6 Underrated Coastal Hamlets In New York
New York captivates with its ability to distract from the everyday—from its Times Square to the rugged Adirondacks to the popular beach towns and their underrated counterparts, which provide a reprieve from all the above—no wonder it is the state to get lost in the crowds or escape them completely. When you need to get some space from New York City in the sea salt air, travelers know that Long Island provides the beachy vibes.
Flying under the radar, these six offer coastal galore that no NY lakes or even the mighty Hudson shore can. Pick a town for a 180-degree change in pace and scenery; you'll come out 360 transformed by the intimate shores, sweeping views, and sites unlike anywhere else. From presidential estates, castles, and beachfront mansions, these six are what you crave and have something in common: a front-row view of the sunset.
Sag Harbor
Just 2.5 hours from NYC, this charming town of nearly 3,000 is often dismissed under the premise of the overly stuffy Hamptons. While Southampton downtown looks like a Manhattan playhouse, one of its seven villages unites art and history at the Meigs Raid site of the American Revolutionary War. Visitors adore Sag Harbor's intimate appeal and not one, but three immaculate waterfronts along the north shore of Long Island's South Fork, with easy access to the Great and Little Peconic Bays.
The celebrated Whaling & History Museum is a 1845 Greek Revival mansion with whaling exhibits and a shop selling handmade gifts. The public Havens Beach lures swimmers and boaters on Little Bay with a laid-back appeal, unlike the typically crowded Hamptons. Alternatively, traverse Linda Gronlund Memorial Nature Preserve via a woodsy path to a pebbled beach, completely private and low-key, to spread out and spend the entire day uninterrupted, swimming and shelling in scenic views.
Oyster Bay
Recognized for the abundant oyster beds, this charming town on the Long Island north shore layers history onto seaside views and activities. Check out the original Tudor Revival mansion at the Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, with gardens and summer concerts on the 409-acre estate. Under 40 miles east of NYC, the pristine local beaches offer a convenient escape, embracing you with amenities and absolutely stunning seascape views for swimming, fishing, or paddleboating.
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Beach Park honors the US's 26th president in a relaxed bayside atmosphere, including a scenic gazebo, sport and play areas, launches, and an Oyster Bay Harbor beach. Teddy's former home, Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, is nearby with a museum, nature trails, a beach, and a visitor center. Fish from the piers or indulge in delicacies over live music and drinks at Cooper Bluff—Waterfront Bar, which serves oysters and tasty lobster rolls with side fries.
Rye
Sweet and concise like its name, this no-fuss town flies under the radar on the Connecticut border, with under 17,000 souls and a picture-perfect waterfront. Rye's quaint New England-like shopping district downtown blends an old-fashioned small-town appeal with high-end fashion boutiques and gift galleries. From chicken and waffles to coffee and seafood, you can find both fine-dining venues and family eateries through the downtown pedestrian mall for shopping and people-watching.
Treading south along Purchase Street, take a breather at Rye Nature Center on Blind Brook. Right across, the Rye Arts Center flaunts unique metal sculptures plus workshops. The circa-1907 oceanfront Rye Town Park is real eye candy, boasting authentic Spanish-style buildings, nature paths, and a vast white-sand beach for water sports, sunbathing, and picnics. The jagged Long Island Sound coastline inspires kayaking adventures, with hiking paths and nature pockets along the shore.
Sands Point
Overlooking the offshore Execution Rocks Lighthouse, this village tipping off Cow Neck Peninsula inspires seaside romance that dates back to a son of a railroad magnate and his wife, an actress, who bought an estate. Open Wednesdays through Sundays, Sands Point Preserve lures people from far and wide for birdwatching and nature walks with views of magnificent architecture. You can enjoy the lawn and gardens, playground, dog run, and forest trails with wildlife in various habitats.
Modeled after Ireland’s Kilkenny Castle, the 100,000-square-foot limestone Castle Gould (1904) predates the main Hempstead House, which embodies Gold Coast opulence. The cliffside French Norman-style Falaise Museum offers guided tours. The castle served as a stable, servants’ quarters, and carriage house, now with visitors’ amenities under the clocktower, and its Great Hall, accessed via rotunda by private event parties, with vaulted ceilings, chandeliers, and Long Island Sound views.
Wainscott
When in Wainscott, it is easy to get swept away in the bucolic oceanfront charm of this town outside of East Hampton. Used to welcoming prestigious guests and summering residents with a next-door landing strip, this quiet hamlet lines historic farmhouses along the Main. Most famously, Wainscott boasts the distinction of being home to one of the legendary lonesome mansions along the beach that gets photographers riled. “Kilkare” has a significant presence on a coastal bluff overlooking the Atlantic.
Georgica Pond, a kayaker's respite, and the small businesses lining Montauk Highway through town are worth a trip alone. Relocated from Southampton in 2019, Tripoli Gallery (closed Tuesdays) has every promise of being a mainstay, as a repurposed warehouse to view curated art of its own talent, contemporary art shows, and an annual Thanksgiving Collective group exhibition. After a fill on fine art works, step into the tiny Levain Bakery, serving up oversized chocolate chip cookies, plus brioche.
Eastport
An hour east of the popular Freeport, Eastport is worth the longer drive down Long Island into unreplicable tranquility and a family-friendly atmosphere on Moriches Bay. On your way in, drop by Animal Farm Petting Zoo; this zoo has sweet, playful rescued farm animals who crave attention from the kids, plus pony rides. You can also see the tall Shrine of Our Lady of the Island towering west of the highway. In Eastport, you can browse the popular Olish's Farm Inc. and explore the marina.
Embracing the funnel-like coastline, Eastport is an ideal alternative to the overcrowded ritzy Hamptons, with a refined air, historic railroad, and clapboard shops. Summertime is peaceful for intimate experiences and easy access to Cupsogue Beach County Park, renowned for its pristine barrier sand stretches and sweeping views into the open ocean. Finally, when it is time to indulge in seafood, pick from fine dining with unmatched views to the casual Loco Lobsters with local vibes.
Many people are drawn to the coast, for there's something freeing that embodies the purpose of getting away. And while the Hamptons are often overcrowded or, on the contrary, dismissed as ritzy, there are surprises around each corner, like a blufftop mansion on a vast beach or Castle Gould, which did not satisfy the lady it was built for but will surely impress and inspire you.
Though the beach scene is not as prominent in the Empire's character as the lake towns or the Adirondacks. Every breath feels easier and every step lighter in the Empire's underrated coastal hamlets for no fault of their own. All within 100 miles or 2.5 hours from Manhattan, you can be at Oyster Bay or Oyster Beach in just one, basking in the calm, clean waters without the ocean waves.
