We got a Groupon for this place, which makes the price a lot more reasonable. They don't open until…read more1 pm on the weekends, and on Saturdays they don't even give guided tours. Instead, they give an "augmented reality" audio tour which is kind of hit or miss. The house was preserved for the historical significance of the Townsend family, one of which was a spy for George Washington. I didn't feel there was a ton of information on the family though. Pointing their phone at the different objects in a room turned on audio about them, but only a couple of rooms in the actual house were interactive. The rest didn't have signs, and one loan employee was around to answer questions at the end. The exhibit in the visitor center was nice though. I just don't think the AR experience was really up to replacing a person, both in amount of information and the uncanny valley, unnerving portraits. There is street parking and a nearby lot that are free on weekends. The gift shop is minimal. It was an okay spot to visit, but I would recommend coming on Sunday or whenever they offer actual tours to get a more thorough understanding of the house and the history of the people who lived here.

We went here on a winter weekend, and were fortunate to have the builsings to ourselves. The…read morehelpful staff took out modest admission fee and explained that they don't do tours on Saturdays but they do have tour devices using augmented reality. That means that when you walk through the buildings, you scan the cell phone device on important paintings and artifacts and they talk to you with further information about who or what they are. The small building that contains the entrance is packed with paintings, dioramas, documents and artifacts. Next you walk to the main house, built in the 1730's, and housing the Townsend family. At the time of the Revolutionary War, Samuel had to make room for a British colonel. In spite of the fact that he sympathised with the patriots, he maintained good relations with his "Guest." At the time of the war, the house had eight rooms. One of his sons was one of the leaders of the Culpepper Spy Ring, Placing the home on the National Registry of Historic Places. Each room was elegantly decorated, with the exception of the space for the enslaved housekeeper. In spite of the fact that we didn't get a formal tour, the staff member tagged along with us and kept up a spirited conversation - even giving us a bonus look at the Victorian wing which doubled the size of the structure. The house is said to be haunted, of course. Very highly recommended. The full set of photos can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/terryballard/albums/72177720323110655

This is an amazing museum. Very humbling and it shows the history of SEALs well…read more There are two displays outside that you should see as well. If you don't know the story of Michael Murphy, it's worth looking up and visiting the museum as well. You check in to buy tickets right when you get inside. The young lady behind the counter offered to give us a a brief description of the museum is all about. She did a great job. There's a small gift shop as well. The museum starts at the very beginning and the origin of the TEAMs and takes you thru each evolution and era and what they are today. Theres also a section dedicated to the story of Mr Murphy. His Medal of Honor is also on display . The most humbling part was the wall of deceased SEALs.

I had no idea this was here, but what a find. Really very well done small museum packed with…read morefascinating information about the history and practices of the SEALs. Highly recommended.

If your local to the Bayport - Sayville area and you love to hike, Meadow Croft offers a nice…read moreleisurely stroll through meandering trails along an Inlet and nearby Lotus Lake. The Roosevelt family walking trail is 0.7 miles long and offers a nice, peaceful and easy hike through a serene landscape. Highly recommended for a short hike.

This understated, yet stunning estate is the Former John E. Roosevelt Estate located in the Suffolk…read moreCounty Sans Souci Lake Nature Preserve. It is tricky to get to - it's right around the corner from St. Ann's in Sayville - you must drive down a dirt road (the estate is about 400 yards in from the Main street / Middle Road). You will see marshland, a few water bodies, and then you will come upon a beautiful pale yellow summer "mansion." This estate is very different from the mansion in the huge Bayard arboretum and the palatial estates of the North Shore - this mansion functioned as a "summer home" for the Roosevelt family during the early 20th century. The grounds were designed for enjoyign the summer air outside of NYC pollution, hunting and preservation/conservation, and water sports. The estate is open to the public at 2PM on weekends - you can take a 2.5 hour tour of the grounds/ house. This review does not do justice to the serene and unpretentious nature of the property.

Wonderful place. My 2 sons had a blast. Flying drones - real fun. The VR goggles were amazing…read more You know you sitting down safe in a chair with the headset on, but you really feel like you are walking on the ocean floor as fish and seals dart around you. I understand they have other programs too. Great fun. Located in the Tanger Outlet Mall in Riverhead. Make sure you call before you go, the hours vary.

Really cute place in the tanger outlets! I took my nephew and daughter on a Sunday and it was a…read moresteady crowd. The two associates at the front were super helpful and patient as well, you had to sign up for a waiting list for the virtual reality and they made sure everybody got a chance. My nephew is autistic and they were really patient with him which I appreciated. The reason for the 4 star review is the fact that it was expensive for three of us and not a lot of exhibits. It was hands one which I loved but the main reason we went there was for the drones and they were broken when we got there. I am hoping to go back when the drones are available but for the price, not sure yet. The kids had a really nice time though.

