Kayaking adventure on Long Island: Paddle to a lobster lunch

Kayaking to lunch reaps a savory reward in Island Park. 

Paddle 2 miles across the calm waters of Middle Bay, where swans glide by and turtles pop their heads up to say hello, and your prize is a lobster roll that tastes like summer itself.

At Empire Kayaks, even first-timers can handle the 4-mile round trip to Jordan Lobster Farms, a dock-and-dine destination where fresh Maine lobster is the star.

"First-timers are out here all the time," said Gabrielle Fehling, who runs Empire Kayaks with her husband, Mike. "We give instruction with every rental. It’s a very doable area to kayak from." The trip might sound intimidating, she adds, but it’s entirely manageable. "You just have to paddle both ways, it’s not like you can float there."

It’s the kind of adventure that’s surprisingly easy, endlessly satisfying, and begging to be tried this weekend.

Step 1: Grab a kayak

Start your adventure at Empire Kayaks in Island Park (4 Empire Blvd., 516-889-8300). Parking is directly in front of the business. Rentals are cash only: single kayaks are $20/hour ($70/day), doubles are $35/hour ($99/day). Life jackets are provided with every rental and are required. Empire Kayaks is open year-round, with rentals generally available through October, depending on weather.

Gabrielle said the business has been running for 27 years and welcomes everyone from first-timers to seasoned paddlers. She recommends wearing nylon shorts or a bathing suit and packing a hat, towel and sunscreen.

Step 2: Learn the basics

Before you push off, you’ll get a short kayaking lesson and route briefing. Gabrielle emphasizes that the keys are having a positive attitude and a willingness to paddle. "You just have to work a little with a positive attitude," she says. Even as a first-timer, I found the instruction clear, helpful, and reassuring.

Step 3: Glide through scenic waters

The trip to Jordan Lobster Farms (1 Pettit Pl., 516-889-3314) takes about 45 minutes each way, making it a roughly four-hour journey including lunch. You’ll paddle near Long Beach, through Middle Bay and the surrounding wetlands, spotting turtles, seabirds, and other wildlife along the way. Gabrielle recommends early fall for optimal conditions: cooler temperatures, calm waters and abundant wildlife sightings make it the perfect paddling season.

Step 4: Dock at Jordan Lobster Farms

The buttery aroma signals the destination: Jordan Lobster Farms, a longtime Island Park staple run by Steve Jordan for more than 50 years. Paddlers can use Mount Sinai South Nassau, formerly Long Beach Medical Center and Long Beach Memorial Hospital, as a landmark. The docks sit across the water, marked by red flags reading "LOBSTER." Secure your kayak to the dock using the rope provided, then step onto dry land with an appetite.

The restaurant, clam bar, and market maintains 30,000 pounds of live lobster, mostly sourced from Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Lobsters from Long Island, once plentiful, declined after 2001, which owner Steve Jordan attributes to mosquito spraying and changing water temperatures. The restaurant is open seven days a week, year-round, and is known for promotions such as "Two-Pound Tuesday and Thursday," where diners can enjoy a 2-pound lobster for $49.95 or a 2½-pound lobster for $59.95.

"We have many groups come for lunch and dinner by kayak," Jordan says. "We welcome all of it, kayaks, Jet skis, and boats." Lunchtime tends to be less crowded than dinner, making it ideal for paddlers seeking a peaceful stop.

Step 5: Feast like a lobster lover

At Jordan Lobster Farms, the reward is a lobster roll. The chilled Maine lobster roll (market price, $37.50) came tossed with mayo, celery and scallion, light, fresh and balanced. The warm, Connecticut-style lobster roll (market price, $37.50) was buttery and indulgent, the kind of sandwich that drips down your wrist, but is worth every napkin. For those who want to bring the flavor home, the market inside sells the same chilled lobster salad for $59.99 a pound.

The restaurant also offers a full menu of beer and wine and other tasty bites including a crab cake sandwich with fries ($18.95), crispy fish sandwich ($18.95), shrimp scampi ($27.95), fish and chips ($21.95) and fried scallops ($23.95).

Step 6: Paddle back

With your belly full, it’s time to paddle back to Empire Kayaks. Thanks to the calm waters and gentle current, the return trip feels just as serene as the ride out, and maybe even easier once you're powered by lobster.

Driving to lunch will never feel quite the same.