New York’s Hamptons epitomize a place preceded by its reputation. This storied collective of neighborhoods, nestled entirely on the south fork of Long Island’s East End (and honorarily, Shelter Island), are known near and far for their celebrity residents, south-of-the-highway sandcastles, and pristine ocean beaches, some of which rank regularly among the world’s best. But of course, you already knew that.
And while big-city energy is ever-present, make no mistake: the East End’s cosmopolitan flavor is markedly vernacular, defined by its centuries of old-world influence, rolling surf, and pristine turf—the latter, of course, both of nature’s creation and all of those championship golf courses.
Fields of Gold
The pastures and polo fields of the Hamptons’ verdant interior abound with secluded, large-acreage estates, distant in mind from all the beach bustle, yet still a shell’s throw from the sand.You’ll find an exceptional concentration of such properties in the hamlets of Bridgehampton and Water Mill, in the town of Southampton, and Wainscott and Sagaponack, in the town of East Hampton, though truly every corner of the Hamptons offers its share of grand-scale real estate.
These swoon-worthy properties couple unparalleled privacy with endless amenities, pulling both from the usual laundry list of equestrian facilities, collector’s garages, indoor pools, and bowling alleys, and more bespoke flexes such as arboretums, spatial art installations, and polo fields—truly representing the pinnacle of global luxury.
It Takes a Village
Going to town here can at times seem like an occasion, particularly if you’re rolling onto the scene with statement-making wheels, but there’s also something to be said about already being there.The South Fork’s vibrant villages boast some of the most high-fashion neighborhoods anywhere on earth, affording a perfect marriage of luxury, hedged-in privacy, and the convenience of having everything within a car-free distance. You’ll have shopping, dining, and beaches all close to home, not to mention a train to Penn Station, Long Island City, or Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal.
The in-town stock is also hardly singular, ranging from Victorian classics on modestly sized parcels to veritable compounds, like those of East Hampton’s Main Street or along Lake Agawam in Southampton Village. Best of all, you’ll never have to worry about finding that vintage classic a safe parking spot.
On the Dock of the Bay
Atlantic beaches are what most associate with waterfront living in the Hamptons, but it’s the other shore, on Peconic and Gardiners bays, that played the critical role in putting the East End on the map. This serene, sand-bottom estuary is today an unspoiled haven for every form of water-borne recreation, skirted by an incredible array of waterfront properties bringing together the best elements of coastal living—few more coveted than a private mooring.Sag Harbor, which holds the distinction of being the oldest congressionally declared port of entry in the United States, still retains the feel of a classic maritime community, though its deepwater slips have long since passed from whaling ships to the “Cayman Navy,” a nickname local boaters have given the fleet of megayachts badged with George Town on their sterns. To paraphrase Otis himself, it’s worth roaming even 2,000 miles to make these docks your home.
