Beautiful views and the fine-sandy beach of Bridgehampton

As I recently got invited to my friends’ home on Long Island, I did not hesitate long: booked the flight, packed my suitcase, the hubby in tow and off we went. Conveniently, Air Berlin offers a non-stop flight from Berlin to New York. After two movies in the flight program, a little writing for MyStylery and a power-nap the plane landed eight hours later, in time on the John F. Kennedy Airport. There, a Blacklane limousine waited for us and chauffeured us comfortably to the Hamptons, where we were warmly welcomed by our friends with chilled drinks and a perfect sunset.

The villas in the Hamptons are protected by high hedges and heavy gates – mostly hidden for prying eyes!

Long Island is the Sylt of the American east coast, a playground for the rich, super-rich and not always pretty. Crazy lifted women – and yes, also men – you meet preferably in the Hamptons – inter alia consisting of Southampton, Bridgehampton and East Hampton: Island centrally located, a two-hour drive from Manhattan, from here you go another hour to Montauk, one of the easternmost points of the USA and the scene of one of my favorite novels by Swiss author Max Frisch. Who has a (second) home here – and this possibly by the sea or with a view – has made it.

Modern architecture with large window elements and airy terraces is the new trend in the Hamptons

Absolutely fantastic are the endless beaches, where private villas line up in different architecture together like beads on a string. Depending on the location, a house can cost around $ 60 million which is something, even for stars like Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey and Tiger Woods. Fashion designer Calvin Klein is said to have paid $ 75 million for his estate. Increasingly, you can see modern architecture, which large windows allow unrestricted views of the Atlantic. Ornate buildings in Tudor style are not so en vogue anymore.

Everything is organic: The Round Swamp Farmers Market in Bridgehampton is the ecological shopping paradise for vegan foodies and lovers of vegetarian cuisine

For the Fourth of July weekend everybody came by. Even in the Barre-class, in the Exhale Mind Body Spa, it was difficult to find a free spot. In the Round Swamp Farmers market, Foodies and friends of organic kitchen queued while convoys of Maseratis, Mercedes and Bentleys turned the road between Watermill and Bridgehampton into an endless traffic jam. The restaurants are fully booked since ages. How fortunate that we were invited to dinner Sunday night at the home of friends. Under luxury tents, two elegant tables with lavish floral arrangements were established. Movie star Scarlett Johansson plus husband Romain Dauriac – a French journalist – sat on my opposite. Pop legend Bryan Ferry, a close friend of the host was supposed to come. A perfect evening, including fireworks, albeit from neighboring properties.

Summer Vibes

Tired of the hustle and bustle? Then a small sidestep to the Shelter Island is a good idea. With a ferry we cross from the chic marina and fishing town of Sag Harbor in five minutes and then end up in a different world in which there is only one grocery store and the time seems to have stopped. The place to meet is the hotel-restaurant Sunset Beach, with feet in the sand, enjoying delicious fish or lobster with a glas of André Balazs’ rosé wine – made on Long Island. And all that topped by a magnificent sunset again. Life is beautiful. BvH

That’s me – by and luckily not in the pool – at the dinner party, enjoying a glass of Champagne and the amazing sunset

The surge is a dream for every surfer

Here one takes off shoes before entering the beach! Aw, those Americans!

Long Island architecture in classical style on the beach of Bridgehampton

Kind of a beach house

Life is beautiful

Long Island and especially the Hamptons are, because of their XXL beaches and the fresh sea air, a popular destination for New Yorkers

Here, minimalist design is now on the rise and is considered mega-hip

The Hamptons are a bit like the villages Kampen and Keitum on the German Island Sylt …

… only without thatched-roof houses, but with XXL residences

This property reminds me a bit of a bunker

Not every house on Long Island is award winning architecture

Photographing and walking Yoda? No problem for multitasking MyStylery

Interestingly, for the beach parking one needs a parking permit in the high season, which you can only get if you stay in the Hamptons. Exception: Main Beach in East Hampton

Celebrity hotspot with many facets

I take you along on a stroll through Bridgehampton: Here the venerable Community House

The Fourth of July – the Independence Day of the United States – is a big celebration. Fireworks and flagging are naturally included

Meeting place for lovers of French cakes and other delicious delicacies is the Pierre’s on Main Street

Seems very inviting with its Victorian facade: The awarded hotel Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton: MyStylery’s hotel tip!

The facades of Long Island houses are typically wooden lagging

Newly renovated and all in white: The church in Bridgehampton

The Historical Museum of Bridgehampton: It was built in 1840, making it downright ancient by American standards

I love love love hydrangeas! On Long Island they grow particularly luxuriant

Passing houses with Victorian facades on the way from Bridgehampton to East Hampton

Even for rather small houses prices are up to five million dollars … I have to check my bank balance …

… and passing coincidentally one of the oldest houses on the island …

Hello Southampton!

Welcome to Southampton’s famous Meadow Lane, also known as Billionaires Lane, as Forbes magazine headlined. Here are houses with direct beach access. Simply unbeatable!

White, Victorian Villa with estimated 2,000 square meters of living space

Probably the classiest address of a church on the American East Coast: Saint Andrew’s Dune Church on Gin Lane

Quite a perfect location: The Villas at Lake Agawam in Southampton. From here it’s a short walk to the Ocean

Good to know: Long Island lies on the east coast of the United States and is part of the US state of New York. The 190 km long island is about 190 km long, 20 to 32 kilometers wide, and thus about the size of Mallorca

Voted the best beach in the United States: Coopers Beach in Southampton

By the way: Prominent residents such as lifestyle queen Martha Stewart, pop star Billy Joel and fashion guru Ralph Lauren reside in the chic Lily Pond Lane in East Hampton. The American super-photographer Peter Beard lives in Montauk

In the 19th century there were only potato fields and poultry farms on Long Island, today there are a handful of long-established farmers whose families sell fruit, vegetables and homemade jam by the street, as in Watermill

Long Island Tip I:

The season runs from the last Monday in May (Memorial Day) to the first Monday in September (Labor Day). To escape the crowds and the related congestion, it’s best to come just before or after the season.
You want to rent a house? The average rent of a villa with four bedrooms from May to September is $ 180,000.
The early bird catches the worm: The few motels and bed and breakfasts on Long Island are busy months in advance.

From New York to Long Island and return

Long Island Tip II:

The bus lane Hampton Jitney departs from various stops in Manhattan to Long Island, for example, 39 Street/3rd Ave. From there, you drive 2 hours to Bridgehampton and about 2.5 hours to East Hampton. One should definitely book in advance. Tickets from $ 24: hamptonjitney.com

More stylish and much faster – namely in 35 minutes – one flies by Blane helicopter, directly from Manhattan’s Wall Street to the Hamptons. $ 495 per person, one way, of course

Featured pic by Sotheby’s

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