Luxury Experience - The Hamptons - Southampton to Montauk, Long Island, NY, USA

The Hamptons, from Southampton to Montauk, Long Island, New York, is a versatile year-round destination offering diverse attractions beyond the famous beaches with historic architectural treasures, museums, art galleries, vineyards, excellent restaurants, and upscale boutique shopping to discover that will appeal to a wide audience. Although this time we stayed in the Hamptons in mid-September, we have visited and stayed there in all seasons, and have thoroughly enjoyed each stay as we made new discoveries.

Southampton Village, settled in 1640 and incorporated in 1894, is the oldest English settlement in the state of New York, and has long attracted artists, celebrities, and those in the know for its art museums, natural beauty and beaches, culture and cuisine. It is an eclectic mix of the old and the new, and there is fashionable shopping along Jobs Lane and Main Street.

Montauk, "the surfcasting capital of the world," settled in 1660, is located 38-miles from Southampton and at the tip of the South Fork of the Long Island peninsula. It is home to the largest commercial and recreational fishing fleet in New York State, and holds the most saltwater fishing records in the world.

We explored The Hamptons from Southampton to Montauk making frequent stops along the way to experience the individual towns that make the area so special.

We stayed at the 90-room luxurious Southampton Inn nestled on 5-acres in the heart of Southampton, New York in mid-September 2013. The hotel's welcoming staff and its proximity to the village afforded us with the ability to walk to upscale boutiques, restaurants, museums, and a movie theatre.

During our stay the waning days of summer were like a siren song compelling us to take a swim in the outdoor heated swimming pool. We also took advantage of the Inn's complimentary shuttle service to nearby Coopers Beach, rated as the "Best Beach in America" by "Dr. Beach" in 2010.

We had sweet dreams in our well-appointed king guestroom which had a Tempur-Pedic® bed flanked by nightstands, a round table and two chairs, a flatscreen television positioned on a chest of drawers, a large closet with mini-refrigerator, bathroom with combination tub, and complimentary WIFI Wireless Internet.

We also enjoyed reading the many newspapers and magazines invitingly stacked on coffee tables in the sun-drenched Library where the shelves held an abundant collection of books and games for guests to use during their stay.

Other amenities included an outdoor tennis court and shuffleboard court, a business center, and a games room. During the summer season, and for special events, there is excellent dining at OSO Restaurant which received a Wine Spectator 2010 Award of Excellence for the wine collection. Travelers with pets will appreciate the 14-pet friendly guestrooms at the Southampton Inn.

Southampton Inn
91 Hill Street
Southampton, Long Island, New York 11968
United States
Telephone:   +1-631-283-6500
Toll-Free:      +1-800-832-6500
Website:        www.SouthamptonInn.com
Facebook:     www.Facebook.com/SouthamptonInn

One of our first stops was to Agawam Park, located 1-block from the Southampton Inn at Jobs and Pond Lanes, which was perfect for strolling by the water and admiring the World War II Memorial.

Southampton is rich with history, and we found our visit to the Pelletreau Silver Shop, part of the Southampton Historical Museum to be very interesting. Located at 80 Main Street, the shop was built in 1686, and is one of the oldest structures standing on the East End. Architecturally interesting it was "occupied by Colonial Patriot Elias Pelletreau and his family of silversmiths for three generations."

Today the talented French artist jeweler Eric Messin continues the art of crafting custom jewelry for discerning clientele. In addition to watching Erin Messin work at his craft, we had the opportunity to look at the many historical artifacts on display.

Visit the Southampton Historical Museum website for information on lectures and jewelry workshops by Eric Messin.

Pelletreau Silver Shop
Eric Messin - Artist Jeweler
80 Main Street
Southampton, Long Island, New York 11968
United States
Telephone: +1-631-287-0056
Website: www.EricMessin.com

We also immensely enjoyed our visit to the Captain Albert Rogers Mansion, located in the heart of Southampton which is part of the Southampton Historical Museum. Built in 1843 for whaling Captain Albert Rogers, this stately mansion is now open year-round as a museum and research center.

During our visit, there was a wonderful exhibit entitled Fabulous Fish by Southampton sculptor John Rist, Jr. (which runs until November 2, 2013). We also enjoyed our self-guided tour of the mansion. Highlights on the first floor are the dining room, sitting room, and the well-stocked gift shop filled with hand-knit baby caps, books, and wonderful hostess gifts.

On the second floor, we admired the furnishings in the bedrooms and visited the Toy Room which had a delightful collection of toys and mechanical banks, one of which was similar to a bank that Edward has in his own collection.

Doll lovers of all ages will appreciate the stunning collection of dolls in the Doll Room complete with a large-scale dollhouse, as well as the collection of children's tea sets from Germany. Also of interest was the collection of photographs of the hurricane of 1938.

The Captain Albert Rogers Mansion is open year-round, Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm. The museum is closed on holidays. Check their website for upcoming special events. Admission is $4.00.

