Fall Foliage in Montauk

What do you think of when you think of Montauk?  Having lived in the NY/NJ area for under five years, I didn’t really think of anything except I knew that it was the easternmost point on Long Island.  This past weekend, we made an excursion to Montauk to attend a friend’s wedding and I was delighted with what we found there.

Although I’ve never been, I have seen pictures of the Hamptons and that was sort of what I was expecting.  Montauk, however, has an even more small-town feeling than the Hamptons and you feel immersed in nature.  We drove and that is the best way to enjoy the beautiful scenery on the way.  The Long Island Rail Road can get you to Montauk from Penn Station in under three and a half hours, which may be faster or slower than driving, depending on traffic.  The train station (really, just a platform) is just outside of town and there are normally waiting taxis but you can always call a service like Pink Tuna Taxi (631-668-3838, 24×7 service) to meet you.  Another option for getting to Montauk is the Hampton Jitney bus service.

Now is the time to go to take advantage of the off-season rates.  We stayed at the lovely Montauk Manor which is on a hill at the edge of town and another option in town is the Surf Club which is within walking distance to downtown.  We had a two-bedroom suite at Montauk Manor which is critical because my daughter is a very light sleeper and cannot sleep with somebody else in the room.  Having a kitchenette is always key for travelling with children, also.  With a bag of toys, a few DVD’s and a stop at the local IGA, we made ourselves right at home.

We didn’t have a lot of time for exploring the area because we were involved with wedding activities (Congrats, Diana & Sean!), but on Sunday we made it to the Montauk Point Lighthouse which was fantastic.  The views from the point are stunning and there is a museum at the base of the lighthouse which is interesting for both adults and children.  My kids enjoyed a scaled display of all of the lighthouses in the area where they could push buttons and the lighthouses lit up.  For adults, learning about the history of Montauk and the work of the Army Corps of Engineers to shore up the point from erosion is fascinating.  Intrepid travelers can climb to the top of the lighthouse which we decided not to do with our young kids.  There is a height limit for climbing and my two year-old daughter didn’t make the cutoff.  My son would have been able to climb but my husband didn’t relish the idea of carrying him after he got tired out at the halfway point!

One source that lists many attractions is Montauk Online.  There are lovely, very casual shops and restaurants in the downtown area of Montauk and there are plenty of nearby sites to explore, even in cooler weather.  Just driving around and enjoying the scenery, especially the fall colors, is worth the trip!

Photo Credit: PJ Kaiser

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