Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Calverton, NY

  • Published 2022/08/03

Calverton is a tiny hamlet or community in Suffolk County, New York State.

Considered a census-designated place, most of Calverton is within the town of Riverhead, while the rest is in Brookhaven.

This place went by the name Baiting Hollow Station, getting the name from the Long Island Rail Road that used to run through it since 1844.

Calverton was a farming community harvesting cranberries as the primary crop.

Moreover, the Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant significantly impacted Calverton’s history.

Calverton is home to several parks and reserves that offer ample opportunities for recreation and exploration.

Some of the best things to do in Calverton, New York, include hiking, fishing, picnicking, and birdwatching.

Here are some of the best things to do in Calverton.

Spend a Day at the Grumman Memorial Park

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat displayed at Grumman Memorial Park

Dhaluza at en.wikipedia, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Grumman Memorial Park is a beautiful and serene park in the former site of the Grumman Aerospace Flight Test Facility in Calverton, New York.

This park honors those who worked for the former largest company in Suffolk County, Grumman Aerospace Corporation.

You can admire the Grumman F-14 Tomcat displayed at the park and prominently displayed in the film Top Gun.

Signage for the aircraft at Grumman Memorial Park

DanTD, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Tomcat at the park is a real jet, not a reproduction.

It was the 331st one made by the men and women of Grumman.

Grumman Memorial Park is the perfect place to spend a day with your family or friends while enjoying the beautiful outdoors.

Long honor roll plaque on the grounds of Grumman Memorial Park

DanTD, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Chill with Your Family at the Splish Splash Water Park

One of the best things to do with your family when you visit Calverton is to spend a day in Splish Splash Water Park.

This water park has 96 acres of land and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in New York.

The Travel Channel named Splish Splash Water Park one of the Best Water Parks in America, with its varied attractions and rides for the whole family.

The exciting rides and attractions include Dr. Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror, Kahuna Bay, and Pirate’s Cove for kids.

Splish Splash Water Park is the ideal location for your upcoming birthday celebration, family reunion, or group vacation.

Its wide range of entertainment, top-notch water safety professionals, delectable food, and quality services offer everything you need for a memorable day.

Buy Some Fresh Produce at Windy Acres Orchard

Visit Windy Acres Orchard if you’re looking for a specific place to buy fresh fruits and veggies.

This farm offers various seasonal fruits and vegetables.

It also lets you pick your fruits and vegetables, which is an excellent activity for the whole family.

In addition to fruits and vegetables, the orchard also sells honey, jam, and cider, all produced on the farm.

You can also find baked goods, such as pies, cookies, and bread, that are perfect for a picnic or a snack.

The Windy Acres Orchard is a family-owned farm, so you can be sure that you are getting the freshest and sweetest fruits and vegetables available.

Take Some Photos at Lavender By the Bay

The original 17-acre farm of Lavender By the Bay grows over 80,000 plants.

You can stroll through enchanted purple fields and encounter lavender in its purest form.

Visit the farm shop to find handcrafted presents for that special someone.

Enjoy a rest in our shaded pavilion fragrant with lavender.

Since 2002, the Rozenbaum family has owned and run the lavender farm known as Lavender by the Bay.

The Rozenbaum family combined their passions for agriculture and the arts by building a stunning lavender farm on the North Fork.

Visitors can enjoy a rich horizon of the countryside and pick up their favorite lavender treats at Lavender By the Bay.

Explore the Moto1 Long Island Motorsports Park

Moto1 Long Island Motorsports Park is a world-class motorsports facility with four tracks.

Its tracks comprise a 1/5 mile oval for beginners, a 1.5-mile hare scramble loop, 1.25 miles single-track trail, and a 1/4 mile enduro loop.

Moto1 Long Island Motorsports Park is perfect for professional and amateur racers to hone their skills.

It also allows bike rental, so you don’t have to bring your own.

Whether you are into racing or just looking for a unique place to have some fun, Moto1 Long Island Motorsports Park is the perfect place for you.

Bring Your Friends at Cousins Paintball on Long Island

Cousins Paintball is the perfect place to bond with your friends and family.

This paintball facility offers various playing fields to find the perfect one for your group.

The public game at the facility is friendly to both beginners and casual players.

You can enjoy it by yourself or bring as many friends as you like.

For the best experience, Cousins Paintball Long Island will pair you up with other awesome folks.

Cousins Paintball Long Island also has facilities for corporate events, birthday parties, and group events.

Paintball is an excellent way for you to relieve stress, have fun, and bond with friends.

If you are looking for a fun and exciting way to spend the day, then Cousins Paintball Long Island is the perfect place.

Enjoy a Tranquil Afternoon at the Baiting Hollow FarmVineyard

People at Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard

littlenySTOCK / Shutterstock.com

If you are in the mood to relax and enjoy some beautiful scenery, the Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard is the perfect place for you.

This vineyard is on the north shore of Long Island and offers stunning views of the Long Island Sound.

The vineyard produces award-winning wines, which have garnered critical acclaim from local and national publications.

The wine tent of Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard

littlenySTOCK / Shutterstock.com

Weekdays are a pleasant and welcoming time to shop, hang out, drink wine, and eat.

Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard’s terrific sound system provides a relaxed atmosphere.

