North Fork Experiences & Activities
Experiences & activities
Off the Beaten Path
At Silver Sands, we’re connected by a shared curiosity and a love for unscripted adventure. Everywhere you look, nature beckons, inviting you to follow the shoreline past golden marsh grasses, wander through the woods as the leaves turn, or take the long way home. The North Fork remains authentic, unspoiled, and as abundant as ever, and we’re here to help you discover it at your own pace. From guided nature walks and farm tours to seasonal cocktail workshops and wine tasting in a restored 1787 barn, each experience is rooted in place and shaped by the rhythm of the land and sea.
There’s plenty to do across our 45-acre property, and just as much reason to do nothing at all. Guests are encouraged to linger over seasonal meals, unwind at the Salt Marsh Wellness Sanctuary, or settle in with a book and a backgammon set. It’s all part of our belief that luxury is best defined as time well spent.
Our Signature Experiences
Field trips
Spread across nearly 60 acres, Treiber Farms grows fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers for kitchens across the North Fork, including our own. From May through October, Peter Treiber Jr. welcomes Silver Sands guests for a walk through the fields, greenhouses, and orchards.
Peter has spent the past decade learning what grows well here, what doesn’t, and why. Along the way, you’ll learn why certain varieties thrive on the North Fork while others struggle, how orchardists use grafting to preserve exceptional fruit genetics, and why understanding local growing conditions often matters more than simply buying a tree. Through science, history, and stories from his own growing seasons, Peter shares the knowledge and observation that go into working the land. There’s room for questions throughout.
Younger guests can pull a carrot from the ground, taste what’s in season, and see where their food begins. For anyone who’s eaten at Silver Sands, it’s a chance to get to know the place behind some of what’s on the plate.
The farm stand is open after the tour. Most guests leave with something for the drive home.
Group Experience | Runs Until Late October
Closed-toe shoes recommended for uneven paths and a little soil underfoot.
MIXOLOGY
Silver Sands’ head mixologist, Mike Derby, leads an intimate, hands-on cocktail experience inspired by the farms, orchards, and coastal landscape of the North Fork. Two cocktails take the spotlight each month, shaped by the season and what’s fresh from our farming partners.
First, a little something sparkling. Settle in with a welcome glass of Prosecco or sparkling wine and small aperitivo-style snacks for the table. Then it’s your turn behind the bar.
There’s more to a good cocktail than following a recipe. Taste ingredients on their own, learn where they come from, and see what happens when you bring them together. One cocktail is simple enough to become your new house favorite; the other adds a little technique to your repertoire. Along the way, Mike shares his tricks, you try your hand at making a syrup, and there’s plenty to nibble between sips.
A little of the afternoon comes home with you: your handmade syrup in a glass bottle, a cocktail stirrer, and a one-page, double-sided card with the cocktails and recipes. Your next round has a head start.
Available Year-Round
Thursday, Saturday and Monday at 3:30pm
STAR parties
ASTRONOMER-LED WITH CUSTER INSTITUTE & OBSERVATORY
Once a month, the beach at Pipes Cove goes dark and the sky takes over. As fall gives way to winter, longer nights leave more time to look up. Led by astronomers from Custer Institute & Observatory, these evenings invite guests to explore the North Fork’s unusually clear night skies through professional telescopes set directly on the sand. Seasonal constellations, planets, star clusters, and distant galaxies gradually come into view as the night unfolds. Bundle up beneath a blanket, warm your hands around hot cider or cocoa, and settle in beside a beach fire. Between turns at the telescope, share cosmic brownie bites and take in the quiet of the cove.
UPCOMING DATES
November 6 and December 11
Group Experience | Available Year-Round | Complimentary for Hotel Guests
From Vines to Barn
We’re proud to partner with McCall Wines on private vineyard tours offered only to Silver Sands guests. Beginning with a walk through the estate vines, these experiences offer a closer look at their meticulous, low-yield growing practices and the landscape behind each bottle.
McCall occupies land once home to the Corchaug people, preserved from development by Russ McCall in partnership with the Peconic Land Trust. With one of the East Coast’s largest plantings of Pinot Noir and a steadfast commitment to conservation, the McCall family has created a place where history, landscape, and viticulture meet. In autumn’s softer light, there’s every reason to take your time.
Their philosophy is rooted in sustainability, from low-yield vines to organic, grass-fed Charolais cattle and the protection of over 200 acres of farmland and wild habitat. After exploring the estate, step inside the restored 1787 barn for a private tasting reserved exclusively for Silver Sands guests. Closed to the public, this historic space offers an intimate setting to sample estate-grown wines in the company of the people who make them, a fitting way to spend an afternoon.
Private Experience | Available until late October
FISHING
YOU FISH, WE COOK: A NORTH FORK CATCH & COOK EXPERIENCE
There are few ways to better experience the North Fork than by stepping into the rhythm of its local watermen. Guided by expert captains who grew up on the waters surrounding Silver Sands, our fishing excursions offer a chance to experience the marine environment not as a backdrop, but as a living, working ecosystem.
