An Afternoon in Lavender by the Bay

An Escape from the Madness.

With the onset of forced local exploration as opposed to international jet-setting, many wanderlust-filled Long Islanders have chosen to explore the bounty of their own backyards. With so much stress and uncertainty in this physiological climate, it’s no surprise that one of the more popular destinations are the serene lavender fields known as Lavender by the Bay, found in both Calverton and East Marion. What was once thought of as an experience that can only happen in Provence or the English countryside, is available to tourists and locals of Long Island.  

After endless amounts of social media hype, I dragged my best friend and our sons out to the Calverton location. After months of quarantining and adhering to social distancing protocols, I’ll admit it…my stress was pretty damn high. As in, hair falling out of my scalp in ridiculous quantities high. I had just finished reading There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather (highly recommended!) It gave me a lot of perspective on the importance of children being in the outdoors each day. I was determined to make nature a part of Henry’s life every day.

However, with limited parking in Brooklyn and only one park within walking distance of our apartment, it can feel draining going to the same green spaces every day. So, we ventured out to my home territory of Long Island for an afternoon in Lavender by the Bay. Leaving from Brooklyn, it was in total a two hour drive for my toddler and I. Was it worth it? 

Safety First.

Lavender Bay has a functional procedure for minimizing risk from COVID19. Guests must sign up in advance and choose a two hour time slot. This is in order to limit the amount of people in the fields at any one time. In addition, masks must be worn at all times when in close contact with other guests. Hand sanitizer is offered both upon entering and exiting the lavender field. Lavender by the Bay as a venue, given its vastness, is naturally conducive to social distancing. 

Many people, after dealing with the stress and pressures of living in a pandemic ridden world have sought out the lavender fields as a way to tame their stress. Before I dish on my experience, I wondered…

Is Lavender Actually Helpful or Beneficial?

Many people flock to lavender fields for a quiet and peaceful place to spend time with loved ones. More ‘hardcore’ fans of the fragrance claim that lavender has legitimate healing properties. I interviewed some experts in three different fields to get their takes on lavender:

Nicole, a physician’s assistant, takes a skeptical and cautious approach in supposed “natural remedies.” 

“The way I see things like lavender and essential oils is that they can provide help for mental health because they smell nice and could be relaxing. But, chocolate chip cookies in the oven can also be relaxing because they smell nice. As far as a treatment for physical problems, there is a thought that lavender has an anti-inflammatory effect. But, taking an Advil has a way better anti-inflammatory effect. And, if you’re looking for “natural remedies”, ice is also all-natural, and probably has better anti-inflammatory properties than lavender.” 

— Nicole, Physician’s Assistant

Rachel, a licensed clinical mental health therapist has been using essential oils for about two years now. 

“Lavender oil is one of the most popular oils in the mental health field today. Lavender helps with relaxation, anxiety, depression and insomnia. It’s so easy to fall into the rabbit hole and seek the quick fix. For example, Xanax is one of the most addictive prescriptions in today’s society. This is what I call the Band Aid effect: you put a Band-aid over the wound but never clean it out, which creates infection and ongoing issues. If you actually cope with the anxiety and choose an option, such as learning how to use lavender oil (also balance is AMAZING), you will realize that it’s a healthier way of life to have some lavender assist you in your emotions instead of depending on a pill.

Trust me, at first I know it can be a little shocking that lavender oil can help with mental health, but you’d be surprised with how much you actually come to enjoy it and make it a part of your daily routine like myself!”

— Rachel, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Feeling stressed? Check out her page for positive inspiration, or to book an appointment. She is currently taking new clients. @happyplaceforyourmind 

[See disclaimer below regarding seeking medical advice from a damn travel blog]

None of our experts believe that lavender is a miracle drug. However, all do agree, to varying extents, that lavender can be a beneficial tool in coping with mental health issues such as anxiety and panic. It can help promote relaxation. 

Peace of Mind in a Wonderful Piece of Land.

If you’re adept at relaxing and taking the day slow, an afternoon in Lavender by the Bay might very well be an enjoyable manner in which to spend your time.  There are spacious Adirondack chairs which dot the fields and provide a comfortable way to look out among the flowers, and breathe in the powerful scent of the lavender. The fields are truly breathtaking, especially if you have never seen lavender fields first hand before. The vastness is genuinely impressive, and automatically puts any guest who comes through at ease by virtue of the natural beauty.

Every guest in attendance on the day that we visited wore a smile, and had the familiar air of excitement as they combed through the perfectly aligned rows of flowers, trying to stake out the most idyllic spot for a photo shoot, or relaxing and having conversation. Despite being extremely popular on Instagram, when one first arrives at Lavender on the Bay the experience feels novel. Especially since most people don’t regularly visit lavender fields. It feels like one of those things only jet-setters get to experience. The fields are spacious enough (on a weekday) that you can still feel as if you are one of the first people to discover the area.  

…For Those Who Know How to Relax.

I have to be in a deep meditative state in order to feel relaxed. At any other moment I am the epitome of having “no chill.” If you ask me to sit still and relax, I will white knuckle my chair and shallow breathe until it’s time to stand up and move. So I need to be cerebral all. the. time. I’m thankful that my best friend is entirely the same way.

Amanda and I are not good at sitting still, so for us, it was more or less a decent spot in which to take a few photos and leave. There is no cover from the sun, which on some days can be extremely oppressive. For the 45 minutes of our two hour time slot that we stayed, the four of us were dripping in sweat. At the same time, there are a ton of bumblebees which float around pollinating the lavender. We are still unsure if either of our boys are allergic, so this added another element of challenge – trying to be sure that nobody was stung. If you are severely allergic to bees, exercise caution. 

Lavender Fiends, See Here.

If you’re a lavender fiend, (I am a lavender fiend), there is no shortage of paraphernalia for purchase. Lavender aromatherapy pillows? Check. Soaps and candles? Check. Essential oils? Check. I bought a jar of their local wildflower honey, and having gone in July, was told that only in August do they sell their lavender infused honey. I was a bit disappointed, but still, the honey I got is delectable and locally sourced. Perhaps the most sought after souvenir are the dried lavender bouquets, nearly everyone who purchases something at Lavender by the Bay goes in this direction. 

What to do with all of your new lavender oils and creams? Rachel has some tips:

When it comes to your bedtime routine for all of those who struggle with falling asleep, you can take lavender oil and either put a few drops on your pillow, or my favorite is to put some oil on my wrists and behind my ears 15 minutes prior to going to sleep. Also, if you find yourself in a stressful situation, or find yourself feeling anxious/ depressed put a few drops on your hands, rub them together then breathe in the oil through your hands. For people who don’t want to put the oils on their body you can always put a few drops in your diffuser! 

 

Room to Grow.

Ten dollars just to sit among the lavender is steep. Especially since most guests do not live in the area and spend a lot of money in gas just to get there. Also, some tented areas and more chairs would not hurt one bit and would be a needed, and honestly thoughtful, touch.

One of the appeals of spending an afternoon in Lavender by the Bay is that it allows you to engage in an experience that was previously only reserved for people willing to travel to far away places, like France. Lavender by the Bay could totally capitalize on that, and in turn, provide an even better experience to guests. It would be clutch if there were a snack bar that served prosecco, charcuterie boards, and maybe some sandwiches. Or, like…anything. I would have even settled for bottled water that day. But in all seriousness, there is so much more that could be done with this space. I hope they continue to create new ways to attract and maintain guests. 

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The Wandering Why Traveler and website does not intend to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The opinions of the experts featured are based on their research, education, experience, and training. Readers should not seek medical advice from a travel blog, obviously.

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