Port Jefferson is a small village 50 miles east of New York City.
It is also one of two access ports into New York City for people coming from Connecticut.
Likewise, northeast boaters know Port Jefferson by heart since it is their favorite place due to its calm waters and many offerings.
Even easygoing travelers like you will find something to like in Port Jefferson.
The village hosts several specialty shops, multiple restaurants, and cultural activities that fill the calendar.
Better still, all these places are mere minutes away from the main docks.
Curious about Port Jefferson and its many attractions? Check out this list below.
DanTD, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
For over 40 years, Port Jefferson’s Theater Three has been entertaining a variety of audiences and growing their appreciation of live theater.
You can choose from many productions, such as Mainstage, Second Stage, Cabaret, and Children’s Theater.
This means you can bring your friends, family, and kids to Theater Three for a good time.
Likewise, Theater Three also stages both classic and unproduced plays.
So, if you’re an avid theatergoer, you’ll always find an enjoyable show when you pop in.
The theater also occupies a Long Island historical landmark, the Athena Hall, which has stood for 160 years.
Even if you’re not a big theater fan, you can still appreciate the building for its historical significance.
Theater Three can be found at 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson, NY 11777.
If you want your kids to learn on vacation while still having a good time, bring them over to the Long Island Explorium.
Since 2004, the museum has been teaching kids about science and technology through innovative and enjoyable activities.
You can enroll your kids in various programs, such as the monthly STEM Wonder Lab, virtual science fairs, and outdoor exploration trips.
The Long Island Explorium is located at Port Jeff Harbor, 101 East Broadway, Port Jefferson, NY 11777.
Summertime at Port Jefferson is time well-spent, especially if you visit McAllister County Park.
If you want to go hiking, the County Park has an easy trail that will show you a picturesque view of Long Island Sound while saving your energy.
Besides hiking, you can simply roam the 113-acre Park until you arrive at the public beach.
If you don’t feel like hiking, just cut to the beach for a swim.
On the other hand, if you’ve just hiked and you want to relax, take a swim.
You’ll need to be fast if you’re bringing a car, though, since the Park only has parking space for four cars.
Many tourists get curious about the histories of the places they visit.
If you’re that kind of tourist, you’ll need to drop by the Mather House Museum at Port Jefferson.
The museum contains photos and displays showing the history of the Greater Port Jefferson area.
If you visit in the fall, you can join the museum’s annual fundraising auction.
Otherwise, you can check out the Antiques and Gardens show every spring.
The Mather House Museum is at 115 Prospect Street, Port Jefferson, NY 11777.
No vacation is complete without drinks.
So, if you find yourself in Port Jefferson, make sure to hit up Pindar Wine Store.
The store gets wine from the Pindar Vineyards, which has been Long Island’s most popular wine producer for over 41 years.
You’ll never go wrong with them.
Founded by Dr. Herodotus “Dan” Damianos, Pindar Vineyards spans more than 500 acres, which is filled with 17 varieties of grapes.
The winemakers use these grapes to create about 23 varietals and proprietary wine blends.
Every year, Pindar produces 70,000 wine casks.
The Port Jefferson wine store also offers a full wine tasting bar, along with a well-stocked wine shop.
Since the place is just 100 steps from the Port Jefferson ferry, you can have wine as soon as you step off the boat.
You can visit the Pindar Wine Store at 117 Main Street (Route 112), Port Jefferson, NY 11777.
If you’ve been dreaming of being a rugged fisherman, you can go to Port Jefferson and hire the Captain Fish charter boat.
Commanded by a US Coast Guard captain and veteran fisherman, the boat offers the defining fishing experience for friends and family.
Even kids are welcome to try.
If you’re a beginner, the captain will also teach you the basics of fishing while steering you right on the fish.
You’ll never leave the boat empty-handed.
The Captain Fish leaves port from 118 West Broadway, Port Jefferson, NY 11777.
Don’t feel like wine?
Then go right over to Port Jefferson’s only brewery, the Port Jeff Brewing Company, to enjoy an ice-cold glass of delicious craft beer.
These beers include ales and oatmeal stouts, named along a nautical theme.
Founded in 2011, the brewery also sits in the heart of the village, just minutes away from the ferry connecting Long Island and Connecticut.
Visitors can try the beer inside the tasting room, which is right beside the actual production area.
The room offers 12 taps coming out from a handcrafted wooden bar shaped like a boat.
If you like the beers, you can buy them to-go.
Otherwise, you can also buy their canned or bottled beer.
The Port Jeff Brewing Company is located at 22 Mill Creek Road, Port Jefferson, NY 11777.
Billing itself as Long Island’s best escape rooms, Hour Escape offers guests the most thrilling sixty minutes of their lives.
Thanks to Hour Escape’s masterful games of varying difficulty, guests of all ages and skill levels can experience the ride of their lives.
