Belly up to Bellport, NY

This week PilotGirl has an influx of towns to discovery while on assignment.

On Monday, I start the journey in Bellport, NY, a charming hamlet equal distance between NYC and Montauk on southern side of Long Island. I poked around their version of Main Street finding it unusually quiet but sure of its’ appeal come summer.

I pass by nautical-theme gift shops, watercolor art galleries and a relic barber pole spinning in the rain outside of a local watering hole called Porters on the Lane. Patrons at Porters belly up to the bar or gulp a L.I. Bluepoint Springfling Ale on the front of porch of the rambling Victorian home.

Several Federal-style buildings built using wooden pegs and square nails line Bellport Lane including the Bellport-Brookhaven Historical Society. Inside the Barn Museum is a Sperry gyroscope exhibit, photo archives of master ship-builders and an antique tool collection.

At the end of the street is the Bellport Bay Yacht Club. The choppy surf and drizzling rain isn’t what I would consider the best weather for sailing. A lone seagull has a hard time finding scraps of bait.

Tuesday’s overnight – the town of Mahopac in Westchester County.