Name it the East Finish. Or the Twin Forks.
Or break up it into the North Fork and South Fork, a.okay.a. the Hamptons.
Heck, name it Peconic County; you’re certain to seek out loads of sympathizers out right here — and fewer of us loyal to the remainder of Suffolk County — primarily over what the county’s 5 East Finish cities really feel is an absence of illustration in county authorities. However we’ll put politics and nomenclature apart, for now.
The East Finish of Lengthy Island contains Riverhead, Southold, Shelter Island, East Hampton and Southampton cities. Inside these cities you’ll discover dozens of historic villages and hamlets, all resulting in Montauk on the South Fork and Greenport and Orient on the North Fork.
You’ll additionally discover a curious combine of individuals, together with “natives” who would possibly hint their native ancestry way back to the seventeenth and 18th centuries — both as baymen, fishermen, farmers, ministers or tradesmen — dwelling alongside relative newcomers from Manhattan, Brooklyn and different factors west. Then there are the newly arrived immigrants, largely from Central and South America, in addition to the uberwealthy summer time residents, which embody a wholesome share of well-known folks. And naturally, the precise natives of Shinnecock Indian Nation in Southampton.
We’d say all of them get alongside swimmingly, however we’d be mendacity.
However that shouldn’t cease you from staying out of the fray and having fun with a splendid day, weekend, month or whole season “out East,” as many Lengthy Islanders are apt to say. We may also help you navigate all of it.
High: A yacht docked in Sag Harbor in 2023. (Unsplash)
The cities
We’re going to place every particular person city beneath the Highlight right here, beginning with Riverhead.
Riverhead
Downtown Riverhead is on the upswing, and it’s been a very long time within the making. Major Road and the encircling areas, which incorporates Polish City, no longer solely performs host to the Lengthy Island Aquarium, Hyatt Place and The Suffolk reside leisure venue, however a number of eating places and breweries, too. It’s additionally an amazing spot to take a stroll alongside the Peconic River, with avenue festivals similar to Alive on 25 operating each summer time.
And that’s simply the downtown. Riverhead City as a complete provides nice parks, seashores, and loads of farms and farm stands for recent produce, baked items and pumpkin and strawberry choosing, relying on the season, with a couple of dozen wineries, two distilleries, and the Riverhead Ciderhouse.
Right here you’ll additionally discover Splish Splash Water Park, which is seasonal, and the brand new Scotte’s Pointe journey park, the place you could possibly attempt your luck at some indoor browsing and way more. All that and a buying mecca on the strip of boulevard that’s often called Route 58, which incorporates Riverhead Tanger Shops.
Southold
Southold City provides a number of little downtown hamlets for buying and noshing alongside the principle historic hall, Major Street, a beautiful roadway for pastoral sightseeing with historic houses and little museums.
The city can be dwelling to Greenport Harbor Brewing Firm, and breathtaking Sound seashores with loads of lodging choices in and round Greenport particularly, the place you’ll additionally uncover slightly nightlife as effectively, with large events on the water each Sunday in the summertime at Claudio’s. Like within the neighboring Riverhead, Southold City can be dwelling to loads of wineries, farms and farm stands, with some actually famend eating places, specifically the North Fork Desk & Inn.
Southampton
There are a number of large downtowns and villages in Southampton City, which in and of themselves may make for an amazing weekend getaway, specifically Westhampton Seashore, the Village of Sag Harbor (half of which is in East Hampton City), Southampton, Bridgehampton and Hampton Bays.
Amongst them you’ll discover dozens of independently owned boutiques in addition to large brand-name retailers, artwork galleries, performing arts facilities, boutique inns and bed-and-breakfasts. And all of the downtowns are a brief drive and even stroll from a seaside. There’s additionally vineyards and pumpkin choosing, although not as a lot as on the North Fork.
In the event you’re coming from factors north, you could possibly cease for a photograph outdoors The Huge Duck roadside attraction in Flanders. Makes for the proper home-made postcard.
