FREEPORT'S NAUTICAL MILE, I'm happy to have it in MY town!
Written: Aug 01 '03 (Updated Nov 22 '09)
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Pros: A delightful mix of restaurants, tour and fishing boats,and entertainment.
Cons: Short season.
The Bottom Line: Freeport's Nautical Mile should be a destination point for locals and travelers alike. It makes for a great afternoon or evening.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: FREEPORT'S NAUTICAL MILE |
Living on Long Island has many negatives such as high taxes and heavy traffic. It is also one of the best places to live in the world. It has beautiful beaches, world class entertainment, professional sports teams, excellent restaurants, oodles of top shopping malls, great schools, excellent employment opportunities, high employment, wonderful museums, many historic sites, and it's just 45 minutes from Broadway.
I live on the south shore of Long Island in a diverse community that is right on the bays. We have a wonderful strip of land on a street called the Woodcleft Ave bordering the Woodcleft Canal. This strip is known as Freeport's Nautical Mile. This is another great reason for living on Long Island.
The canal until recently was the home to a few restaurants, commercial fishing boats and their outlet fish markets, charter fishing boats, pleasure boat sales offices with show rooms, and a smattering of other related small businesses.
In the last ten years it has become so much more!!
FIX IT UP
The Village of Freeport with the help of some public monies have done a fantastic job "redoing" the canal area. One major problem was that at high tides the sea water would flood the streets. With work the streets were raised as were some of the established buildings.
After that was done all the raised electric lines were buried underground. No more of those unsightly poles. When you look down the canal it's a clean straight view to the American flag at the other end.
The streets were widened and repaved, new brick sidewalks were put in and old fashioned light poles were erected.
Some benches were put in along with plantings. The Nautical Mile looks great!! Freeporters who haven't been there in years are amazed!
MANY RESTAURANTS
The restaurants that have been around for years are still doing very well with their seafood menus. The past years have brought in many more fine eateries too and some of these are more diverse in their offerings. There are now over twenty restaurants on this stretch of the canal. Some are inside and many offer outside dining on the docks overlooking the canal. I will be featuring many of these places in their own reviews over the next few months and years as I gather information about them.
There are some that provide fine dining experiences and there are some that just provide fried fish dinners. Some provide are both.
The places are for all ages. There are a few that cater to the "young" crowd. Hudson and McCoy is one of them. They are packed with people in the twenties and thirties age bracket hanging around the outside bars socializing while listening to rock, reggae, and other music that can be heard in the streets. The guys are dressed up and the girls are hot, hot, hot! I hope to get a review of them out soon.
There is one, Otto's, that from the outside looks like it caters to the "biker" crowd during the summer, though some of that flow has moved to a couple of the other restaurants too. There are rows of beautifully polished chrome motorcycles glistening in the night lights. You also hear some of them as they blast their way up and down the street. I love the atmosphere. This place has fine dining indoors, casual menu on the deck and some fun times with live music around the outside bars. Though you may see all the bikes out front, this place is open to everyone and you must walk by the bar and check out the tables on the water.
A restaurant next store, Rachel's, offers some dining alfresco and a really good menu. They have an inspired chef who has excellent specials, especially in the slower winter season. We just tried them again for a luch during the Freeport Nautical Mile Festival. The bfood was excellent as usual.
There are a couple of places that have stayed the same for years and years. They look like little dives. They do have their own "rough charm". These are the places the locals hang out. The fisherman and captains stop by after a day out on their crafts. I particularly like Jeremy's Ale House.
Bracco's is another place I enjoy because you get the best of views while sitting on one of their docks. They are only open in better weather and do not have any indoor dining. Basic fried fish though.
Another place, Cafe By the Sea, caters to the teens of the "1960's 70's 80's". They have live music and a terrific "house entertainer" a couple of evenings a week all year round. The guy is terrific. This place serves a full menu and then turns more into a dessert and coffee place in the later night hours. Update Unfortunately Cafe By the Sea has closed. It is reopening, under the original owners as Riverside Grill. Yes, I know no river nearby, but who knows maybe the place will do very well. I'll review it once it opens.