Whether it is a few unhurried hours of fluking in the Peconic or a full day chasing the silver flash of striped bass in the waters off Orient Point, nothing lowers one’s blood pressure quite like breathing in the salt-soaked air and participating in the elemental rhythm of the sea.
Our team can prepare a picnic basket for the journey, filled with provisions to be shared between casts. Upon return, your day’s catch is handed over to our cooks, who will prepare it 2 ways for you to enjoy. Depending on the fish and the season, that might mean a bright ceviche and a simply grilled fillet, or something more unexpected. Food simply tastes better when you’re connected to the source and share in the process.
You fish, we cook. The rest unfolds naturally.
Private Experience | Available May-October
Naturalist Walks
Led by resident naturalist Tom Damiani, these guided walks explore the salt marsh, shoreline, freshwater wetlands, and wooded trails as the property settles into fall and winter. With decades of fieldwork and conservation experience, including more than 20 years at Mashomack Preserve and longtime involvement with the North Fork Audubon Society, Tom helps guests see a familiar landscape with fresh eyes.
There’s plenty happening in the quieter months. Golden marsh grasses, birds moving through bare branches, and tracks in the sand or snow offer reasons to pause and look closer. As the leaves fall, new views open across the property, revealing details easily missed in summer. Each walk follows the season, tide, weather, and whatever makes an appearance along the way.
Keep exploring with a self-guided Nature Kit, available to sign out at the concierge desk. Binoculars, a property map, and a bird field guide are yours to borrow. Bring a warm layer and a little curiosity.
Private Experience | Available Year-Round
Get Outside
At Silver Sands, experiences unfold at your own pace, unhurried, connected, and rooted in place. Whether you’re drawn to quiet mornings by the salt marsh, afternoons of bocce and birdwatching, or a bike ride into town, our team is here to help you make the most of it. Every activity is an invitation to slow down and savor the North Fork.
Kayaking & Paddle Boarding
Explore the quiet beauty of Pipes Cove by kayak or paddleboard, gliding through calm waters with views of the salt marsh and distant shoreline. Through our trusted partner, guests can enjoy multi-day rentals delivered directly to the property for convenience and ease. Whether you're heading out at sunrise or drifting back at dusk, paddling offers a peaceful way to connect with the natural rhythm of the North Fork, on your own time and at your own pace.
Bocce ball
Bocce at Silver Sands is as laid-back as it gets. Just beside Eddie’s, our courts invite spontaneous matches over cold beer or a glass of wine. There’s no scoreboard and no pressure, just the easy rhythm of a game played under the trees, with laughter in the air and something good to sip on in hand. It’s a favorite among guests of all ages, a simple, joyful way to linger outside, connect with friends or strangers, and soak in the unhurried charm of a summer afternoon.
Bike rides
One of the best ways to take in Greenport is on two wheels. Guests at Silver Sands enjoy complimentary Priority bicycles, known for their smooth and low-maintenance ride. Pedal past salt marshes and along the harbor, then explore the village's quiet streets filled with cafes, shops, and hidden gems. It’s an easy and unhurried way to connect with the charm of the North Fork.
Nature Walks
Some of the North Fork’s most scenic trails begin just steps from Silver Sands. Winding through meadows, mature woodlands, and a rare mix of fresh and saltwater wetlands, these paths offer quiet immersion in one of Long Island’s most ecologically diverse landscapes. Whether for a sunrise stroll or an afternoon wander, the land invites you to slow down and explore.
Bird Watching
Silver Sands is a birder’s paradise. Along the shoreline, you’ll spot piping plovers, terns, and osprey, while the surrounding woods offer sightings of warblers, hawks, and owls. A seasonal highlight is our Purple Martin colony, established in partnership with the Centre Island Bird Sanctuary and the North Fork Audubon Society. These elegant birds now nest in a custom gourd tower by the salt marsh, a quiet triumph of conservation and care.
Do Nothing
“Dolce far niente,” the sweetness of doing nothing, captures the spirit of Silver Sands. We believe time is the most precious resource any of us has, yet it’s so often undervalued in the race for more. Silver Sands offers an intentional pause, a place where meals stretch into afternoons, swims drift into naps, and backgammon games begin with no sense of when they’ll end. Here, the greatest luxury isn't what you spend, it's what you don't rush.
Our Picks
Are you interested to discover the Best of Long Island’s North Fork at your own pace?
Our guestbook is a love letter to the North Fork. It’s filled with our favorite places to eat, sip, and wander. Think sunlit vineyards and farm stands, long lunches at nearby restaurants, and trails that lead to the water’s edge. Inside, you’ll find the classics we never tire of and the hidden corners we return to again and again.