More experienced players might opt for the “Diamonds in the Rough” game, whose difficulty rating is 8/10.
Meanwhile, novice players could go for the “The Show Must Go On” game, with a difficulty setting of 6/10.
Whether you want an exciting family adventure, or you’re on a date night, or you’re on a corporate trip, Hour Escape will serve your entertainment and thrill-seeking needs.
Hour Escape can be found at 1303 Main Street, Port Jefferson, NY 11777.
Planning to make fancy salads for the family?
Get your special dressings and oils at the Amazing Olive specialty store in Port Jefferson.
Founded in 2012, the family-run business prides itself in providing only the best olive oils and balsamic vinegar in Long Island.
The store only stocks fresh extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegar from award-winning producers across the world.
So, you’ll never go wrong. If you still need convincing, you can sample their products inside the store, too.
You can try out more than 60 flavors, although new ones are always arriving.
For kids, the store also sells homemade soaps and kitchen spices.
Let them pick out the pretty bottles you’ll be taking home.
You can find the Amazing Olive at 13 Main Street, Port Jefferson, NY 11777-1651.
For tourists wanting to try the classic sailing experience, the Ginny Marie Schooner will be waiting at Port Jefferson.
You’ll be sailing around Long Island under the veteran guidance of Captain Murphy.
The 38-foot Ginny Marie departs Port Jefferson daily for pleasure cruisers.
Experience old-world sailing aboard a world-class handcrafted wooden schooner.
Take in the sights around Long Island while putting your feet up and feeling truly luxurious.
The Ginny Marie Schooner departs daily from 101 East Broadway Harborfront Park, Port Jefferson, NY 11777.
Bringing your kids with you to Port Jefferson?
Why not let them enjoy themselves at the Clifton H. Lee Memorial Park, also known as “Rocket Ship Park”?
The 4,000-square-foot playground gets its nickname from the giant model rocket ship modeled after the 1970s original structure.
How does it work?
Your kids climb the rocket and then go down through the long slide.
Your kids can also try the pirate ship, boarded through a ramp wide enough to fit wheelchairs.
Aboard the ship, they can play instruments like touch drums and a piano.
They can also play games at the treehouse next to the ship.
Likewise, they can also try the twisting slide.
Now your kids will also have a reason to go back to Port Jefferson again and again.
Take your kids to Port Jefferson’s sweets headquarters, Roger’s Frigate, and give them an experience they won’t soon forget.
Just book a dentist’s appointment ahead of time.
The sweets shop offers an array of delectable sweets for kids’ finicky palates.
Among the sweets your kids can try are homemade fudge, premium ice cream, frozen yogurt, fresh sorbet, and a diverse selection of candies.
Your kids have more than 50 ice cream flavors to choose from, and they can pick from over 300 candy choices, too.
For healthier options, Roger’s also offers fresh fruit smoothies.
If you’ve got traditional tastes, you can also pick the good old-fashioned milkshake.
Roger’s Frigate can be found at 99 Main Street A, Port Jefferson, NY 11777.
Opened in 2012, the female-led business has found success by offering people the chance to create something pretty just by picking up a brush.
If you’re interested, you can go to Muse’s Port Jefferson location.
Not only can you paint, but you can also sip wine as you paint.
There’s no better art experience than that.
If you want to bring your family or kids, Muse Paintbar also offers all-ages painting activities.
You’ll also be guided by a painting instructor, so you’d really feel like a true painter.
The Muse Paintbar is at 134 Main Street, Port Jefferson, NY 11777.
The Jeanne Garant Harborfront Park is situated at a significant location in Port Jefferson.
At the park, you’ll get a view of the Port Jefferson harbor, as well as the historical Chandlery Building.
Built in 1898, this building used to be a ship’s store.
For a nice family day, bring them over to the park’s picnic areas, and let your kids loose in the play spots.
You can take your kids to visit the park’s family of friendly turtles and let them play around the ship hack Penelope Porpoise.
In the summer, the park hosts outdoor concerts and movie nights for the family.
Make your figure skating dreams come true at the Port Jefferson Rinx.
Located on the east side of the Village Center, the rink is a seasonal outdoor skating rink for travelers.
It’s also open to everyone, so you don’t need to worry about safety or age limits.
The rink also offers a pleasing view of the harbor, so you can take a lot of Instagrammable photos during your trip.
While many of its attractions focus on its maritime heritage, Port Jefferson does have a lot more spots for visitors.
These locations are also open and available to everyone of all ages and are all just minutes away from the port.
If you’re coming from New York City or Connecticut, you also don’t need to worry about travel time and costs.
Daily ferry operations can take you to Port Jefferson for a weekend family getaway, or a special kids’ field trip.
Enjoy a truly great and unforgettable getaway at Port Jefferson.
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