My wife and I love sitting out on a dock with a drink in hand while waiting for dinner. We can listen to the live music and watch the pleasure boats and charter boats traveling through the canal. After dinner we walk up and down the canal and stop at the ice cream parlor or perhaps have one of the best Italian ices made at a small local shack. The canal is a wonderful place for people watching.
I will, in the next few months, be adding to this list of restaurants. I have one of the Crab Shack that should be posted by the end of January 2005. Update It's Posted!
and I hope to try out the "new" Water Lilly's restaurant soon. That one is posted too. There are many more. The Nautical Mile is definitely a place to visit for some good food and atmosphere.
A relatively new addition to the canal is E.B. Elliots. This is an upscale dining room with a fantastic view and excellent food and presentation. Good music and an upbeat bar and dining area is open the warmer months. This year, 2009 we tried the Sharkbite for qick fare and cold beers on the water with a festive feel. I like it and hope to review it soon.
MANY BOATS
Dinner Cruises
Dinner doesn't have to be on shore. The Nautical Mile offers many pleasure cruise boats with dinner. The sunset cruises with music are extremely relaxing and cooling on a hot summers night. These boats come in different sizes and shapes. Some have that Mississippi steam ship look with a side wheel. Others are more yacht like. I have been on a couple and hope to soon review them and others soon.
Commercial Fishing Boats
Known as the Boating and Fishing Capital of the East the Nautical Miles Woodcleft Canal is home to many kinds of boats. One type is the commercial fishing boats.I love looking at these and watching as they unload their catch. This makes for some great values and VERY fresh fish sold from their outlet stores and the many seafood shops on the canal. Be sure to say hello to my friends Kevin and Tony at the Two Cousins Fish Market.
Charter Fishing
The Nautical Mile has a fleet of fishing boats for your pleasure. I have been out on these boats many, many times. They work the bays and go out to the ocean too. We have caught many fluke and bluefish over the years. One of these boats that go out is on the other side of the canal. The Super Spray is Captained and worked by our friends Jimmy and Elaine. You have to say hello to them too.
The boats on the canal usually have an 8:00AM-12:00 and 1:00PM till 5:00. Most go out again at night at 7:00 or 8:00PM. This is a wonderful way to spend a day alone or with the family or friends. After fishing you then go to one of the restaurants for a relaxing and tasty dinner. It's great!!
Gambling Casino Boats
Yes, Freeport's Nautical Mile is home to a boat that goes out to sea every day and night and allow you to drop a "buncha bills". It's huge!! I have never been out on it. One of these days or nights I will. A friend of mine worked one of the boats a while and he says he has many great stories to tell of the happenings aboard he also says the inside of these casinos are "electric".
Cleanup Boats?
There is a small boat that has volunteers going out almost daily to help keep the canal clean. The boat and the groups name is SPLASH, Stop Polluting Littering And Save Harbors.I have been out on this boat with the youth group from our church and we have seen what these people do first hand. They serve our community well. Thanks guys!!
SOME SWEET TREATS
Many times instead of having dessert at a restaurant we opt to walk to Rita's Ice Cream Parlor. They have many flavors and other treats too. You can sit inside or out. The other place we go to is Ralph's Italian Ices. It's a small place that has huge lines every night. It's worth the wait. Actually it never seems like a wait to us at all. I know there is a saying something like,"....stand on 42nd Street and Broadway and you will meet every person you have ever known....." Well this holds true at Ralph's Ices in that if you stand there you will meet every Freeporter you have ever known. We have had many long conversations with neighbors while eating the fantastic tasting Italian Ices.
SMALL SHOPS
There are a couple of little Nautical theme shops that have been selling paintings, crafts, tee shirts and the like for years. Now that the Woodcleft Canal has been redone many more have moved in. In fact one little strip is anchored by a "lighthouse" that shines its revolving light for all to see. The kids love some of these shops and we have some pieces of art in our home from a shop or two. More and more we see people setting up tables outside these stores selling their wares.
MUSIC
Every night in the summer there are live bands playing at a number of restaurants and that number keeps growing. You can stop in and have a few while listening or maybe just stand outside and listen a while. As I mentioned earlier there is a good mix of music.