My husband and I were married here at the end of April and were very happy!!! Not only did the…read moreweather work in our favor, but Steve and the entire staff were great. They were attentive and helpful with my guests and treated the both of us very well. They were clear with what they needed us to do for the ceremony, cake cutting, etc., but friendly-I never got a negative vibe from anyone. My bridesmaids and I were also able to get in at 6am to start our make-up & hair. This was all done in the bridal suite-we had enough room for 2 hair stylists, 1 make-up artist and anywhere between 6-12 ppl at a time. (3 of them being small children). The food was delicious! We already knew we'd love some of it from our tasting months before, but we were very happy with it again during our wedding-and so were our guests! We got many good reviews about all of it, the cocktail hour apps & the entrees-many guests said they'd never had such a well cooked & such a large steak at a wedding. We also LOVED the stuffed shrimp, and the braised short ribs were falling off the bone!-very yummy! The bartender was very sweet & knowledgeable, if anyone, including myself, had any questions, she was able to confidently answer them. The wait staff was also great, they took good care of us & our guests-no complaints.:) The view was one of the best parts of the whole day!!! The sun was shining, and we could see across the entire bay, exactly what we wanted. For this reason, I would recommend day weddings at this venue so you could take advantage of the beautiful Long Island scenery & views. This was something our guests raved about! Our ceremony was outside on the grass, just off of the brick patio. The only downside of this and my only complaint overall is that there were golfers playing all day on the immediate, surrounding course. They started before our ceremony, played during our ceremony, and kept playing after. This is no fault of the Mansion because they don't own nor are they affiliated with the course, but it was a little distracting, especially when some people heard a ball being hit during a silent part of the ceremony & also when we were walking around trying to take photos. That being said, the golfers were quiet & respectful and otherwise weren't a problem at all. We also paid the donation to the Maritime Museum to use the dock for photos, it was a great, fun setting! We went with all outside vendors, but none of them seemed to have any issues with anything- the ceremony, cocktail hour & reception all went smoothly. We also had a vintage photobooth and they set up/took down & ran with plenty of space. What was nice was that I also didn't have to worry about having anyone in our wedding party hold onto & hand out all of the vendors' money/tips, Steve took care of all of that for us, which was a huge relief. I would absolutely recommend the Mansion at West Sayville for a wedding or any other event! The space, both inside & out, was beautiful and everything went according to plan & on time. We also loved the fact that the dance floor is somewhat separated from the dining room, but at the same time, it doesn't feel like you're in a completely separate space. There are 2 large doorways & large windows to separate the spaces, so you can still see just about everything, but not have to be out there if you don't want to be or can't.

It's a good venue, but I wouldn't say it's an amazing wedding venue. That said, if you're on a…read morebudget, it's definitely worth considering because it's a more affordable and easier option.

A beautiful summer Sunday afternoon (8/2) and we discovered this hidden gem. A friend told us…read moreabout it and we decided to come see for ourselves. Reservations will get you valet parking, a table and chairs and access to various food trucks, live music...And of course WINE!! What started in a small shack in a small vineyard by Barry in 1984, has graduated to this beautiful family run place. Now owned by his granddaughter and her partner, I'm sure he would be proud! The shack still stands and Stephen behind the counter, was super friendly and happy to tell me the story when I asked about the gentleman in the picture. We had flights and purchased two bottles. One to drink there and another to take home! You're allowed to bring your own food (no alcohol) if you wish. We devoured our sandwiches from home and enjoyed the live music duo. What a wonderful, wonderful laid back vibe! Folks' just enjoying the weather, their families and friends. If you have fur babies, they too are welcomed! We absolutely loved it here! We are already making plans to visit again during our upcoming staycation. Family fun, romantic date or just hanging with your besties.... Barry's legacy lives on. Thank me later....

This vineyard pleasant surprise! My fiancé and family visited yesterday! It's so close to my…read moreapartment and we never knew this hidden gem was here, even though it's been family-owned and maintained for 44 years. One of the highlights of our visit was sitting in the Adirondack chairs right outside the grapevines; it made for such a relaxing and unique experience. The wine flight was excellent, and we really enjoyed the wines we tasted. The gentleman working during our visit (I wish I had gotten his name) was incredibly friendly and very knowledgeable. He took the time to answer our questions and made us feel welcome. I also loved learning that they hand-print all of their wine labels and apply them to the bottles themselves. It's those personal touches that really make this place special. The valet parking was also very well organized. When you're ready to leave, you simply click the link that's sent to your phone, and they bring your car around, so you're not waiting forever. There were food trucks on-site, but you can also bring your own food. It's dog-friendly too, which is a nice bonus for pet owners. Who doesn't love dogs?! Overall, we had a wonderful visit and would definitely recommend stopping by if you're looking for a charming, family-run vineyard with a peaceful atmosphere and great wine.

Ian is extremely knowledgeable in all things from art to antiques to furniture. Cannot be happier…read moreto have had his help with estate sales and pricing items. Thanks Ian looking forward to working with you again soon!! His company delivers all over as well. Some out of country. Highly highly recommmended!

From the owner: We Specialize in Buying & Seling Fine Art & Collectibles. We Buy Estates from Fine Art, Jewelry,…read moreFurniture & other various Collectibles. We Offer Free Estimates. Call us to schedule an appointment. We specialize in a variety of Unique pieces that come in Different Styles, Genres, and are from Different Time Periods. We buy antique furniture, artwork from oil paintings, watercolors, lithographs, prints posters, pottery, porcelain, sculptures, statues, bronzes, flatware sets etc. We buy Fine Gold, Platinum, Silver Jewelry & Fashion Costume Jewlery. We buy a wide range of collections from Coins, Stamps, Sports Memorabilia, Clocks, Radios, old appliances, musical instruments and other vintage / antique pieces. We buy anything from a single piece to an entire estate. We have been in business for more than 20 years and service the Tri State Area & All 5 Boroughs including other areas of the Northeast.