Hamptons Summer Bucket List

With Memorial Day Weekend approaching, there’s a lot of excited chatter about our summer bucket lists and so I thought I’d share with you some of our Hamptons Summer Bucket List items!

Chill at the Beach: This one might be obvious but it’s going on the list! Whether it’s a morning walk or all day dipping in the ocean and sunning while you dive into your summer reads, enjoying the pristine beaches of the Hamptons is a summer bucket list must. If you’re overwhelmed by the options, here are a few of my favorite beaches.

Surf in Montauk: This is definitely one of my 13 year olds favorite activities of the summer. Montauk has great surf waves and you can book private or group surf lessons at East End Surf Club which provides you with great instructors and a fun experience.

Grab Sweet Treats at Grindstone Donuts: We love enjoying a morning walk into Sag Harbor Village and grabbing some fresh morning donuts at Grindstone. The strawberry, Nutella s’mores, and classic cinnamon sugar are a few of our favorites.

Catch Summer Hits at Sag Harbor Cinema: Sometimes you need to escape the summer heat and duck into an air conditioned theater to catch an art house film or new summer releases. Sag Harbor Cinema is the perfect mini escape with a great concession stand that in addition to all your traditional favorites offers a selection of canned wines and cocktails.

Summer Reads: If you’re a local, step into the John Jermain Memorial Library to stock up on beach and poolside reads. There are also a lot of great bookstores to loose yourself in for a bit and pick up your summer reads. Book Hampton in East Hampton is very charming as is Sag Harbor Books (with a location in Southampton as well).

Mini Golf: If you like a little friendly competition, mini golf is always a fun summer activity. Hamptons Mini Golf in Southampton is one of our favorite summer outings. After your game enjoy drinks and burgers on site at Local Burgers Co. which makes a pretty delicious vegetarian burger.

Shop Farm Stands: Making fresh salads, grilling veggies, and filling your summer home with fresh cut flowers really make summer in the Hamptons special. Support local farm stands and access the freshest ingredients. A couple of my favorite farm stands are Serene Green in Sag Harbor and Round Swamp Farm with locations in East Hampton, Bridgehampton and Montauk.

Host Weekend Brunch with Goldberg’s Bagels: I’ve posted before about one of my favorite brunches to host—the bagel brunch. With summer guests coming to town, a favorite brunch treat is to head into Goldberg Bagels to grab a fresh bag of bagels and return home with a buffet of accoutrements. Of course, you can also order remade bagel sandwiches. Either way, you can’t go wrong.

Sip Wine and Watch the Sunset at Wölffer Wine Stand: Spending the evening watching the sun sink behind the vineyards of Wölffer Estate while sipping on Summer in a Bottle Rose or sparkling Noblesse Oblige Brut Rose, is certainly a summer in the Hamptons tradition. From May-September you can also enjoy live music, visit their website for the list of performers.

Grab Iced Coffee at SagTown Coffee: We love Sagtown coffee year round for great coffee, açaí bowls, and avocado toast. It gets packed in the summer and for good reason! It’s worth the wait in line for a large iced coffee to sip at their al fresco tables or to enjoy while browsing Sag Harbor Village’s shops.

Enjoy Rooftop Views from The Green Room: You’ll find one of the best bars of summer in the Hamptons is located on the rooftop of Sag Harbor Cinema. Guests who purchase a movie ticket or Members of SHC can enjoy drinks and a view of Sag Harbor Village from above. When there are fireworks, it’s a great spot to catch them while seated comfortably with a celebratory cocktail.

Shuck Oysters: There are a lot of opportunities to enjoy fresh seafood over the summer in the Hamptons. One of my favorite treats is to shuck and serve fresh oysters. The Seafood Shop is a wonderful local shop for seafood and caviar.

Climb to the Top of Montauk Lighthouse: Head out to the very tip of Long Island to the Montauk Lighthouse This idyllic destination is rich with history and a designated National Historic Landmark. Montauk Lighthouse is New York State’s oldest lighthouse. Commissioned by President George Washington is 1792, the Montauk Lighthouse was completed in 1796. Once you climb the narrow stairway to the top, you’ll be stunned by the 360° views of Block Island Sound, and the ocean.