Susan Pazera is a travel content creator, photographer, and founder of Moments on the Map, a popular travel and lifestyle blog. A mom to four children, she’s been traveling with her kids since they were little and has become proficient at planning trips for families with kids of any age and any stage. She’s learned the ins and outs, the good and bad, and every late night snack stop there is in between! She enjoys traveling with her family but also loves to travel solo too, especially when it involves exploring & being active. You can find her skiing, hiking, swimming, relaxing on the beach, or just roaming the globe. Here she gives us her guide to The Hamptons with kids...
Located about 80 miles from Manhattan, the Hamptons are situated on the far southeastern end of Long Island, New York. There are two towns in the Hamptons; Southampton and East Hampton, each with its own quaint group of hamlets and villages. The Hamptons begin in Westhampton and extend roughly 50 miles through Southampton, Water Mill, Bridgehampton, Sagaponack, Wainscott, East Hampton, Amagansett, and Montauk.
The destination is known for its idyllic beaches, farms, vineyards, locally owned restaurants and boutique shops. The Hamptons oceanside location makes it a hot spot for summer visitors from the New York region, but there’s plenty of family-friendly fun offered all year round.
A Mom’s Guide to Hamptons Neighborhoods
Remsenburg
This quiet hamlet has all of the amenities of the Hamptons without the typical summer tourist crowd. Rent a sailboat, take sailing lessons, or work on your tennis game at the Yacht Squadron. Paddleboard or kayak or just lounge in the sun at nearby Cupsogue Beach. Stop into Olish’s Farm for some of the best pies and local produce in the Hamptons. The Long Island Game Farm, a children’s zoo and wildlife park, is just a quick drive away, where you’ll learn about animals and wildlife through entertainment and education.
Westhampton Beach
One of the first villages you reach when arriving in the Hamptons, Westhampton Beach is the ideal place to enjoy the charm of the Hamptons. No matter where you stay it’s a quick walk to the beach to enjoy the sun and sand or to Main Street for some great shopping and dining options. Be sure to take in a show at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center or enroll your child in a theater camp. Appearances by well known comics and musicians, as well as family-friendly performances are offered all year round. You can also watch movies outside on the Green in the middle of the Village. Art shows and Farmers Markets are another reason not to miss staying or stopping in Westhampton Beach.
Quogue
The highlight of this small village is the Quogue Wildlife Refuge. Hang out in a butterfly garden, stop in and see snapping turtles, owls, and foxes, or walk the trails of the Refuge and just enjoy nature. During October there’s a spooky walk for older kids and an enchanted walk for little ones. Kids Camps and adult programs are offered all year round. Quogue Country Market is your one-stop shop for groceries, take-out food and yummy treats after a day out and about in the Hamptons.
East Quogue
Tiana Beach and Hot Dog Beach in East Quogue are the perfect spots for a summer day in the sun and surf in the Hamptons. Not as well known and less busy, these beaches are great for families that want to relax and enjoy being with their kids at a smaller beach. The Village of East quogue is small too with just a few shops and restaurants but, they’re good ones. Be sure to stop in to Roses and Rice Flower shop for fresh flowers and unique gifts and New Moon Cafe for some delicious Tex Mex cuisine.
Hampton Bays
Visit Long Island’s famous “Big Duck” or drive over the scenic Ponquogue Bridge to Ponquogue Beach when in Hampton Bays. Take in the view of Shinnecock Bay while dining at Cowfish or Rhumba restaurant. Rent a boat and have fun tubing and waterskiing out on the Bay. Hampton Bays is the place to be for a great mix of family adventure and small town charm.
Southampton
Home of the world famous Coopers Beach, Southampton is one of the top places to summer in the Hamptons. Southampton Recreation Center offers tween and teen swimming, arts & crafts, game nights, and also an indoor gym for basketball and running. It’s a great place for sledding in the winter too. Agwam Park, just off of Main Street, has a fantastic playground and a big open area for kids to run and play. There’s also a beautiful view of Lake Agwam and a fun summer concert series that takes place in the Park during the months of June through September.
Water Mill
Flying Point Beach is Water Mill’s Main Beach, but a beach area known as “The Cut”, further down Flying Point Road, is perfect for families. This is where Mecox Bay cuts through to the ocean and it’s a favorite destination for beachgoers with toddlers because they can safely play in the pools. Pumpkin patches and apple picking in the Fall and ice skating on Mill Pond in the Winter make Water Mill a wonderful place to getaway no matter what time of year you decide to visit. The Parrish Art Museum has family programs where you can create art together through hands-on activities using different materials and techniques.
