I grew up in Western Suffolk, Long Island and moved to the east end a few years ago. When I moved into my new house, I felt like a small, lonely pea in a very large pod. The vast landscapes, expanses of beach and endless water made me feel detached from civilization until I discovered how close the Hamptons were.
While I often visited the Hamptons in college to stay with friends and party, I never realized the cultural experiences that wait around ever corner until I was asked to read my poetry at the Westhampton Beach Public Library. Although that was over fifteen years ago, I have traveled many times to the Hamptons since to appreciate fine dining, great shopping, pristine beaches and cultural experiences.
When you visit the Hamptons, my friends and I agree that best route is Montauk Highway. It will take you twice as long to get to the Hamptons but the scenery is priceless. As you head east, you will cross over a variety of ponds, lakes and rivers as well as the bay. The winding turns of Montauk Highway remind us of the days when Long Island was mostly farm country.
As you drive Montauk Highway, you can stop and check out all the eclectic little towns and villages along the way. When you enter Moriches, you will be in the “gateway to the Hamptons”. In East Moriches, you can rent a boat from Silly Lilly and go for a fishing trip you’ll never forget. Afterwards, if you get skunked for fish you can stop at Tony’s Sushi, which has locations throughout Moriches and the Hamptons.
As you enter Westhampton Beach, you will see Baby Moon pizza on your left, home of the best pizza I’ve ever tasted. Famous for decades, Baby Moon pizza offers a gourmet pizza-eating experience like no other. The oozing cheese, tasty sauce and fresh dough should not be missed when you are in the Hamptons. Whilein Westhampton Beach, you can head to the Village to check out the Arts Cinema, a arty venue that invites many stars for opening night showings. In the heart of the Village, there are several realtors who keep a variety of real estate listing books outside their office doors. You can pick up Dan’s Papers , the premier publication telling you all the events in the Hamptons, along with a variety of real estate listings so you can dream about where you’d spend the money if you won the lottery.
Head east into Quogue and East Quogue, some of the oldest towns on Long Island. With antique shops and unique little stores, you can walk the village in just a few minutes yet find many unusual treasures. Before you know it, you will be in Hampton Bays. Everyone knows they’ve arrived in the Hamptons when they see the huge Hampton Bays Diner, which has absolutely every type of cuisine you can imagine and is more like a restaurant than a diner. If you don’t stop at this diner, you just haven’t been to the Hamptons. Across the street is a small Macy’s department store with a big sense of style. Drop in and check out the clearance racks, which are loaded with eye-catching styles at incredible prices.
In the heart of Hampton Bays, you will find a movie theater, Starbucks and a few other mainstream merchants. Buckley’s is a famous Irish pub with great grub and a friendly vibe. As your head out of Hampton Bays, you will see Brewsters Seafood Market on the right. You must stop here, even though it looks unassuming, because the seafood is outstanding. Since it’s officially designated by the Town of Southhampton as seafood market, they can only get a license for 6 tables, so you may have to wait for awhile – but it’s worth it. Also, since it’s a seafood market, you need to bring your own wine or beer (the owner allows it) because they don’t have a liquor license. Either way, it’s the best seafood around and worth the effort. Across the street is the famous, hopping club CPI on the Shinnecock. Right down by the Shinnecock is a fun restaurant and bar called Rip Tide that’s worth checking out.
Beyond Hampton Bays is Southhampton, a posh place with a exciting village where you can find prestigious retailers such as Saks. While Hampton Bays has a casual, relaxed atmosphere, Southhampton is like a displaced section of Manhattan when it comes to attitude and appearance. The dining options are unlimited and you can get lost shopping in Southhampton for days. There are several nature preserves in the area, one right near North Sea, where local wildlife and fauna thrive. You will also pass the Indian reservation, where you can stop to enjoy crafts and Indian culture.
Finally, you will reach East Hampton, home of celebrities such as Sean Puffy Combs a/k/a P. Diddy. From here, you can also shuttle over to Sag Harbor, another waterfront village with high end dining and shopping. The last time we went out to dinner in Sag Harbor, we saw Steven Spielberg. We also discovered the best campgrounds on Long Island in East Hampton – Cedar Point. This hidden pearl has its own lighthouse, a bird sanctuary and incredible landscapes. The Kaelins own the general store, which sells everything you need for camping. They also make delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner with a waterfront, outdoor family movie night on the weekends. It’s the ultimate camping trip, just minutes from fine restaurants such as Almond’s. In the village of East Hampton, you can find Coach and other high end designer stores to satisfy your craving for shopping.
Beyond East Hampton, is Montauk, a separate entity to itself and “The End” of Long Island. Every year we rent a cottage at the Crow’s Nest on Montauk Lake. Mario, the manager, makes sure everything is just right and takes personal care for his patrons. There’s an award-winning restaurant right on the premises and they also cater weddings and large parties.
This is just a sampling of what awaits you when you drive out to the Hamptons on Montauk Highway. When you take long route, you will discover hundreds of hidden pearls on your own. Happy Hamptons!
