Activities Available in Montauk, New York

Locals will tell you that Montauk was originally a tranquil small fishing community frequented by surfers. For wealthy New Yorkers, however, it is become the ideal jet set vacation. With hotel rates beginning at $700 a night for a room at the height of summer, this is an expensive place to visit. For an ordinary room as well. Finance people will often tell you how they get there using a Blade—Uber for helicopters. That kind of location exists here.

Though you have to be smart, there are ways you might afford it if you do not own a house in The Hamptons. On my birthday, I first visited Montauk; we rode the train and divided a hotel room with two queen beds among four people. We did it with five the next time. Before we got to the bar, we pre-drank at the hotel and ate pizza instead of dining out in a restaurant. We had such great fun that we resolved we should go every summer.

Travel To The Beach

Surely the beach is what you came for. Montauk boasts miles of tanning-friendly beaches for you.

• Ditch Plains Beach

• Amsterdam Beach and Kirk Park Beach

• Edison Shoreline

• gin beach

• Hither Hills State Park:

• Turtle Cove Beach of Montauk Point State Park

If you have a car, you can travel to other beaches; if you want to party, just put your blanket down on the town beach outside Sloppy Tuna. Here you will discover the highest concentration of 20/30-somethings enjoying themselves and playing music.

The Surf Lodge

Everyone heads to The Surf Lodge, a hotel/restaurant/bar with a bay view, at sunset. It's the place to see and be seen; on weekends, it's also somewhat difficult to get in and lines of people outside are common. Either better still, reserve dinner there a few weeks in advance, or arrive early. If you do try your luck at waiting in line, avoid acting as though you know someone who works there; the security staff will roll their eyes since they have heard too much of this. Particularly if you are in a group, be ready to shell out $$$ for a table and bottle service. Friday night and Sunday are the more sedate days; Saturday night is the busiest.

Drinks offered by Montauk Brewing Company

Spend a day at Montauk Brewing Company to satisfy your thirst—a great cool beer on a hot sunny day is unparalleled. Living in New York, you will most likely have seen their beer all across the city; however, it's good to taste it right from the source. Order a pint of whatever suits your taste and enjoy some sun in their backyard. A beer flight is also great.

The Montauk Lighthouse

Montauk tip State Park's historic Montauk Lighthouse is located on the easternmost tip of Long Island. Since Montauk is at the end of Long Island, you will actually frequently hear Montauk referred to as "Montauk End of the World". Built to alert arriving fishermen of the hazardous rocks at Montauk Point, the lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in New York State. See the Atlantic Ocean and Block Island in the distance from the lighthouse in sweeping perspective. Adult admission is $12; senior's is $8; children's is $5. Remember they close in adverse weather; check their website for present opening times.

The Nest Of The Crow

The restaurant and guesthouse Crow's Nest Montauk features wooden furnishings strewn over a sizable lawn. Excellent views of Lake Montauk make this a wonderful spot for a sunset supper. There is a wide cuisine featuring roasted beet salad, lobster fettucine, sea bass ceviche and rib eye steak.

Grab Bagels From Goldberg's

You will need something to line your stomach the next day and help with hangover after a night of partying. Usually with a big wait in the mornings, Goldberg's is a well-known bagel store in the town center. If you see folks you met the night before sporting sunglasses to hide their weary eyes, you should not be startled. Usually, every morning in Montauk, I eat smoked salmon bagels from Goldberg.

Schedule A Surf Lesson

Never picked up surfing skills. You can enroll in surf lessons at numerous establishments including:

Engstrom, coreyswave Surf Sunset Surf Shack

Ruschen's

Because Ruschmeyer's Montauk provides big wooden tables in a beer hall style environment, it is popular with groups and gets noisy on a weekend. Along with a broad menu of pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, salads and entrees, the hotel boasts cabin-style rooms with views of Fort Pond lake. Taste their Tartufata pizza using Mozzarella, Urbani Truffles, Porcini sauce, baby spinach, roasted tomatoes. Once everyone has finished supper, everyone starts dancing and it becomes more of a club.

Ride Horses Out Of Deep Hollow Ranch

Want to try something a bit unique? For the day at Deep Hollow Ranch, the oldest operational cattle ranch in the United States, feel like a cowboy/cowgirl. Riding horses Western style on Montauk's immaculate beaches and paths will let you enjoy the amazing surroundings all along. You may also read this: Driving the Great Ocean Road Australia

Montauk Resort And Seawater Spa Gurney's

Right on the beach, Gurney's luxury hotel/resort is also a big party venue on a Saturday. While my buddies and I were fortunate enough to know someone who could get us in, else you had to reserve a daybed with minimum expenditure. On the 2,000 foot long private beach of The Beach Club, partygoers are dancing to techno/house music.

Scarpetta Dinner

Arrange a table at Scarpetta, the sister restaurant of the elegant Italian restaurant in Manhattan, for a boujis fine dining experience. Nestled within Gurney's Montauk Resort, the restaurant features an outdoor deck with expansive views of the ocean and mid-century contemporary décor mixed with nautical themes. Black cod and branzino among fresh fish dishes and Italian pastas abound on the menu.

Dance The Night Away At Memory Motel

Though it's also quite fun, Memory Motel is the type of place your feet adhere to the floor. After everything else closes, visit Memory Motel and be ready to dance on a rather packed dance floor. Go to the pizza window down the street to absorb all the alcohol when your feet cannot keep you going any more.

Hear live music 668 The Gig Shack

Sit down at 668 The Gig Shack on Montauk's Main Street for a laid-back afternoon or evening and listen to their daily live music. Order meals for the table and a Montauk Cocktail created from locally grown, fresh juices—with or without alcohol.

Visit Camp Hero State Park

Open for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and picnicking—just not swimming—Camp Hero State Park is 415-acre Montauk Point. If you enjoy fishing, the park is open around-the-clock to let anglers with permits access and features some of the best surf fishing locations worldwide. There are freshwater marshes, woodland areas within the park, ocean views and sheer cliffs. Pets are also permitted (thanks especially to dog owners!).