If you get a chance to go to Shelter Island way out east on Long Island, don't miss The Nature Conservancy's 2,000-acre Mashomack Preserve, which takes up a good chunk of this old-fashioned island and includes one of the most picturesque meadows I've ever seen. 

 Informative Visitor's Center. Lots of birds, including Wild Turkeys, Ospreys, Great Egrets and migrating warblers.

Lots of migrating Monarchs and a few Common Buckeyes, too.

You can read more about the 2,000-acre preserve and 11 miles of coastline here.