We took a step back in time walking around the grounds of the mansion while admiring the 19^th century historic structures of Old Southampton which included a one-room school house, blacksmith shop, notions shop, cobbler, and more.

The Hamptons are known for the beaches, and Southampton has 11 stunning white sand beaches nestled along 7 miles of oceanfront to discover. The beaches include Fowler, Old Town, Wyandanach, Little Plains, Gin Lane, Cryder, Halsey Neck Lane, Road D, Road G, Dune Road (Village Residents only), and Coopers Beach.

Although it was mid-September, the weather was gorgeous and sunny, where blue skies and warm days were the norm, and we made the most of the weather and visited Coopers Beach, rated as the best beach in America by "Dr. Beach" in 2010.

Located on Meadow Lane, Coopers Beach is located on a pristine long stretch of sandy beach bordered by dunes perfect for strolling, playing in the waves, admiring the waterfront mansions, soaking up the sun (sensibly wearing sunscreen of course) and people watching.

During the summer season, parking is $40.00. Chair and umbrella rentals are available and there is a concession. In the off-season there is no charge for parking.

As guests of the Southampton Inn guests we opted to take the complimentary shuttle from the hotel to the beach, leaving the driving to our friendly driver.

Coopers Beach
268 Meadow Lane
Southampton, Long Island, New York 11968
United States

Walking along Cooper's Beach we could see the tops of the distinctive red gables of St. Andrew's Dune Church, founded in 1879, and when we inquired about the structure, our shuttle driver made a quick stop as we left the beach so that we could photograph the famous church.

St. Andrew's Dune Church
12 Gin Lane
Southampton, Long Island, New York 11968
United States
Telephone: +1-631-283-3015

Driving east in our car from Southampton, we drove to the town of Water Mill where we visited the The Water Mill Museum. The building dates to the 18^th century, features a working water-powered grist mill, and has many exhibits and historical artifacts. Quilters and quilt-collectors will be interested to know that the museum holds a Quilt Show and Sale annually from mid-August to mid-September to raise funds.

We had the good fortune of visiting during the Quilt Show and Sale where the work was exquisite. We also learned about the origin of "crazy quilts" from the docent who told us that widows often made these specialized quilts to honor a late husband's memory by incorporating scraps of her husband's clothing, small bits of fabrics, and embroidery into the elaborate and unusual designs.

The Water Mill Museum is open from mid-May until mid-October 2013 Sunday from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. The museum is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Donations welcome.

The Water Mill Museum
41 Old Mill Road
P.O. Box 63
Water Mill, Long Island, New York 11976
United States
Telephone: +1-631-726-4625
Website: www.WaterMillMuseum.org

The South Fork of Long Island has 20 vineyards, three of which are open year-round, Wölffer Estate Vineyard, Channing Daughters Winery, and Duck Walk Vineyards.

During this visit we stopped at Duck Walk Vineyards South, located three miles outside of Southampton and owned by Dr. Herodotus "Dan" Damianos and his son, Alexander Damianos.

It was a beautiful, warm, sunny Saturday afternoon perfect for sitting outside on the patio of the Normandy Château-style building, listening to the singer/ guitarist and soaking up the sun and the party ambience in the vineyard, where the vines were heavy with grapes awaiting harvest.

Inside, Tasting Bar Manager Michael Krummenacher guided us through the tasting of the 2012 Sauvignon Blanc - luscious melon on the nose with a lovely citrus finish; the 2010 Pinot Meunier with raspberry aromas followed by dark cherry, raspberries, and a smoky finish; and the 2010 Reserve Merlot, which was big, bold, and flavorful with an aromatic nose with dark fruit forward, think black plum, black cherry, and a nice level of acidity so that it will age well.

Duck Walk Vineyards is open year-round for tastings daily from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons from Memorial Day weekend until the end of October, there is live music on the Patio overlooking the vines from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm.

Founded in 1994, there are two Duck Walk Vineyards locations: Duck Walk Vineyards South in Water Mill, just past Southampton, and Duck Walk Vineyards North on the North Fork of Long Island in Southold, New York.

Visit the Duck Walk Vineyards website for information and for upcoming special events: www.DuckWalk.com.

We also stopped at Hank's Pumpkin Town, open seasonally, and located across the street from Duck Walk Vineyards South, where pumpkins of every size and shape were available for picking. Combined with roasted corn for sale, farm wagon rides, corn maze adventure park, children' s playground, kids straw maze and pony rides, make it a yearly tradition for many families. We especially enjoyed the freshly made hot cider donuts.

Hank's Pumpkintown is open daily from 9:30 am until 6:00 pm from mid-September to October 31, 2013.

Hank's Pumpkintown
Montauk Highway
Water Mill, Long Island, New York 11976
United States
Website: www.HanksPumpkintown.com

We continued our exploration in Amagansett, founded in 1680, and visited the very interesting East Hampton Town Marine Museum, which has three floors of exhibits, is housed in a former naval barracks used during World War II, and is dedicated to preserving the history of the whaling and fishing community.