The Freeport Nautical Mile Festival is a huge hit every summer. The main street is closed to traffic and the restaurants serve food on the streets while rides and other entertainment is brought in. This, I believe ios the best festival on Long Island. Be sure to stop by Two Cousins and have some good Italian seafood or clams and oysters at ther open air raw bar. Say Hi to Tony and Kevin for me.
Walk the "Mile"
Just walking up and down the canal is interesting. There is all the music to listen to, many stores to shop (and still new ones coming in), restaurants to dine in, and boats to see. I enjoy watching the different ethnic peoples making their purchases in the seafood stores.
Couples strolling hand in hand, families pushing strollers, and people sitting and standing at the outside eateries all add to the mix and wonderful feeling of this new Freeport wonder.
There is a new Esplanade that was built. It has a fountain, benches and public toilet facilities. It is also the base for a public mooring dock. Many people come here from other towns in their boats. They may dock right at the place they are going to or come to this dock for a few hours. At the end of the canal is another great place to watch boats coming in and out of the bay. It's covered from the sun and gives a wonderful view of the bays. From what I hear many more good plans are being laid out for the Nautical Mile. We now have a mini-golf course too.
Come on down and join us some time at Freeport's Nautical mile.
Long Island Our Story A must read about Long Island's past present and future by Newsday
Long Island reviews by Popsrocks
Long Island So much to so many
Freeport's Nautical Mile A great destination with dozens of fine restaurants.
Nautical Mile Restaurants and Attractions
E.B. Elliots Fine Dining on the water.
Bonito Hibachi Japanese on the Nautical Mile
The Crab Shack
Cafe by the Sea Good menu and great desserts. Fun entertainment too!
RACHEL'S Waterside Grill Fine Fare on Freeport's Nautical Mile
Otto's Sea Grill On the Nautical Mile. Right on the water.
Bracco's Clam and Oyster Bar
Water Lilly's Waterside Cafe
Jeremy's Ale House
Wildfish It's New
Pier 95 A very fine Portuguese-Mediterranean Restaurant on the Hudson Canal just minutes from the Nautical Mile
Montana's Pizzeria and Restaurant Good Italian food near Nautical Mile
Ralph's Italian Ices a favorite on the canal.
Imperial Diner of Freeport Merrick Rd.
This list will be growing in the next few months. Be sure to keep checking back.
Other Long Island Restaurants
Applebee's / Romano's MACARONI GRILL / KFC / OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE / Wendy's / OUTBACK Restaurant / Cozymel's / Cheesecake Factory / McDonald's / Taco Bell / Checkers Burgers / Red Lobster / The White Castle / TGI Friday's / Charlie Browns / Burger King / Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips / Dunkin' Donuts / Starbucks / Ralph's Famous Ices / Cold Stone Creamery / CARVEL Ice Cream / Boulder Creek Steakhouse / Waffle House / Krispy Kreme / Friendly's / Nathan's / Jillian's / Blimpies / Quizno's / jumba juice / Katz's Deli / Ruth's Chris Steak House /Don Juan's / Ben's Deli
Grand Lux Cafe, A Little Touch of Vegas In NY, Texas, and California. Florida's Next!
It's new.
Long Island State Parks and places of Interest
EAB Plaza
Long Island Children's Museum
Cradle of Aviation Museum
Old Bethpage Village Restoration Go Back to the 1800s
Sagamore Hill Teddy Roosevelt's Summer White House
Nassau Coliseum
Eisenhower Park
The Maize Maze in Bridgehampton Family Fun!
Montauk Point State Park and Lighthouse History, Fishing, Scenery, and quiet hikes.
Montauk Downs State Park Creature comforts and games
Camp Hero State Park A military base with secrets!
Hither Hills State Park Camping on the beach
Jones Beach State ParkOur treasure, just five minutes from home
Fire Island National Seashore and Lighthouse
Robert Moses State Park
Captree State Park Have fun fishing from party boats
Sagamore Hill Teddy Roosevelt's Summer White House
Places to stay on Long Island
Marriott Hotel LI Great Location
Sheraton Hotel,LI Recommended
The greatest city in the world!!
New York City and so much more
An Excellent book about Long Island Destinations
Discover Long Island: Exploring The Great Places From Sea To Sound
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Jun - Aug
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