PAULA'S SOUTHAMPTON BLOG

"HAMPTON'S HIDEAWAYS"...Where To Go When You Don't Want To Be "Seen". The Hamptons is located on the Eastern End of Long Island and includes the towns of Southampton and East Hampton, New York.

Most people do not think of the Hamptons when they want to just go away to relax and not be "seen" by a lot of other vacationers. We are all in search of total privacy at times and it can be very hard to find it---especially in the most popular vacation spot in America! Short of having a home here where you can literally vegetate for a long weekend, the Hamptons is not known for being a very relaxing place where you can "disappear" for a while to be alone or to be with the one you love. There are places here, however that could fit the bill if you know about them--I, myself, have "gone away" for a long weekend to Gurney's Inn--thoroughly enjoying my alone time, I came back to work like a new person! It is also recommended to try coming to the Hamptons off-season--the month of September is spectacular and less expensive then the summer months. Early Spring, such as April and May are also perfectly beautiful as is Christmas, Hannuka and Thanksgiving.

So, I would like to share a list of places, little known and obscure places here in this beautiful place, where one could just disappear if one wants to. This is for the local population as well; you never know when you want to fall off the face of the earth for a day or more---these just may do the trick!

"Hampton's Hideaways"...Great places to go when you don't want to be "seen". I have listed below what I think are the nicest, most private and wonderful places to stay in the Hamptons. These are tried and true Inns and Hotels which have passed the decades in quiet and supreme privacy.

• Montauk Yacht Club     Star Island Rd, Montauk     631-668-3100
• Gurney's Inn and Spa    290 Old Montauk Hwy     631-668-2345
• Inn At Mill Creek, The     Noyac Road, Sag Harbor     631-725-1116
• Maidstone Arms Inn, The     207 Main St., East Hampton     631-324-5006
• Huntting Inn, The     94 Main St, East Hampton     631-324-0410  
• American Hotel     Main St., Sag Harbor     631-725-3535
• The Mainstay  579 Hill Street   631-283-4375
• Southampton Inn     91 Hill Street, Southampton     631-204-1792
• 1708 House, The     126 Main st., Southampton     631-283-1708
• Topping Rose House        2546 Montauck Highway, Bridgehampton  631-537-0870

Most of these wonderful get-aways have restaurants, however, most are within walking distance to the villages and Hamlets where you will find many choices for a casual lunch or dinner. With the exception of Gurney's Inn, where it is highly recommended that you enjoy the Spa food, the restaurants serve a varied menu of gourmet fair. They are all world class eateries and most have been written up in European travel guides as well as leading travelogues here in the US. 

My personal experience tells me that these Inns are NOT to be missed! Be prepared for a variety of price ranges.

Other delightful and delicious places to eat in The Hamptons (in no particular order) are:

• Sant Ambroeus                30 Main St., Southampton Village                  631-283-1233
• Redbar Brasserie             Hampton Road, Southampton Village             631-283-0704
• Gosman's Dock                On the water, Montauk                              631-6685330
• Nick and Tony"s               136 Main St, East Hampton                           631-324-3550
• Oakland's Restaurant and Marina   Dune Road, Hampton Bays               631-728-6900
• Mirko's                            Water Mill Square, Water Mill                         631-726-4444
• Spinnakers                      Main Street, Sag Harbor                                631-725-9353
• Tutto Il Giorno                 5 Bay Street, Sag Harbor                               631-725-7009
• Shippy's Pumpernickle    Windmill Lane, Southampton                       631-283-0007
• 1770 Restaurant              143 Main Street, East Hampton                      631-324-1770
• Silver's (Lunch, Brunch)     15 Main Street, Southampton                        631-283-6443
• Sip N' Soda Luncheonette   40 Hampton Road, Southampton                   631-283-9718
• La parmagiana                  Hampton Road, Southampton                       631-283-8030

Again, I have eaten in all of these wonderful restaurants and if personal recommendation is what you are looking for, please try them out on your next trip to The Hampton's...I personally recommend them!

