Southampton, NY

Address:Southampton, New York

A luxurious summer vacation destination on Long Island, Southampton is known for its pristine beaches and classy spas. Southampton's Main Street and Job's Lane is lined with galleries, exclusive shops and gourmet restaurants. The town also has a bustling social scene and nightlife, as many celebrities and wealthy people vacation in Southampton for the summer. Southampton is the oldest English settlement in New York State, so there are many historical sites and museums open for touring. Located near bays, inlets and the Atlantic Ocean, Southampton is ripe with pleasure boaters and fishing boats. There are many parks, play grounds, play areas, bike paths, and seven miles of sun-drenched beaches, making Southampton a popular spot for families. Coopers Beach, the main beach, has chair and umbrella rentals, bathrooms, showers and concessions, and it is the only beach in Southampton with lifeguards.

To see the interesting combination of modernist and postmodernist architecture that celebrities call home, follow Gin Street to Meadow Avenue in Southampton to see an eclectic mix of stone walls, curved glass, and steel-embellished modern estates next to old-fashioned shingled cottages and Arts-and-Crafts bungalows. See Southampton as it was during Colonial times. The Pelletreau Shop on Main Street is a goldsmith shop that makes pieces of Colonial silver. View the tools of the early silver trade while a guide explains the story of silver making and describes old Southampton. Jewelry making workshops are available.

For a deeper look at Southampton, visit the Southampton Historical Museum, housed in an 1843 Greek Revival mansion. The grounds showcase historic buildings and the museum has furnishings and artifacts common to the area from 1837 to 1910, as well as a photographic history of the devastating 1938 hurricane.

Believed to be the oldest English-style house in New York State, the Thomas Halsey House on South Main Street was built way back when Main Street was first being laid out. The home is filled with beautiful 17th and 18th century antiques and decorated with early textiles, rare ceramics and more. The story of the house and garden restoration is told in a new interpretive gallery. Don't miss the beautiful grounds, complete with an 18th century herb garden, a beautiful perennial border and an old orchard.

Located in a quaint 1898 Italian house, the Parrish Art Museum on Job's Lane showcases works of many artists, including American impressionist painter William Merritt Chase. The museum hosts concerts, films, and engaging lectures and performances. The grounds of the museum, with sculptures throughout the grounds, make for a peaceful, beautiful stroll.

Many of Southampton's parks have picnic areas perfect for relaxing and watching the kids play in the play areas or playgrounds. The parks are also perfect for biking, and you have a choice of riding on paved or dirt roads. Bike hostels are available at many of the parks.

Southampton is about eighty miles from New York City. John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports are both within a 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hour drive to Southampton. The Long Island MacArthur Airport, also known as Islip Airport, is a 35-minute drive, and the general aviation East Hampton Airport is located just minutes outside Southampton. Driving time from Manhattan is approximately 2 hours. You can catch the Hampton Jitney or hop on any one of the Hampton's Luxury Liner bus companies, which takes about 2-1/2-hours from Manhattan. Buses run daily, several times a day, and stop in the villages of Westhampton, Hampton Bays, Southampton, Sag Harbor, and Bridgehampton. Buses depart from and return to several locations in Manhattan; contact the companies for details. Once in Southampton, walking or biking is the preferred method of getting around.