Summary of The Hamptons
This is actually a community of villages and summer resorts that are found along Long Island’s southern shores and form part of Suffolk County. The area is approximately 102 miles from Manhattan, and is also referred to as the South Fork. Several of the Hamptons (Quogue, Westhampton Beach, and Hampton Bays) are west of the South Fork. But the area known as “the Hamptons” refers to towns east of Shinnecock Canal, including Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Water Mill, Sag Harbor, Amagansett Springs, and Montauk. These picturesque towns provide a respite and a summer sanctuary for thousands of New Yorkers who make their escape from the rush of the city. The Hamptons are also home to numerous farmers and anglers.
Understandably, agriculture and tourism are the economic focus of this charming area. During the day, the pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches are the prime attraction. Canoeing, windsurfing, or sailing on the many ponds, cycling, and sightseeing are all popular. At night the place comes alive as the numerous bars, clubs, and discos entertain the large party crowd escaping the city grind.
One of Long Island’s two viticultural areas is found here in the Hamptons, and most of the local wineries, including Wolffer Estate on Montauk Highway in Sagaponack, receive a vast number of visitors on weekends. South Fork beaches are public and quite popular, but parking is limited and expensive in the peak summer season. Traffic is bumperto- bumper on summer weekends.
The trip normally takes 2 hours, but leave Manhattan on a Friday afternoon, or make the return on a Sunday, and it can take as long as 6 hours, so avoid these times.
The heavy influx of city New Yorkers means that dining options here are well above average, and many restaurants offer fresh fish caught locally. Upscale lodgings are plentiful and East Hampton offers a very good selection of B&Bs. Moderately priced motels are in Montauk.
While Long Island’s MacArthur Airport in Islip offers minimal service, LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy Airports are located in nearby Queens. Long Island Railroad is the largest commuter railroad in the nation and connects the major towns on the island to Penn Station in Manhattan.
The Hamptons’ Jitney offers bus service between Manhattan and area airports to the Hamptons.
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