying a mere $40 for three stinkin' no-frills sandwiches. Back on the LIE to Sagtikos S to Southern State W to Robert Moses Causeway S to Fire Island.

Considerable clouds by now. Arrived in Field 5 parking to find about 20 other cars in a lot that can easily handle thousands. Don't ya just love lighthousing in the winter? We followed the boardwalk trail out to the light and photographed it from many angles. It too was closed, but it quickly became one of our favorites nonetheless. Departed Fire Island around 4:00. By 4:30 we made it back as far as Hempstead before hitting rush-hour traffic. We finally made it back over the Outerbridge Crossing around 7:30. For the first time in his life, David can understand what a *real* rush-hour looks like!

Not much of a travelog, but there ya have it: the last one of 1999. Maybe next Christmas we'll do the North Shore. I'll post some photos when I get back home.

Thanks again for the help, Mike, Bob, Bob, and Derith!

Happy Y2K to all. [Gee, I'm so glad that Y2K changeover was uneventful. I like nuts and berries, but…]


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-Art

>>Boy did I ever feel special paying a mere $40 for three stinkin' no-frills sandwiches.<<

LOL! That was your official Welcome to Long Island meal. With all the traffic, we need the high prices to keep us sane.

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Bob Muller
Stony Brook, NY
wildbird99@aol.com
www.longislandlighthouses.com

Sounds like you didn't have a great time in the traffic! You probably should have stayed on Sunrise on your way out to Montauk instead of going to the middle of the island(LIE) and coming back south. Sunrise from the end of Southern State is a three/two lane expess road out to Southampton bypassing most traffic lights. Getting on and off the island can be a bear, and you caught it at it's worst.
I hope when you get your pictures back, you'll remember a better time! To bad you didn't get to walk out to Cedar Island, it's quite an experience. I know it was cold and windy, on the North Shore too.
The $sandwich$ thing was terrible, if you could have found a deli a block off the main drag it might have been different? You probally should have bought your lunch in that bagel shop for the return trip!
Anyway, I'm sure seeing those lighthouses in person will outweigh the negatives!

It always does.

Negatives? The only negatives I recall are those I dropped off this morning to be developed.

This was not a bad experience at all, except that Mariann was feeling a little under the weather. I grew up in NJ, so NYC/LI traffic isn't new to me. We planned to get back around rush hour, so we went into this with our eyes wide open.

FWIW, the LIE route on the way out to Montauk worked out very well -- no problem with traffic or the lights. We didn't slow down much until we turned off of 24 onto 27 and got into the Hamptons.

The sandwiches *were* pricey, but convenience was the order of the day. Besides, who knew at the time? You're right about stocking up for lunch at the bagel shop, though. We'll redeem ourselves next year when we do the North Shore.

Pics should be up this weekend.

Thanks again to all for the help.


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-Art

That's GREAT Art, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Give me a little more notice next year(maybe I can round up the other 2 stooges) and maybe we can arrange to meet at one of the North Fork lights or at a good but reasonable eatery!
I'm glad you used my 'negative' lead, I was hoping you would.(Pretty good setup man.) LOL I look foward to seeing your positves! Did any of the LHs have Christmas Decorations up?

Sounds like you had a good trip Art!

If you do make it up this way next year make sure you look one of us Stooges up. We would all be honored to meet you!

Looking forward to the pictures.

The photos are in:

Montauk Point Lighthouse
[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=42289&a=1444322&p=15002066&Sequence=0[/img]

For more Montauk Point photos, please visit my Montauk Point album:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=42289&a=1444322

Fire Island Lighthouse
[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=42289&a=1444372&p=15001973&Sequence=0[/img]

For more Fire Island photos, please check out my Fire Island album:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=42289&a=1444372

Cedar Island Lighthouse
[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=42289&a=1444308&p=15001495&Sequence=0[/img]

Sorry, no album for Cedar Island. That's about all we got to see!

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-Art

Love the Montauk shot, Art. The AE-1 never fails to please!


[This message has been edited by Rod Watson (edited 01-08-2000).]

I agree with Rod, the Montauk shot is beautiful. Can't wait to get out there myself! With the directions above and the pictures to look at I think the trip will be most enjoyable (if I can avoid the $40 lunch, that is).

Great shots ART!
The Montauk photo is cool!(Postcard or Calendar worthy) I have a similar angle through the Montauk Daisy garden.
Looks like you were up in a tree for the Cedar Island pic?
You had a great day for light even though we both know it was pretty windy. See ya next year.

Those shots were beautiful, Art, thanks for sharing them with us. I also can't wait to visit these beautiful lights.

~Dale from Upstate NY