Lavender by the Bay is one of my absolute favorite spots on Long Island. It’s definitely the best smelling place in the world.
There’s two locations: one in East Marion, which is allllll the way out there on the tip of the North Fork, and one in Calverton which is literally right across the street from my beloved Splish Splash (one of the best water parks in the world, also recommend going!)
For years, I’d drive all the way out to the North Fork to take the Orient Point ferry to head over to Rhode Island to visit family, and every time I would, I’d always pass Lavender by the Bay and think it looked sooo gorgeous and I needed to stop there. But I never would. I was always either on my way to catch a timed ferry, or coming home from the ferry late at night, so the timing was never ideal.
Plus, it was such a far drive to go out there on a regular day (Like an hour and a half)
But then, they opened a location in Calverton which was much closer to me! (Only 40 minutes yay!) So of course, I finally had to go!
I’ve been there a few times since then, and It always lived up to the hype. When you step out of the car, you instantly smell the enchanting scent of lavender and all of your stress disappears.
The bloom sizes varies each year based on the weather and mother nature’s will, but I haven’t gone wrong going the second week of July. The last two years I went on July 12th and July 10th and the bloom has been full and perfect.
Of course like anything, I recommend going on a weekday if possible or early weekend.
If you’re looking to take photos, early 9am is a great time OR like 2:30, 3pm has a great lighting. The noon lighting is pretty harsh so I’d try to avoid that time if you’re going for photographs of yourself.
Also photographing tips, it’s actually really easy to remove people from your photos in the Lavender field. Anytime you have nature like that ( a bush, grass, sand, wild lavender etc) it’s really ease to use that heal tool seamlessly. The heal tool exists in almost all photo apps, but Lightroom and Photoshop are my go-to’s.
So, don’t stress if there’s some people in the background, if there far away, they’ll be easy to remove, so you can definitely get a good patch with no one around.
The Lavender fields also have a little shop where you can buy lavender products! I got the hand soap & lotion for my mom and she’s obsessed. It smells like pure lavender it’s so strong, highly recommend for fellow lavender lovers.
I usually also purchase a bunch of Dried Lavender, it’s easy to maintain - you just have to put it in wide vase without water, and it lasts for a few weeks!
I also purchased the essential oil, and it’s one of the purest lavender essential oils I’ve ever experienced, so highly recommend that as well to my fellow psychics out there (lavender helps connect us to spirit, open up our crown chakra!)
Last year I bought the candle and it was perfection, so I bought it again this year. At first the smell is pretty faint and not as strong as I’d like, but after a few burns it got stronger and smelled just like the fields.
Also! Important to note - there are a lot of bees in the lavender fields. They are harmless though and don’t ever bother you. But if you’re scared of bees, it’s not a good place for you!
Yes, so bookmark this page and remember to visit Lavender by the Bay next year in July so you can get the perfect bloom! :)
all images are Copyright La Rose Des Reves