Barbara Driver, School Program Coordinator, provided us with in-depth insight into the historical whaling and fishing artifacts and the boats on the premises. Also of interest were the large-scale fishing photographs, and the exhibit by the artist Claude Hoie.

The East Hampton Town Marine Museum is open seasonally from the beginning of May until the end of October on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm, or by appointment. Admission is charged: Adults: $4.00, Seniors: $3.00, and Students: $2.00.

Our last stop was to Montauk, settled in 1660, a 38-mile drive from Southampton and located at the tip of the South Fork of the Long Island peninsula. It is home to the largest commercial and recreational fishing fleet in New York State, and holds the most saltwater fishing records in the world, and there are 6 state parks in Montauk.

We visited Kirk Park Beach, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Walking along the pristine dune-lined sandy beach we could see all the way to the end of the island, and we enjoyed watching the fishermen cast their lines, and stopping from time to time to pick up and look at the scattered shells and tumbled pebbles from the rough surf.

Before returning to Southampton, we stopped to photograph the historic and stately landmark, the Montauk Point Lighthouse, built in 1796, and standing at an impressive 110.5 feet (33 meters).

Its impressive facts include that it was the first lighthouse in New York State, and it is the 4^th oldest active lighthouse in the United States.

For information on visiting the Montauk Point Lighthouse Museum and Gift Shop, please visit the website: www.MontaukLightHouse.com for hours, admission to the museum, and the parking fee for the Montauk Point State Park parking lot.

75 Main Restaurant and Lounge owned by Zach Erdem is an attractive restaurant that opened in 2010, is open year-round, and is "the place" to be seen and to dine in Southampton. Celebrities and locals flock to 75 Main Restaurant and Lounge for the stylish ambience, attentive service, and inspired menu created by Executive Chef Mark Militello.

We had an excellent dinner at 75 Main Restaurant and Lounge where a few of the many highlights of our evening included the Lobster Salad made with shaved endive, basil, tomatoes, sliced avocado, lemon, and olive oil interspersed with a generous amount of succulently sweet lobster; Heritage Grilled Pork Porterhouse with pencil-thin green asparagus, creamy polenta, and a rich sauce; and the Pan Roasted Salmon with a honey balsamic mustard glaze and large pearl couscous studded with tomatoes, and small diced zucchini.

75 Main Restaurant is open year-round, Monday through Friday for Breakfast, Brunch Lunch from 11:00 am until 4:30 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am until 4:30 pm. The restaurant is open for Dinner Sunday through Thursday from 4:30 pm until 10:30 pm, and Friday and Sunday from 4:30 pm until 11:00 pm. The Lounge is open Friday and Saturday from 10:30 pm until 4:00 am.

Read about 75 Main Restaurant and Lounge in the Restaurants section and in the Chefs' Recipes section where there is an interview with Chef Mark Militello and who graciously shares a delicious taste of the restaurant with his recipe for Fish Grilled in Fennel.

75 Main Restaurant and Lounge
75 Main Street
Southampton, Long Island, New York 11968
United States
Telephone:  +1-631-283-7575
Website:      www.75Main.com
Facebook:   www.Facebook.com/75MainSouthampton

We also had an excellent dinner at Osteria Salina, which opened in 2012, is owned by the Gaglio family, and is a delicious little gem of a year-round restaurant in Bridgehampton where the culinary focus is on Sicilian cuisine from the Ïsola di Salina" island of Salina section of Sicily. "Mama" (Chef Cinzia Gaglio) is in the kitchen cooking and you will definitely "mangia bene" here, we did.

A few of the many highlights of our dinner included the antipasto of Tortino di Granchio, jumbo lump crab cake topped with micro greens and a delicious swirl of citrus aioli, the Spada alla Griglia, grilled fresh line caught swordfish on a generous bed of caponatina Siciliano made with eggplant, tomatoes, raisins, red onions, and pine nuts in balsamic, and the Gamberoni con Couscous, grilled jumbo shrimp with saffron couscous, pine nuts, raisins, and orange zest from the Secondi section of the menu.

Osteria Salina is open daily year-round for Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner, and late night for Siciliano gelato. They also provide catering, beach baskets, as well as take-out.

Read about Osteria Salina in the Restaurants section and in the Chefs' Recipes section where there is an interview with Chef Cinzia Gaglio and a recipe for a delicious taste of Sicily.

Osteria Salina
95 School Street
Bridgehampton, New York 11932
United States
Telephone: +1-631-613-6469
Email:          This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website:     www.OsteriaSalina.com
Facebook:   www.Facebook.com/OsteriaSalina

The Hamptons, from Southampton to Montauk, is well worth a visit in any season. Southampton is conveniently located 2 hours from New York City, 3 hours and 45 minutes from Philadelphia, and 4 hours 30 minutes from Boston.

For information on Southampton Village, please visit the website: www.SouthamptonVillage.org.

For information on Montauk, please visit the website: www.Monmontauk.com.