Walking distance is king here in the Hamptons! --most people want to stroll and see the sights. Below are the places you can do just that without many crowds to dodge. Shopping is a great pass-time in the Hamptons...Historic, white-fronted stores abound here with designer clothing, toys and home goods. The great wood frame windows in Hildreths, the oldest still-operating department store in America, make you feel like you stepped back in time. Cedar shingled and stone turrets are part of the early architecture. Art galleries are plentiful and you can even stop in at the former Parrish Art Museum, now the Southampton Cultural Center while you are here. If you want to get a look at the beautiful gardens and grounds designed by famed Central park Landscape Architect, Frederick Law Olmsted and the building where the Parrish was housed, you should put this on your "Must See" list and make sure you do not miss the Isle of Caesar's in the side garden there!!!

Below are my favorite places to go for peaceful enjoyment:

• The famous sea going marina at Sag Harbor wharf and the blue and seagreen waterfront are the place for checking out the yachts and other ocean going vessels. The marina there is the only one with ocean going vessels on the Eastern End of Long Island. You may be lucky enough to see famous world travelers on their huge white and marine-blue yachts.
• Southampton Village shops and Agawam Park off Jobs Lane---where there is plenty of space to just disappear from view as you enjoy your time walking the green pathways along Pond Lane, feeding the ducks and geese and taking in the serene view of the lake and the deep, steel blue of the ocean beyond....
• A quiet walk on the ocean beaches or the bay beaches is the choice of many who want to just disappear from a busy world!
• Board-walks exist for people like you who just want to enjoy the wildlife and the water ways that are reserved just for the wild ones---and for you to take in as you enjoy the views. Make sure to visit the longest boardwalk out here on Meadow Lane--Walk out into the most exquiste wild life refuge on Shinnecock Bay, across from the Atlantic ocean
• There are many wildlife preserves here on the Eastern End of Long Island. A few of them are available for humans to enjoy as well as the waterfowl and endangered species...one in particular is a place to go to enjoy interacting with the wildlife; feed the birds out of your hand--watch the little ground animals as they scurry hither and yon for food. The Morton Wildlife Refuge on Noyac Road in Sag Harbor is the best place to experience the wildlife in their protected habitat. 

The State Park at Montauk is another treasure of walking paths and waterside escapes where you can enjoy nature in it's most perfect setting. Sit on the rocks and watch the froathy, white waves crash against the grey and velvet brown bluffs. Feel totally renewed and invigorated by the wind racing up and down the valleys and dunes leaving you with a most incredible experience of the power of the Atlantic Ocean.  Since Montauk is the furthest point of Long Island it is the home of the first and most famous of all Eastern seaboard lighthouses, The red and white Montauk Lighthouse.

Built during George Washington's presidency, The Montauk Lighthouse has reigned since 1792 as one of the first lighthouses built in the United States. Hexagonal in shape and built of stones from Connecticut, it was built in less than 5 months by a hearty bunch of craftsman in the heat of the long hot summer of 1792. It has withstood the Nor'easters and hurricanes that have passed this way over the centurys--erosion even threatened it. But the art of the craftsmen who built the lighthouse has kept it a safe distance from the bluffs and it's re-inforced structure and light tower have remained safe over time as well.

These are just a few of the great things to do here in The Hamptons. Don't miss out on a terrific off-season weekend or week here. Most accommodations are open year round; rarely do they close except for the months of January and February when they may feel the need to close down to travel or for vacation time for themselves.

MAKE SURE YOU PUT THE HAMPTONS ON YOUR LIST OF PLACES TO GO TO JUST DISAPPEAR! AND MAKE SURE YOU DON'T MISS THE HIGHLIGHTS OF A GREAT VACATION IN "HAMPTON'S HIDEAWAYS"!!!