Long Island's North Fork - Orient Beach State Park: Wild Shores, Maritime Forest, and Bug Light

At the very tip of Long Island's North Fork, where the land narrows to a slender finger of sand and the waters of Gardiner's Bay stretch wide and glittering toward the horizon, Orient Beach State Park waits quietly for the visitors who find their way out here. It is one of the few places on Long Island where the landscape still feels genuinely untouched -- a 363-acre sanctuary of beach, salt marsh, and a rare maritime forest that has earned the distinction of being a National Natural Landmark. This episode takes you through every corner of the park, from the legendary Long Beach spit and the Roy Latham Maritime Forest Trail to the lighthouse nicknamed Bug Light that has stood guard over these waters since 1871. Along the way, you'll discover why birders, paddlers, and beachgoers alike make the long drive out to the North Fork's eastern edge -- and why the nearby village of Greenport is worth staying for. Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.