In addition to wine tastings, the Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard also offers a variety of events, such as live music and holiday celebrations.

Outdoor chairs and tables of Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard

littlenySTOCK / Shutterstock.com

Sample the Local Culture in Lewin Farms

Various fresh fruits and vegetables are available at Lewin Farms, also grown on the farm.

Lewin Farms is a family business that established the pick-your-own farming industry on Long Island.

It allows visitors to experience picking their fruits and vegetables throughout the seasons.

Visitors can buy the freshest, highest-quality locally grown goods possible at Lewin Farms.

Lewin Farms also sells ice cream that features the fruits that they sell.

During weekends, Lewin Farms sell pies and other baked items.

Get there early for their pies because they frequently sell out.

Shop for Souvenirs at Lori’s Originals

Lori’s Originals Gift Shop is a great place to find souvenirs for your friends and family.

This gift shop specializes in selling handcrafted goods that local artisans make.

The Lori’s Originals Gift Shop has a wide variety of items, including jewelry, pottery, glassware, metalwork, woodwork, and more.

Lori’s Originals Gift Shop also offers custom gift orders for handmade favors.

Alternatively, you can browse the favor catalog for hundreds of more traditional keepsake options.

If you are looking for a unique and memorable souvenir to bring home, then Lori’s Originals Gift Shop is the perfect place for you.

Tour the Peconic River Herb Farm

The Peconic River Herb Farm is a great place to learn about the many uses of herbs.

Since 1986, the Peconic River Herb Farm has supplied gardeners with plants for their gardens in a boutique-style setting.

Peconic River Herb Farm works with the farmers to help inspire individuals to enjoy a tranquil setting and horticulture.

Check out a vast selection of affordably priced plants suitable for gardens that thrive in the Long Island climate.

Likewise, the farm also sells gifts, pots, and décor.

Grab a wagon as you enter and enjoy plant buying, picnics, and the distinctive garden shop Outside In.

Dogs are welcome at Peconic River Herb Farm, but you should be responsible for them and clean up after them.

Peconic River Herb Farm is a great place to learn about herbs, get fresh air, and find great plants for your garden.

Enjoy the Serenity of the Peconic River Campground

The Peconic River is a beautiful and serene place to relax and enjoy nature.

This campground is right on the river and has a wide variety of amenities to make your stay more enjoyable.

The Peconic River Campground lets visitors experience a rustic tent camping trip, with the bonus of being right on the water.

In addition, the Peconic River Campground offers canoe and kayak rentals to explore the river at your own pace.

The Peconic River Campground is the ideal location if you’re seeking a getaway from the stress of daily life.

Other Things to Do Nearby

Discover the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center

Exterior of Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center

Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center is great to learn about and see marine life up close.

Its construction started in 1999, and it opened in 2001.

The Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center is home to over 200 species of fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals.

It also features interactive displays such as Salt Marsh, Ray Bay, and an arcade.

This aquarium also has a wide variety of exhibits, including a shark tank, a jellyfish exhibit, a sea lion show, and much more.

The Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center is great for spending a day, especially if you have kids.

You can find it in Riverhead, New York, eight minutes from Calverton.

Enjoy the Outdoors at the Robert Cushman Murphy County Park

Robert Cushman Murphy County Park is the first natural park in Suffolk County.

It spans 2,200 acres and is a portion of the Peconic River Watershed.

Robert Cushman Murphy County Park is approximately eight minutes from Calverton.

This place is a popular location for bird viewing because of the variety of fauna and bird species that live in its vast expanse.

You can find a boat launch into Swan Lake across the street

Visitors are also allowed to fish there.

The entire park is perfect for a day of hiking or just enjoying the outdoors.

At the end of the entry road, a footpath leads to the park’s natural ecosystems, where visitors can hike.

You can also try seasonal hunting in the Robert Cushman Murphy County Park.

Learn Science at Long Island Science Center

If you want to learn more about the aquatic life of Long Island, one of the best things to do is to visit the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center.

This center is a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics Learning Museum.

You can find it in Riverhead, six minutes from Calverton.

The center’s goal is to equip young people for the challenges of a 21st-century economy based on cutting-edge technology and creativity.

Check out the exhibits on various topics, including astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, and physics.

More than 325,000 kids in schools, libraries, and scouts have received STEAM courses from the Long Island Science Center.

The Long Island Science Center provides virtual programs, field trips, and mobile activities in New York.

Explore the Calverton Pine Barrens State Forest

The Calverton Pine Barrens State Forest is a beautiful nature preserve that offers a variety of hiking trails for hikers of all levels.

The 191 acres of unspoiled Calverton Pine Barrens comprise 191 acres of unspoiled territory.

You can explore the barren pine environment, where you can try hunting, skiing, snowshoeing, motorcycling, and animal viewing.

Families love spending a day here because of the great outdoors.

You can even hike through the Calverton Pine Barrens State Forest, a 2.2-km loop trail great for hiking and mountain biking.

Find this place in Wading River, New York, nine minutes from Calverton.

Final Thoughts

Calverton is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

There are plenty of things to do in the area, and you will surely enjoy your time here.

If you want a place the place you call home is a mix of suburbia and country, then Calverton is the place for you.

Book your trip today and try the best things to do in Calverton!

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