All About Big Duck In Flanders

A popular roadside attraction is the Big Duck. This unique piece of architecture is in the shape of a duck, hence the name. 

About The Big Duck 

The Big Duck is was built in 1931 and can be found in Flanders, New York, which is located on Long Island. One of the most interesting facts about the attraction is it was built by an actual duck farmer by the name of Martin Maurer. 

The Big Duck was once a shop, where people could visit if they wanted to purchase duck eggs and ducks. In 1997, the Big Duck was added to the list of historic places on the National Registry of Historic Places. 

How Was It Built 

The people who were brought in to help build the Big Duck actually studied the carcass of a chicken because they wanted to get an idea of how to create a framework that would accurately resemble a duck. 

Once the wooden frame of the Duck was created, the builders attached to wire mesh to it and then cement was applied. The final step was painting it, as well as installing two taillights to the eyes. This allowed the Duck's eyes to glow once it became night. 

Later Years 

In 1986, the Big Duck was nearly close to becoming demolish, but it was moved to a different area. Eventually, the local government designated it as a town landmark. However, on 2007, the Big Duck was relocated back to its original location before being placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Now you know more about the Big Duck in Flanders. The next time you find yourself in Long Island, make sure you stop in Flanders to view the Big Duck in person. Don't forget to bring your camera because you'll want to snap a few photos of it.

Aquariums in Long Island

The Long Island Aquarium Exhibits

There is always something fun to do on Long Island. The shopping, restaurants, and attractions are some of the best in the world. There is excitement in the air, and it can be challenging to decide what to do first. Wrap up the summer with a trip to an aquarium.

The Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center

This is where the Coral Reef Exhibit can be found. This is a thirty-foot long coral reef display with 20,000 gallons of water. The natural reef ecosystem features a back reef, reef wall, terrace, and crest. Viewers will delight in the 800 varieties of marine life and fish including tangs, angelfish, sea urchins, wrasses, sea cucumbers, gobies, crabs, and snails. There are soft and stony corals, coralline algae and anemones. Natural aquatic behavior is showcased by the diversity and size of the reef.

The Sand Shark Lagoon appears as visitors cross the delightful wooden bridge. On one side are the North Shore's rock-strewn beaches and towering bluffs with the other side depicting the South Shore's salt marshes and rolling dunes. 

This exhibit features the same types of fish seen off Long Island's shores. Every fish in the exhibition was caught locally, usually in Shinnecock Bay or Peconic Bay. One of the most plentiful sharks on the United States Atlantic coast are the sand sharks. They are featured in this exhibit along with common Long Island fish including striped bass, clearnose skates, smooth dogfish sharks, fluke, weakfish, tarpon and a lot more.

The Koi Pond showcases the national fish of Japan, the Koi. These fish are prized for their vibrant markings and numerous colors. They grow up to three feet long, live approximately fifty years and live in cold waters. Their diet includes plant life, insects, worms, and shrimps. The Koi Pond has a variety of aquatic plants as well including water lilies, water hyacinth, papyrus, canna and water lettuce.

The Sea Lion Coliseum

It is challenging to meet the thirteen-year-old, 400 pound California sea lion named Java and not fall in love instantly. Every day visitors at the aquarium enjoy a spectacular fifteen-minute show. Java has some fantastic moves including using her incredible flexibility to touch her nose to her lower back, high five her trainer and boogey to the dance tunes. The Sea Lion Coliseum is an excellent way for a family to spend the afternoon.

We hope you enjoy yourself at the aquarium, let us know how it went! 

Historical Landmarks in Long Island

Over this summer, we’ve written about places to go visit, places to go eat, places to grab a donut or a bagel, we've even talked about places to relax with the family. School is almost back in session and we want to bring attention to some local historical landmarks that might pop up in class.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Located in Cold Spring Harbor, NY, this facility has provided some of the biggest discoveries in molecular biology. Cancer research and the discovery of the structure of DNA was first announced by the scientists from this location in 1953. CSH has been active for 128 years as of this year. They are still leading the studies and remaining the examples of discovery in biology.

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium

Nearby the CSH Laboratory is our next historical location. They say they have the “largest living collection of New York State freshwater reptiles, fishes, and amphibians.” Schools visit this location that shut their doors in 1982 as a hatchery but opened up once again as an education center. If you would be interested in visiting this center, learn more about them here.

Cradle of Aviation Museum

Located in Garden City, NY, for over 100 years has been home to all things air and spacecraft.  It hosts one of the most unique collections of aircraft around. This location hosts birthday parties, tours, it has a planetarium and a theater. There are over 30 hands-on exhibits and cockpits to climb into. Plan a trip to this place of aerospace history today.

Parrish Art Museum

This location is in Water Mill, NY. Samuel Longstreth Parrish went to Harvard and is where he got a taste for the Italian Renaissance. He began collecting art in the 1880’s. In the summer of 1897, a single exhibition hall was constructed. Sped up to today, the art collection lives in a new building that opened doors in 2012. Learn more about this location here.

Have any of you been to these locations? School trips? Family trips? Let us know on Facebook. We are curious to hear back.

The Amazing Breweries Of Long Island

Long Island Breweries 

Long Island is filled with microbrewery tasting rooms, nanobreweries, and sensational craft beer. Local restaurants have this beer on tap and the selection of breweries is consistently increasing. Some of the best breweries are detailed below with the compliments of P.T.R.C.

The Lithology Brewing Company 

The doors to the tasting room at this brewery have finally opened. Lithology considers microbrewing a sci+ence and uses only the best possible ingredients. Their Brown Ale was honored with the silver medal at the International Craft Beer Competition of 2016 in New York. Their additional offerings include a Belgian witbier, a savory vanilla porter, a flaked wheat summer ale and a dry-hopped pale ale.

The Flying Belgian Brewery 

This small facility produces the finest Belgian style beers and distributes to numerous restaurants on the island. There are always two beers being rotated including Illegally Blonde. This blonde Belgian beer is a classic with a darker hue. The rotation also includes a smooth honey ale called Salvation a la Mode. The brewery offers a wide selection of beers and is planning an expansion into Queens and Suffolk. P.T.R.C. is definitely aware of this sensational brewery.

The Black Forest Brew Haus 

The Black Forest Brew Haus is a German Style Brewery and opened their doors in 1999. They serve loaded potato pancakes, hot Bavarian pretzels, and stuffed dumplings but are known for the beer they brew on the premises. This includes German Marzen, Hefeweizen, the Cannonball IPA and the Belligerent Hipster IPA. This is where Long Island celebrates happy hour.

Garvies Point Brewery 

Garvies Point Brewery offers handcrafted brews made in small batches. The brewery produces in excess of 1,000 gallons of beer every month. This includes some complicated concoctions such as Belgian witbier, IPA's, double IPA's and a porter with coffee and chocolate notes. They have recently released the Wunderkind IPA and serve their beer in keg and draft form.

The Barrier Brewing Co. 

This is a microbrewery with a specialty of small batches. The brewery offers a wide variety of selections and their latest creations are available in the testing room. The motto of this brewery is it is about the quality and not the quantity. The Barrier Brewing Company was founded in 2007 and pours fifty different kinds of beer every year. The flagship brew is always changing because the batches are small. The most popular selections include Lights Out Stout, Barnacle Brown, Beech St. Wheat and Dunegrass DIPA.