The E List: A Pre-Season Trip to the Hamptons
by ELLIMAN INSIDER TEAM
June 2025
A version of this article was originally published in the Spring 2025 edition of Elliman Magazine.
It’s always a good time to be in the Hamptons, but we’re partial to the peaceful pace of the pre-season in this beguiling collection of seaside communities. Why not take in a seasonal art exhibit or savor the sight of budding flowers during a leisurely hike? Our curated itinerary offers a bevy of appealing ideas.
OUTDOOR GREATS
Having a beach to oneself can be pure bliss, and what better place for a secluded stroll than the Hamptons in the off-season? There are almost too many to choose from, but we’re particularly fond of Coopers Beach in Southampton, Ditch Plains in Montauk, and Ponquogue Beach in Hampton Bays when they’re crowd-free.
Spring is also a perfect season for a trail hike. Buds dot the tree branches, green shoots unfurl, and birds return to the fields, creeks, and woodlands. Looking for suggestions? We like the 305-acre Quogue Wildlife Refuge, Hallock State Park on the North Fork, and Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island.
For a brisk walk with a postcard-worthy backdrop, we make an annual pilgrimage to the Montauk Point Lighthouse. This icon (New York’s first lighthouse, for the history buffs among us) merits a visit anytime, but we prefer it before the throngs of visitors arrive.
INDOOR GREATS
After some quality time outdoors, we might fancy a cuppa. So, we indulge our inner Anglophile with afternoon tea at the historic Baker House 1650 in East Hampton. (Offered on select dates.) A visit to this charming boutique bed and breakfast is akin to stepping into the Cotswolds without leaving Long Island.
Equally restorative libations in an enchanting setting are on offer at Wölffer Estate, which hosts live music by candlelight in the Tasting Room on Fridays in the off-season.
When bracing for blustery days or escaping April showers, we seek shelter at the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill. You’ll find a variety of changing exhibits, including (through April 6) Beyond Reality: Paintings and Drawings by Bertrand Meniel and Audrey Flack: Mid-Century to Post-Pop Baroque. With collectors plentiful in the Hamptons, it’s no wonder the East End is also dotted with notable galleries, including the award-winning White Room.
When we crave even more culture, we head to Guild Hall. No season in the Hamptons is complete without at least one visit to this combination visual and performing arts center. The venue’s newest addition is the recently unveiled Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan Theater (formerly the John Drew Theater), which underwent two years of capital improvements and a complete redesign and now hosts live events.
MARKET MUSTS
Come May, we look forward to the return of favorites like the Montauk Farmers Market and the East End Farmers Market. They’re already on our calendar. We suggest you put them on yours too.
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