The Community Room is a trip back into City IslandвЂ™s past. While learning about City Island's nautical past, my children rowed a canoe in the Nautical Room and played with sailmaking tools and vintage boat motors. Hands-on exploration is allowed for most items. The artifacts are unique to City Island life, specifically shipbuilding.Дon a pirate hat and set sail on a ship at the Nautical Museum. The museum is intimate, made up of a central hall and gallery with four rooms (Library, Nautical Room, Community Room, and School Room) filled with memorabilia and relics from the past. She took us through each room of the museum, explaining the significance of the artifacts and photographs while sharing the history of the island. вЂњCity Island has a small town feel with a Bronx edge if you know what I mean,вЂќ she winked. Barbara, City Island resident and isle expert, greeted us warmly. (FREE for children $5 for adults open every Saturday and Sunday from 1-5pm) Our first destination was The City Island Nautical Museum. We drove down City Island Avenue (the island's вЂњMain StreetвЂќ) and took in the steepled churches and countless restaurants. It was official we were heading toward a quaint nautical town and leaving the city behind. As we crossed the bridge onto the island, we were welcomed with fresh sea air, boats floating in the distant marina, and seafood restaurant signage looming over small buildings. With moderate Sunday afternoon traffic, it took 15 minutes to get from Orchard Beach to City Island. Having enjoyed MarthaвЂ™s Vineyard for many years, we wanted to see for ourselves if City Island lived up to its reputation as a pseudo-New England town. Following a beautiful morning of kite flying at Orchard Beach, my family headed to City Island to visit the island's nautical museum, have dinner, and catch the sunset.

Kaleidoscope toy