While East Hampton used to be a remote farming village, it began attracting artists and wealthy families in the early 20th century. However, unlike many other destinations around the world, the East Hampton managed to retain its timeless charm, and, with gorgeous white sand beaches and incredible scenery, is a popular spot for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
Beaches
East Hampton is home to two types of beaches; ocean beaches and bay beaches. The ocean beaches are usually wider with fine sand, and offer many different activities, while the bay beaches are narrower with calmer waters, perfectly suited to swimming and sailing, and boast spectacular sunset views. Out of all of East Hampton’s beaches, Main Beach is the most popular, and has frequently been voted as one of the best in the country. Other beaches worth checking out include Amagansett, which has an incredible number of amenities, Atlantic Avenue Beach with its volleyball court, and Ditch Plains Beach with its beautiful hiking trail.
Hiking
With so much extraordinary natural beauty everywhere you go, it is no surprise that hiking is a popular outdoor activity in East Hampton. The Amsterdam Beach Preserve is a 200 acre preserve that has only recently been opened, and offers a well-maintained trail that winds its way around the sprawling property, ending at the beach. The Mashomack Preserve is home to over 20 miles of trails, as well as one of the most significant populations of breeding ospreys on the East Coast, while the Merrill Lake Sanctuary boasts trails that twist their way through both woodland and pasture. The Shadmoor State Park is also worth considering for a day outdoors, as not only will you find over 2400 feet of sandy beach and several different hiking trails, but also unique elevated platforms where you can view some of the region’s native birds.
Camping
Camping is one of the best ways to truly enjoy the great outdoors, and Cedar Point County Park is definitely the place to head if you want to go camping in East Hamptons. Consisting of over 600 acres, the park not only boasts miles and miles of nature trails for walking and biking, but also boat rentals, a huge playground, waterfowl hunting, and surfcasting for bluefish and bass. Hither Hills State Park is another worthwhile camping spot, with everything from nature trails and bridle paths to hunting, fishing and cross-country skiing. The woodlands here are extremely picturesque, and are filled with Russian olive, shad, oak and pine trees, but be sure to book your spot early here, because there is always competition for the 168 sites in the camping ground.
While East Hampton may be at its busiest during the summer months, it actually makes for a fantastic year-round destination, with the village being brought back to its original tranquil state in the cooler seasons. With so many different outdoor activities available here, it only makes sense to try a bit of everything, whether this may be surfing followed by a bike ride, a hike and then a swim, or a multi-day camping trip filled with different adventures.
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