The Hamptons (2018)
a:Southampton
r:New York
We spent a little part of summer 2018 in The Hamptons, a beautiful area east of Long Island, New York. This destination has been on my radar ever since “Sex and the City” and I was curious about what it was really like. The beautiful beaches, the stunning houses, and the fabulous Atlantic ocean did not disappoint. Only about three hours drive from Long Island City and we arrived in the picturesque town of East Hampton. We chose an Airbnb House for our stay and there was a lot to choose from in all different price categories. Ours was in the medium price range and it was okay. We had a lot of space and a great outside BBQ area but I would not really recommend it. If at all possible and in your price range, choose a house by or close to the beach... it will be worth it! We loved exploring the area and enjoyed the summer feeling everywhere. The weather was very sunny and we went to the fabulous beach, tried a few vineyards, visited the lighthouse, dreamed to own a house here (dreaming is allowed :)) and had dinner at the "Lobster Roll". It is a restaurant located between Montauk and Easthampton and it became famous when the TV series "The Affair" was filmed there. The Hamptons are a great place for a vacation, either in combination with New York but also as a stand alone holiday. Below I have enclosed a few tips and photos which I hope you enjoy and find useful.
Things to do in The Hamptons
a:Montauk
r:New York
Besides going to the beach, there are a number of great things to do in The Hamptons. Here are my recommendations: 1. Montauk Lighthouse On our first day, we set out to visit the Montauk Lighthouse. It is located at the most eastern tip of Long Island and was the first lighthouse in the state of New York when they started building it in 1792. There is a cute museum on the grounds of the lighthouse and one can go all the way to the top of the Lighthouse for a fabulous view of the sea and the whole area of the Hamptons. The entrance fee is 11USD for adults and 4USD for children (in 2018). 2. Wölfer Wine Estate The area of the Hamptons is also very well known for its wine. We chose to visit the (link: https://www.wolffer.com text: Wölffer Vineyard) during our stay and really loved it. It was started in 1988 and has been at the heart of the local winemakers ever since. The main house is surrounded by vineyards and inside is, in addition to the shop and production, a beautiful restaurant and terrace where you can enjoy the products they make here. We had lunch with very tasty rose wine and didn’t want to leave... It was perfect! 3. Sag Harbor and the other small towns The Hamptons are made up of many picturesque towns, all pretty with beautiful houses, a centre for shopping and dining and some typical American buildings. We visited Sag Harbor, walked along the waterfront, had a tasty coffee, and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere. It is a nice thing to do while in the area and good to get an impression of the local lifestyle. 4. Visit a local Farmstand As there are so many farms around The Hamptons, there is also a huge number of farm stands everywhere. I could spend hours walking around the produce, smelling it, taking photos, and taking some home. Fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade cakes and pies and fresh flowers. There is usually a huge selection of all kinds of fruits and veggies and they taste so good!!!!
The Beach
a:Two Mile Hollow Road
r:New York
For a proper beach, one definitely needs to travel to The Hamptons. Numerous beaches with space, and beautiful white sand, and dunes and water with waves and a little breeze so one can smell the ocean... do I have to go on? It was the middle of summer when we were there and there where only a few people at the beach. We had a lot of space, the water was cool and the sand not too hot to walk on. You can swim, sunbathe, read, play a ball game or whatever you feel like doing. For me, this was pretty close to perfect. We chose the Two Mile Hollow Beach, but I believe all beaches along that part of the coast are the same - heaven !
Restaurant Lobster Roll
a:Montauk Highway
r:New York
We first came across the restaurant (link: http://lobsterroll.com text: Lobster Roll), when watching the US TV series The Affair at the beginning of the year. Parts of it were being filmed there. Now that we have visited the area we can say that this restaurant is an icon of The Hamptons. Located just on the main road between Easthampton and Montauk it cannot be missed. It has been around since 1965 and serves seafood, fish, and many local specialties. It is busy, there is an inside and outside seating area, service is fast and the food is really tasty. If you are in the Hamptons it is definitely part of the experience!
New York
a:Unknown Address
r:New York
New York - I have been to this fascinating city many times over the years, both for work and pleasure. It never seems to get boring, and it actually feels really nice to keep going back to a city you don’t live in, yet you do know your way around. There is not really anything, in particular, I want to see or visit when I go these days. I simply just want to wander around, soak up the megacity atmosphere, explore and be part of this city that is like no other. This time around (November 2017), we visited my sister and her family as they currently live in New York. Hence we saw a different side of the Big Apple as they live in Long Island City. I have put together some tips for you for a side of New York that you might not have seen yet... Enjoy reading!
