Day trip to the Hamptons
Wealth-encrusted enclaves and sleepy fishing villages
Word to the wise: The quintessential way to reach the Hamptons is on the Hampton Jitney, a well-appointed bus fleet that is often used by New York's society families (those without private jets, anyway).
Spreading out across the northern tip of Long Island, the Hamptons - a collection villages within the townships of East Hampton and Southampton - are the summer playground of Manhattan's A-list. The area is glamor personified: it's dotted with eye-popping real estate, dazzling sandy beaches, and the requisite beautiful people. In July and August, some of New York's best chefs move their operations up here, and international fashion houses open pop-up stores along the main streets to keep folks in designer swimwear.
As summer fades, the area's character changes considerably, as the glitterati return to Manhattan and the year-round residents (fishermen, artists, and retirees) settle back into their routines. If you're not one for the 'scene', take a day trip in the Fall or Spring to experience the area sans crowds yet still sunny.