Driving Eastern Long Island/Hamptons
 

My wife and I are planning to rent a car and drive around Eastern Long Island. Any advice or recommendations on where to go, what to see, and what the driving would be like???

If the plan is to drive around on the weekend you can expect it to be bumper to bumper most of the way. From Southampton to Montauk is pretty much a one-line highway. Try Old Montauk highway for a more scenic drive. It'll take you along the coast, nice beaches and quaint towns. Getting ice-cream and walking around Sag Harbor, Cupsogue Beach in Westhampton, looking at the houses along Dune and Gin Road, touring the wineries on the north fork, shopping in East Hampton, and watching the fishing charters while grabbing a drink at Gosman's in Montauk are some of my favs.

If you're going within the next 6 weeks, get ready to pay astronomical prices for lodging. You might want to consider the North Fork of LI which offers great Sound beaches, wine country and fantastic inns and restaurants (without alot of the chaos).

How many days do you have? Weekend (very difficult) or weekdays?

Getting there on a Friday will be hell. And driving there any time durng the summer you will be limited to 25mph or so - due to lack of main roads.

Asfor Hamptons - there are a bunch of towns on the east end South Fork - plus the North Fork as noted above. You can have 20's party Hamptons, trendy Hamptons, exclusive Hamptons, family Hamptons (including Montauk and Amagansett).

Besides the obvious beaches, there are cute colonial towns, several small museums, lots of galleries, great shopping (from discount malls to super exclusive designers), great dining at all price points, fishing, whale-watching etc. It really depends on your tastes - and your budget.

Just realize that prices will be very high in the summer - and very few places to stay are right on the beach (which is mostly private estates or restricted town beaches - except for state parks).

If you want to stay right on/near beach your best bet are motels in Montauk (some nice, some not - and often across a highway from the beach) and a couple of condo colonies in Amagansett - which usually rent just by the week,.

Has anyone stayed at the White Sands Resort in Amagansett? Looks like nice suites at a reasonable price...