More of New York
a:Borden Avenue
r:New York
1. Long Island City This was our first time in Long Island City. A new, up-and-coming residential area that is actually really well connected to Manhattan and the rest of Long Island. Only one stop on the underground to go to Grand Central Station and to go from a sleepy high street to the craziness that is Manhattans largest railway station. Alternatively, you just hop on the ferry to go to Manhattan, Brooklyn, or down to Wall Street and get a fabulous sightseeing tour at the same time. Many high-rise residential buildings are being developed directly at the waterfront with great views of Manhattan, nice restaurants, a high street, bars, and some shops for your everyday needs. More and more microbreweries and galleries pop up in the area and the hip crowd is moving in. I enjoyed the vibe of the streets, the closeness to Manhattan combined with this less hectic small-town feel. Go and explore, you’ll love it. 2. Brooklyn Parts of Brooklyn have become very popular in recent years and more and more people are drawn to this beautiful part of the city. Of course, the walk from Manhattan over the Brooklyn Bridge to the part of Brooklyn called Dumbo has become hugely popular. Williamsburg with its beautiful Brownstone houses and hip-high streets is a huge draw and the street food vans and graffiti's all over add to the appeal. There are hotels opening everywhere in the old warehouse district of Williamsburg with great bars with views of Manhattan. Check out the "Ides Bar" at The Whythe Hotel if you are in the area. Breath-taking view from the inside or outside, really nice staff, and great cocktails! Don't forget Brooklyn on your to-do list for your next New York visit!! 3. and of course Manhattan There is so much to do and see in Manhattan that I don't even know where to begin. As I have been many times, there are particular areas that I keep going back to. For shopping, I visit the lower end of Broadway, where it crosses Houston Street and the whole area around it every time. For food, during the day I love the West Village and Chelsea Market. For a walk check out Highline Park and for that typical New York feeling, walk around the Empire State building. New York's tragic history will hit you around One World Trade Center and Wall Street and those famous streets of New York amaze you, no matter where in the city you walk them. Just walk (with comfy shoes) and enjoy!!
Ferry (New York)
a:Center Boulevard
r:New York
This was my new favourite things to do on this visit. Riding the ferry for the spectacular views! From Long Island City it is easy and convenient to take the ferry to get to other parts of the city. It is a quick 5 minutes ride straight over to Manhattan or approximately 30 minutes to go down all the way to Wall Street. And for under 3 USD, you get a free sightseeing tour without the commentary but with excellent views. Sit inside on a cool day or out on a sunny one and take great photos of midtown, the famous Brooklyn Bridge, downtown and the skyline overall. I felt this was the best bargain tip for things to do I had received in a long time. Well worth it!
The Hamptons (2017)
a:Gin Lane
r:New York
I have always wanted to visit the famous Hamptons on Long Island and this was the year to do it. From Long Island City, we drive about 1 hour and 30 minutes until we reached the picturesque town of Southampton. This is a medium size town, very pretty and looked after, so we stopped for a walk and a bit of lunch. After lunch we continued on to the absolutely fantastic beach and went for a sunny winter walk by the sea. It was a beautiful day for a long stroll, sunny and not too cold. We checked out the massive beachside houses and tried to figure out who actually lives there. At this time of year the houses looked all pretty empty and closed up but I cannot wait to check it out in summer too. A great day trip from , perfect to refuel and get fresh energy!!
New York Food and Drink
a:Wythe Avenue
r:New York
1. Breakfast in Brooklyn I always love to try different breakfast spots and different kinds of breakfast dishes. I read about "Bakeri" on Foursquare and saw it was in our neighbourhood. So we walked from Long Island City over to Greenpoint in Brooklyn, an up-and-coming neighbourhood with lots of house renovations going on as well as many nice-looking restaurants on our way. And "(link: http://www.bakeribrooklyn.com/ text: Bakeri)" kept its promise from Foursquare. I loved the interior, very warm and welcoming with a large table in the middle, a counter where you can buy either buy your bread and pastries to go or to stay, and a table to sit at and watch the ladies in the bakery going about their daily work. We chose to sit and watch the goings-on in the bakery and had our coffee, smoothie, and egg dishes while we did. Delicious, fresh, friendly, and warm! Yeah!! Loved it! 2. Brunch in Brooklyn And no visit to the US is complete with a proper brunch. So on our last day, we read about "(link: http://www.anellabrooklyn.com/about-anella/ text: Anella)", again located in the Greenpoint area of Brooklyn. We liked the look and feel and the items on the menu sounded delicious, so we reserved a table. The restaurant is divided into two long rooms and is furnished with warm wood and a large bar which leads me to believe it is not only a good spot for brunch. Our table was right at the window and we felt looked after by the team very well. They offer a great choice of dishes from the classic American breakfast, to vegetarian options and more uncommon breakfast items. Food was delicious, service very friendly and fast combined with a warm, comfy atmosphere!! 3. Drinks in Long Island City The (link: https://www.fifthhammerbrewing.com/ text: Fifth Hammer Brewing) company is one of a few breweries that have recently opened up in Long Island City. Located in an old warehouse it is open 7 days a week and we went late on Monday afternoon. Cool, warehouse-type atmosphere, an entertaining guy behind the bar, lots of space, a great bar to sit at, and yes, a great variety of beers! They offer what they call NYC-style IPA's, rye amber ale's, their own beer in cans to go, and much more. If you are in the area, it's a must-visit in my opinion!!