Bridgehampton
Home of the Hampton Classic Horse Show, Bridgehampton is a wonderful vacation destination for the whole family. The Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE) has plenty of programs and activities to keep your kids occupied on a rainy day or any day. Paddleboard, boogie board, or relax under an umbrella in a lounge chair at Mecox Beach. Don’t miss the brunch at Estia’s Little Kitchen.
Sag Harbor
Sag Harbor has everything you need for a great family vacation. Fantastic restaurants, beautiful bayside and oceanside beaches, unique boutique shops, and one of the Hamptons best ice cream/frozen yogurt shops, Buddhaberry. Foster Memorial Town Beach is ideal for families because of the calm waters of the bay. Bay Street Theater has shows and events and offers theater camps for children ages 4 – 18. A leisurely stroll down Main Street in Sag Harbor is a great way to experience the Hamptons at its best.
East Hampton
Main Beach, another one of America’s top beaches located in the Hamptons, is a must-visit when in East Hampton. Walk along the beach, have a picnic, or just take in the gorgeous view of the Atlantic Ocean. Stop in to Mulford Farm, listed on the National Register of Historic places, to see this colonial farmstead dating back to 1680. Great shops, restaurants, and plenty of family-friendly events and activities.
Amagansett
Just 5 miles past East Hampton, Amagansett is a lesser traveled and less busy destination in the Hamptons. You can enjoy the gorgeous Indian Wells Beach and also the wetlands, forest, and dunes of Napeague State Park. Take a drive a little further east and see the Montauk Lighthouse. Amagansett Square is an outdoor shopping area in the center of Amagansett. It’s a lively and community-oriented place where kids can run and play and adults can easily shop, eat and meet neighbors & friends. Amagansett Square hosts special events such as movies on the green, outdoor concerts, and plenty of fun activities for children.
Tips For Visiting The Hamptons with Kids
- Memorial Day through Labor Day are very busy so plan your travel accordingly to avoid traffic and crowds.
- Be sure to make reservations to restaurants or secure tickets to events or activities in advance.
- Some beaches require parking permits so keep that in mind if you are driving your vehicle to the beach, or consider homes in The Hamptons within walking distance of the beach.
- Strollers are easy to use in most towns and villages. Stroller rentals are available in most of them and some provide strollers that can be used on the beach sand.
- Traffic during the summer months is heavy so taking the Long Island Railroad or the Hampton Jitney are great ways to travel to the Hamptons to avoid being stuck in the one-lane traffic headed to the far eastern parts of Long Island.
- Uber and Lyft are available. Be sure to request cars that can accommodate car seats if you have one or request a car that is equipped with one if you need one.
- You can easily travel around the Hamptons by bus, train, taxi, or ride service if you don’t have a vehicle.
- Urgent Care facilities as well as Stony Brook Southampton Hospital are available in case you are in need of medical assistance.
- Plenty of grocery stores, drugstores, and boutique stores for all of your shopping needs.
- During the summer season most businesses are open 7 day a week but during the off-season (Nov – Apr) businesses may be closed Sunday – Tuesday.
Things to do in The Hamptons with Kids
- The Hampton Classic Horse Show – every year at the end of August
- HarborFrost – a winter festival in Sag Harbor
- Long Island Winterfest – a food, drink and cultural festival in Mid Winter
- Montauk Lighthouse – a historical sight at the very eastern tip of Long Island
- Quogue Wildlife Refuge – a non-profit wildlife center
- Camp Hero State Park – a huge expanse of woodland and beach front to explore
- Long Island Aquarium – underwater wildlife in Riverhead
- Splish Splash Water Park – a summer water park in Calverton
After Labor Day is the best time to visit the Hamptons. The weather is still warm and you can enjoy the beaches, restaurants, shopping, and pumpkin patches without the busyness of summer tourism.
The Hamptons are about 40 minutes from Long Island MacArthur Airport and about an hour and 40 minutes from JFK and LaGuardia Airports.
Book a family vacation to The Hamptons
Browse all our family-friendly vacation rentals in The Hamptons or discover our other family destinations in New York state. If you’re open to other coastal locations, check out our collection of beach houses and homes within walking distance of the beach.
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/east-hampton/the-wildflower-road-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/quogue/the-midhampton-avenue-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/east-hampton/the-crystal-drive-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/east-hampton/the-sandra-road-ii-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/southampton/the-hawthorne-road-residence
