Now that we are out east for the summer, we are back to going to the best places in the Hamptons. We’ve left New York City for the season and are in the Hamptons for peak season. If you are in the New York area and are looking to go out east for a day trip or weekend getaway, it’s easily accessible from Penn Station on the Long Island Rail Road or you can take the Hampton Jitney and enjoy a ride down Montauk highway. The Hamptons has some of the best restaurants and it’s a great place to explore summer days. They have some of the best beaches and rainy day activities, at the same time. Here is our ultimate guide to the most perfect place in the world: the Hamptons.
Spend the Day at the Beach
You already know where we’ll be! This is a great activity for families and friends and you can spend a full day there. There are a quite few great beaches in the Hamptons to go to. If you’re spending the entire summer out there, I’d suggest starting out by going to whichever one is closest to you, but you can always switch it up! And if you’re just headed out there for a short period of time, here are a few to check out: Coopers Beach, Main Beach, Atlantic Avenue Beach, Ditch Plains Beach, Kirk Park Beach and Hither Hills State Park. If you’re there all summer, do something fun and check out every beach! A sunset beach trip is also on our bucket list for the summer.
Shop
Another activity that is a hobby of mine is shopping. One of the best things about the Hamptons is that there are so many great places to shop at out east. You’ll have to check out the iconic Main Street in both Southampton and East Hampton! You can find so many different stores from clothing to home goods to fantastic restaurants, a whole entire day could be spent there! Division Street in Sag Harbor has some more shops, even antique ones!
For those looking for a weekend getaway, I have the perfect destination for you! Located on the South Fork of Long Island, Gurney’s is the place to be, let me just tell you! I have the best and most relaxing time every single time I go out there. My whole family enjoys it, too! They are a resort and spa and also have some fantastic food there! The stay and views are top notch! One of the best parts, is that they have kids activities there, so it’s super family friendly. The Seawater Spa is unmatched, I sleep like a baby after spending some time there! The amenities are endless and they are pet friendly, so you can bring your dog.
Grab a Lobster Roll
Everyone that goes out east knows that a lobster roll is a summer staple. You can get a good one pretty much everywhere but I’d love to share my favorite restaurants that I think are standouts. There is a lot of controversy when it comes to labeling the best lobster roll out east. They’re all very different from one another and you can decide whether or not you prefer to eat them cold or warm. Mayo ratio is another huge thing to take into consideration! A few great spots on our list are LUNCH, Claudio’s on Main, Duryea’s, K Pasa and Bostwick’s Chowder House.
I love this for a date night or day out with friends! The best place out in the Hamptons to go wine tasting would definitely be the Wölffer Estate Vineyard. There truly is nothing like it! Not only is it breathtakingly beautiful out there, but the wine, itself, is exquisite! A good wine cellar and vineyard visit is something that doesn’t necessarily need a special occasion, but it totally can be a great spot to celebrate! I mean, imagine how beautiful it would be to have your wedding here? What’s your favorite type of wine?
This is something that should be on your bucket list for the Hamptons season! We actually like to go off season too for a day trip to Montauk. This is a cool thing to go see, my family takes a few trips each summer to grab some photos of it! The Montauk Historical Society has a bunch of information on the history of it, if you’d like to take a a read.
Get a Good Workout In
I need to get my sweat on a few times a week and I have tried pretty much every workout spot out east. There are plenty of fabulous places out east to get a great workout in at! You can pick classes that target certain muscles and needs or go for a full body workout. I’ll list a few of my favorite spots in no particular order: SLT, Tracy Anderson Method, the BARN SoulCycle, Mivana Move at Topping Rose House and, of course, anything Isaac Boots has!
Go Antique Shopping
There’s nothing like finding one of a kind pieces for your home. The perfect Hamptons vacation involves shopping and being able to bring home a really great piece that you can’t find anywhere else makes for an ideal summer season score. We love vintage looks and feels. Luckily, there are a ton of great places to go antiquing out in the Hamptons! Here’s a few to note: In the Attic Too, FORK + ROSE: Home and Table, Mecox Gardens and Black Swan Antiques.
Treat Yourself
If you don’t finish your day with a dessert trip, you’re doing it wrong! I’m not ashamed to say many of our summer nights end in ice cream runs and we wouldn’t have it any other way! Those were some of my favorite summer childhood memories, getting ice cream and sitting together as a family and just talking all night long. Here are a few of our favorite ice cream spots out in the Hamptons: Tate’s Bake Shop Tatewich, Big Olaf, Gemelli Gelatoand the Southampton Fudge Company.
Try New Restaurants
We’re major foodies and summer visitors need to know our absolute favorite spots out east because we’ve tried so many of them. There are seriously endless local restaurants in the Hamptons that you could constantly be trying new ones. I think what’s really cool is that they all have their own signature dishes, so whenever you’re in the mood for something particular, go try the place that does it the best! The seafood out there is so fresh, I highly recommend having a summer full of fish. Really just such good food out there! But also, the views sometimes are better than the food! There are quite a few restaurants with ocean views to check out. Here’s a few establishments to visit: Rosie’s for breakfast, the Clam Bar for local oysters and lobster salad rolls, Carissa’s for baked goods, Goldberg’s for bagels and Blu Mar for Mediterranean cuisine.
Bike along the coast
Looking to get out of the house and get active with your family? Grab your bikes and get out there! I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a prettier place to go on a bike ride, than along the coast inn the Hamptons. Especially before sunset, the views are just unbeatable! It’s a good way to get some fresh air and exercise and you can do it as a date night or family night.
Check out the Museums
Another great activity to do with your kids is to try something educational. It’s always a good day to go to a Museum! There’s surprisingly more out there than you think! The most well known is probably the Parrish Art Museum, which has stunning pieces. Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum, Guild Hall and the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center are a few other great ones!
Take a Hike
Can you tell we’re working on getting active and outdoors more? Hiking is underrated! It’s a great form of exercise, it gets you outside and is a great activity for your family to do together. Some of our best memories are just exploring outdoors with one another! If you’re on the hunt for some great places to go on a hike in the Hamptons, I recommend Quogue Wildlife Refuge, the Lighthouse Loop Trail at Cedar Point County Park and Walking Dunes at Hither Hills State Park.
Beyond the most beautiful beaches are more wonderful places for a Hamptons summer. The Longhouse Reserve is a really serene reserve and sculpture garden in East Hampton. There are 16 acres of land in the Northwest Woods and they always have fantastic things going on there. For instance, there’s a summer benefit, meditation sessions, art talks, garden walks and so much more! If you’re an art lover especially, I recommend!
Finally, it wouldn’t be a trip without going to the Botanical Gardens! This one is so pretty and it’s a great way to get the kids out of the house to make a memorable day.
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