EXPLORE THE HAMPTONS: DAY 3
To start off day three, head back over to Sag Harbor. Fuel up at the Dock House, a true Long Island seafood joint, for some seafood-spiked breakfast dishes. A good way to understand Sag Harbor's marine history may be to visit a local family favorite: the Whaling Museum. It is housed in an 1845 Greek revival mansion filled with model ships, a sizeable boat collection and several antique scrimshaw pieces. Sag Harbor saw four devastating blazes in the 1800's, and because of those fires, it established the first Fire Department Museum in New York State. There, you will admire a hand pulled hose cart that dates back to 1890 as well as many other interesting firefighting artifacts.
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The Whaling Museum |
A walk through the village will bring you to "The Gallery" where owner Rebecca Cooper, who opened the first psychedelic art gallery in the country, features the works of local and emerging artists. Antique shops abound, selling country furniture, beach artifacts and shells. If this happens to be a Saturday, stop at the Farmers' Market where you can taste Art Ludlow's Mecox Bay Dairy artisanal cheeses — he runs the only cow dairy on Long Island — but on any other day, you can call ahead and visit him just South of Bridgehampton. The fifteen-minute drive will bring you close to Pierre's and its St. Tropez atmosphere on Route 27.
Pierre Weber (a third generation baker) may don Lacoste shirts more often than chef whites, but you cannot go wrong with his bouillabaisse, French fries and pastries. A simpler but no less delicious option is Townline BBQ (also on Route 27) which serves authentic Southern fare (favorites include the organic smoked chicken and the pulled pork). Foodies cannot leave Bridgehampton without a visit to Loaves & Fishes Cookshop for a peek at their extensive array of kitchen accessories: from Alessi stainless steel salt & pepper containers to top of the line Viking outdoor grills.
For families, a stop at the CMEE (The Children's Museum of the East End), is very worthwhile since it's only a few minutes north of Bridgehampton. However, make sure not to miss the Natural History Museum and Nature Center with its marine touch tank, on the opposite side of the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike. Others will want to stop at the Duck Walk Vineyards in Water Mill (a twenty-minute drive) for a wine tasting and some shopping. Even though most Long Island Wine comes from the North Fork, the Merlot and creative blends produced by Duck Walk have won several international awards.
Southampton and its "city feel" may seem like a return to civilization, but the historic areas around Jobs Lane, an easy stroll from the center of town, offer gracious Gilded Age mansions and fascinating early settlements such as the Rogers Mansion and the Pelletreau Shop.
Southampton is also a shopping mecca, both for the home and the body. Homenature caters to the stylish contemporary interior, and Hildreth's — the oldest department store in the United States — sells the softest towels, fluffiest duvets and tons of accessories for the modern nursery. Therapy Clothing has the largest selection of swimwear, and Calypso sells a mix of elegant and funky bathing suits in bright colors. At Hatchlings, you can purchase the perfect panoply for the noble child: two-ply cashmere sweaters, Parisian shirts and dresses, as well as the most adorable baby outfits. It may be a bit too far to walk the twenty minutes north (but it's only a few minutes away by car) but at Tate's Bake Shop, stock up on the chocolate chip cookies Food Network star Rachael Ray deemed as the best cookies in the country! The cakes and the chocolates are worth the trip too. If you decide to spend another night, stay at The Village Latch, a tasteful Bed & Breakfast set in a collection of luxuriant gardens. For dinner, consider Silver's — a family-run seafood-centric restaurant — or the always-pleasant Plaza Café with its decadent wine list and dishes like the seared Hudson Valley foie gras or the prosciutto-wrapped shrimp.
The Hamptons high season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. A seasonal destination, most of the shops and restaurants are in full swing by the end of April and stay open through the end of December, but after Labor Day, visitors are advised to call ahead before making plans.
For more information, visit the Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.discoverlongisland.com. |
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