Anyone who’s anyone in Hollywood has spent a summer — or at least a summer weekend — in the Hamptons, a group of towns on the East End of Long Island notoriously synonymous with decadence, white parties, and bougie beach days. But LA imports aren’t the only ones spending time on the beaches of this summer retreat — nor are “celebrities;” TV and film stars set up shop alongside Wall Street billionaires, professional athletes, and a small population of loyal locals. Today’s residents — including Martha Stewart, Sean Combs, Jennifer Lopez, and Gwyneth Paltrow, who all own second (or third, or fourth) homes in the Hamptons — are helping to pave the next chapter of a tradition that reaches back into the late 1800s, when the New York Times compared the destination to the Garden of Eden.
Where to stay: Gurney’s Montauk embodies the Hamptons’ classic elegance in its oceanfront location, 2,000-foot private beach, and scenic dining room.
