Shelter Island: Nature, Coast and History

If you’re looking for a hotel on Shelter Island, you can plan your trip around the themes that define the island: protected natural areas, public beaches and history. Mashomack offers a variety of landscapes, while the trails at Sylvester Manor, the beaches and the History Museum appeal to other interests. The following places can help you weigh what to focus on during your stay.

Nature and Landscapes at Mashomack

Mashomack covers more than 2,350 acres, with tidal creeks, mature oak forests, fields, freshwater marshes and underwater areas. This makes it a combination of forests, open land and varied aquatic and wetland habitats. If you’d like to make nature and diverse landscapes the focus of your trip, Mashomack offers a clear starting point for planning.

The nature program also includes Environmental Explorers. For more than 30 years, it has been held annually as a four-day summer program for children ages 8 to 12. Activities include hikes and paddling trips, among other things. If you’re planning for a child in this age group, check the specific registration details in advance; seasonal registration information may change.

Trails and Seasonal Visits at Sylvester Manor

At Sylvester Manor, the trails and outdoor areas are open daily from sunrise to sunset, seasonally from March through October. The three trails are Creekside, Woodlands and Farm. Visits are therefore limited by the season and time of day; check in advance for possible closures.

Another seasonal reason to visit is the farmstand at 21 Manwaring Road. It offers produce grown at Sylvester Manor, along with other local products. Operating dates may change. If the stand is important to your plans, check the current sales days in advance.

Island History and Museum

Taylor’s Island is now a Town of Shelter Island park. The unique house there was originally built around the turn of the 20th century and serves as a landmark to help ships navigate Coecles Harbor. Its navigational role connects the house’s history with finding one’s way on the water.

The Shelter Island History Museum explores the island’s history through exhibits, research, educational programs and performances. The ground floor and basement are accessible under the ADA. If you rely on specific accessibility features, confirm the details before your trip.

Public Beaches

Wades Beach is a Town of Shelter Island public beach with lifeguards and a restroom facility. Crescent Beach is a public bathing beach operated by the Town; it also has lifeguards and a restroom facility. Seasonal staffing and permit rules may change at Crescent Beach. Check the latest information on seasonal operations and permits before your visit.

The Town of Shelter Island encourages respectful public access to the island’s protected forests, meadows, creeks, ponds and beaches, as well as its wildlife. Keep this principle in mind when planning visits to natural areas and the coast.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Fire Island, Aquebogue, Southampton, Bay Shore, Greenlawn, Farmingville, Bohemia, North Babylon.

For the broader travel overview: Suffolk.