Daycation in Port Jefferson, NY
by Diana Palmentiero
Recently my family and I did a daycation in Port Jefferson, NY. We went across on the Bridgeport/Port Jefferson Ferry with my mother, who was visiting for the week. It was a great way for her to see her sister, who lives in Long Island. It was late morning when we walked onto the Ferry.
We were delighted to discover that children under the age of 12 ride for FREE! Driving onto the Ferry is a little pricey, but a fun way to go to the Hamptons or Montauk, rather than driving all the way around.
As we waited in line to board, a gentleman explained to us that the location of the ferry terminal may be moving to the other side of the Bridgeport Harbor. Although it is not happening anytime soon, it’s something to be aware of. My mom decided to sit inside for the trip because it was cool and comfortable. The kids and I ventured upstairs to check out the sites. As you can see from the pictures, it was a gorgeous day for a ferry ride.
Once we arrived, my aunt, her daughter-in-law, and her grandson were there to greet us on the dock. First stop was lunch at The Steam Room, across the street from the Ferry. As you can guess from the name, seafood was on the menu and what an extensive menu it was! Kids being kids, ours did not love the idea of seafood. It’s okay if you have little ones because the menu had the usual kid fare. Our kids had chicken fingers, pizza, and a hamburger. The adults all had some kind of fish dish. I had a wonderful coconut shrimp platter that came with a coconut dipping sauce. Normally I am not a fan of coconut, but this was quite tasty. The other adults had a crab cake sandwich, calamari and fried shrimp. Perhaps the prices were cheaper because we were there at lunchtime but the total for 7 people was $77. Not bad at all! They open at 9 a.m. every morning and close at 10 p.m. from Monday - Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday.
After lunch, we decided to check out the Maritime Explorium that I had discovered in my research of fun things for kids to do in Port Jefferson. The maritime museum was perfect for the kids because all the exhibits were hands-on experiments that they could do on their own. Although it is not a large space, our kids could have stayed for a lot longer. In fact, when we said we were taking them out for ice cream, they said they didn’t want to leave.This month’s exhibits were all about nanotechnology. At different stations, the kids learned about different uses for nano technology such as in energy efficiency; in construction; in nature; and in a ship’s communications. This is a must-see if you are in Port Jeff with young children. During the school year they are open weekends and most school holidays. Be sure to check their website for the hours. And you can’t beat the price at $5 per person!
Before we knew it was time to go back to the Ferry. But before that, we did take the kids to The Frigate for ice cream, right next door to The Steam Room and across the street for the Ferry. You can watch it sail into the harbor from The Frigate. This wasn’t just any ice cream shop! Not only did they sell over 50 flavors of ice cream, but they sold frozen yogurt, gelato, Italian ices and sorbet. Plus they sold candy including chocolates and truffles. It was a kid’s best dream and a parent’s worst nightmare! The kids loved it!
My mother and aunt are still talking about the great day we had in Port Jeff. We are going to try to do it again on the next kids’ vacation day, either for Columbus Day or over the Christmas break. For just $27 per adult, you can spend a wonderful day, walking around a quaint Long Island town, eating in a great restaurant, shopping or hanging out in a maritime museum made especially for kids. Aren’t these the things that make great memories? If you haven’t checked out the Ferry yet, I suggest that you do!
Diana Palmentiero is editor of KidsOutAndAbout.com's Fairfield County site.