East Hampton
There’s loads of nightlife within the Hamptons, particularly when you’ve got some bucks. However the absolute prime spot for the youthful crowds proper now’s Montauk, on the South Fork’s easternmost tip. However Montauk can be an amazing spot for households, with loads of eating choices, fishing spots, seashores and even inexpensive locations to eat. It’s additionally dwelling to Montauk Brewing Firm.
The opposite large downtown is in East Hampton Village, a spot for buying and sipping espresso and having fun with the eating places. Oh, and produce a motorbike. The parents out in East Hampton completely love their bikes.
Alongside the bay to the north you’ll discover the historic whaling Village of Sag Harbor, which is shared equally with Southampton City. This can be a fantastic place for a stroll, or to move to together with your boat on a hitch. It was additionally the beloved dwelling of famed American writer John Steinbeck, and you could possibly even tour the Steinbeck Home. In the event you see him, say good day to Mets legend Keith Hernandez for us.
Shelter Island
Shelter Island is like an island nation, in additional methods than one. And the residents right here all know each other — nearly like youngsters in a small highschool. However they’re very pleasant and welcoming to guests. And throughout the summer time, guests of all stripes pour in, particularly alongside the Crescent Seashore strip.
There are some nice boutique inns on Shelter Island, however it makes for an amazing day drip as effectively, with the South Ferry boats leaving from Sag Harbor each 10 to fifteen minutes, as that is the shortest ferry trip you’ll ever absorb your life. Heading to Shelter Island from Greenport takes a couple of minutes longer on the North Ferry, however it’s extra scenic. Additionally, there are many wonderful eating places, a lot of which have been in enterprise for years. Sundown Seashore is a youthful hot-spot on summer time weekends,
The waterways
There are 4 main our bodies of water that encompass these two largely rural appendages to jap Lengthy Island. There’s the Lengthy Island Sound, which runs alongside the North Fork’s northern shoreline, and the Atlantic Ocean, which runs alongside the South Fork.
Between the Forks you’ll discover what’s collectively and generally known as Peconic Bay to the west — and Gardiners Bay to the east. Then there’s Lake Montauk and Greenport Harbor, together with the Peconic River, whose headwaters begin means west, in Brookhaven City.
Irrespective of the place you’re within the salt, these are among the many most pristine waterways within the Northeast.
The shores of the ocean and Lengthy Island Sound are fantastic locations to see dolphins and seals, even humpback whales that feed near shore year-round. Snowy owls go to the seashores within the winter.
You’ll be able to fish, canoe or kayak nearly wherever, together with the brackish Peconic River. Then there’s the crusing and the motor-boating, and yachting.
In the event you can’t get out on a vessel of some types, one of many prettiest strips to journey by land for water views is the causeway towards Orient. The sight of the expansive Peconic Bay from the County Street 105 bridge, which runs between Riverhead and Southampton cities, is fairly breathtaking as effectively.
Or just climb the Montauk Level Lighthouse to see all of it.
Swimming & sunbathing
The Hamptons has a status for being fairly unique in the summertime months. And, sure, there are non-public and in any other case restricted seashores. However there are many fantastic — and we’re speaking among the many greatest within the U.S. — municipal, county and state parks which can be open to everybody, although generally with an up-charge for non-resident parking. Under are a few of our favorites, with consideration of measurement (we’re favoring bigger) and/or ease of entry and parking.
Ocean seashores
Bay seashores
Sound seashores
Tenting
Whether or not you’re packing a tent or rolling up with a camper or RV, the East Finish provides websites for tenting out that might rival any on this planet, with entry to seashores, woods, rivers and facilities. We’ve neglected a couple of, however these seven are can’t-miss.
Museums & historic websites
The East Finish is steeped in historical past, as each Southold and East Hampton lay declare to being the oldest English settlements in New York State. (And have been at first thought-about a part of Connecticut.) Due to this, there are many historic websites to go to, in addition to museums which can be each new and outdated.
