Winter Weekends in Montauk
This year my boyfriend surprised me for Valentines Day and took me out to Montauk for the weekend, which I was super excited about because Montauk has always held a special place in my heart. My parents started taking me out there during the summer when I was about 2 years old, and it became a family tradition from then on. In a way, Montauk has always felt like a second home to me and we spent summers upon sweet summers out on the beach. Whether we were camping out in Hither Hills or staying at the Royal Atlantic, my parents and close family friends would all book the same week and stay out there together. I will forever associate Montauk with long summer days on the beach followed by bonfires at night with everyone gathered around salty and sunburnt. Those memories are some of my most cherished, and I’ll always be reminded of them when I visit Montauk regardless of how much it has changed since then…and unfortunately it has changed quite a bit. I suppose that happens to places over time as they modernize and try to keep up with ever-changing life. But I will always love the old Montauk, the Montauk I grew up with. So, since my boyfriend is the sweetest and knows how much this place means to me, he nailed it by booking us the cutest room at a hotel called the Sea Crest with an ocean front view that was only about 5 minutes away from town. The room was bright and airy with tons of windows that let all that natural light pour in (my favorite thing). We had our own little private deck that faced the ocean and absolutely nobody else around to bother us (also my favorite thing). It was perfection.
Most people associate the Hamptons and Montauk as “summer only" places to visit, and I get that but as I get older, I noticed that I find myself out in Montauk in the “off season” more than I ever would growing up and to tell you the truth I like it just as much. There’s not nearly as many people, its quiet, peaceful and the hotel prices are slashed in half. The only down side is some places are closed for the season but that is to be expected. During the day we gallivanted around and drove out to the point to see the Lighthouse (which never gets old to me), drove through Camp Hero and stopped at the bluffs, did a little off roading in some trails, drove around the Hamptons, and paid a visit to my favorite little house on stilts in Amagansett. For those of you who have never been to Montauk…if and when you do visit, the lighthouse is an absolute must and Camp Hero is a must. You won’t regret either of them. At night we headed into the Hamptons to have a lovely romantic dinner at the East Hampton Grill which was absolutely DELISH, I would definitely recommend it. Granted, there are plenty of good places to eat in Montauk like The Inlet or Shagwong Tavern but we have eaten in many of them before and wanted to change it up a bit.
So, for those wondering if visiting Montauk in the winter is a good idea, I would definitely recommend getting yourself out there and giving it a try, you will be surprised how peaceful it is. This trip was definitely the perfect little weekend getaway to celebrate Valentines Day and I feel lucky to have spent it in a place so meaningful to me with the love of my life.
“ Meet me in Montauk ”