5 Reasons to Visit Montauk, NY

5 Reasons to Visit Montauk, N.Y. This Summer
By Karen Jones
I
f your idea of the perfect summer vacation means walking miles of pristine shoreline, sunset
cruises, reeling in a prize catch, feasting on fresh seafood or meditating to the sounds of
surf, then Montauk, New York is your destination. 110 miles due east of New York City,
Montauk is located on extreme eastern tip of Long Island’s south shore. Affec
Affectionately
tionately known as
“The End,” it is a laid back family
family-friendly counterpart to the nearby Hamptons—
—though within
easy reach of the amenities its famous sister locale offers.
Montauk time is beach time and perfect
ect for family fun
Gurneys Montauk
tauk Resort & Seawater Spa at sunset (Gurneys)
1. The New Gurneys Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa
Montauk offers an array of accommodations
accommodations—from
from the retro Memory Motel to the tony
Montauk Yacht Club, but this year’s buzz surrounds Gurneys Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa’s
ongoing renovation. An upscale resort and Long Island institution, Gurneys has overlooked the
Atlantic Ocean from its prime location atop Old Montauk Highway for nearly 100
years. Gurneys has retained its seaside ambience while opening up tthe
he public spaces and adding
38 luxury oceanfront guestrooms. It also introduced a much needed food and beverage upgrade.
This includes fine dining at Italian
Italian-infused
infused Scarpetta Beach, craft cocktails and DJ at the Regent
Cocktail Club (look for Havana Night
Nights)
s) and light fare on the 1,000 foot private beachfront at The
Beach Club. Gurney also boosts a 30,000 square foot full
full-service
service Seawater Spa with the
only sand-filtered
filtered indoor seawater swimming pool in North America, all framed by the
singular beachfront location. Note: Rates reflect the upscale thalassotherapy.
www.gurneysmontauk.com.
2. The Beaches: Location, Location, Location
The beaches of eastern Long Island are
captivating in their breath and scope and
Montauk is where the ocean kisses the
shore. The peninsula encompasses an area
of approximately 220 square miles and you
are never far from a magnificent ocean
view and all variety of beachfront fun. Here
you can walk miles of uninterrupted beach,
hang 10 with the surfer set, play beach
volleyball, or just relax and work on your
tan with a good beach read. Note: Some of
the area’s most spectacular ocean views
can be found along the high bluffs that hug
the shores of Old Montauk Highway.
3. The Fishing and Boating: Sport Fishing Mecca
Steeped in nautical history, including rumors of pirate Captain Kidd’s buried treasure, Montauk
is a Mecca for fishing and all manner of boating, from outboard to luxury yacht. If sport fishing
is your passion, there are plenty of charter fishing boats, large and small, plus all the gear and the
post-excursion- watering holes to spin tales of the ones that got away. Pleasure boaters can enjoy
sailboats, powerboats, canoes, kayaks and more. Note: Frank Mundus, the shark hunter who
author Peter Benchley modeled his character Quint on in “Jaws,” sailed out of Montauk so be
on the lookout for old salts and Great Whites. www.montaukchamber.com.
4. The Food: Fresh Seafood at its Best
Food in Montauk has evolved beyond the fried seafood
platter (though this guilty pleasure can still be found).
Whether your foodie passion is a creamy lobster roll,
seaweed-infused lobster bake, delicate sashimi, seared
scallops, spaghetti with tomato basil, or burgers and fries,
Montauk eateries offer all flavors for all budgets. Venues
like The Inlet (sushi), Scarpetta Beach (elegant Italian),
Navy Beach (dine with your toes in the sand), South Edison
(raw bar), La Brisa (tacos) and The Surf Lodge (nightlife)
provide plenty of variety while Gosman’s Dock has been a
family staple for generations. Note: No visit to Montauk is
complete without lunch at LUNCH the sun-baked staple on
Montauk Highway, where the famous lobster roll rules.
www.montaukchamber.com.
5. Music, Art, and The Montauk Point Lighthouse
The historic Montauk Point Lighthouse, circa 1796. Courtesy discoverlongisland.com
When you want a break from the beach, Montauk is a full service resort area with six state parks,
plenty of hiking and camping, plus horseback riding, golf, biking and more. It is also an active
community with seasonal activities you can enjoy. The weekend of August 14-16 has two major
events, the Montauk Art Show “On the Green” which is the famous circular Village Green in the
center of town, and the historic Montauk Point Lighthouse Weekend (circa 1796) where you
can brush up on your pirate lingo. Free concerts on the Village Green are held every Monday
night during the summer starting at 6:30pm and at Gosman’s Dock on Sundays at 6pm. Note:
Foodies will appreciate the 3rd annual “Taste of Montauk” at the Montauk Yacht Club on July
26th. For more information visit www.montaukchamber.com
http://bit.ly/1M46kiH