Don’t tell anyone, but fall and winter are among the best times to visit the Hamptons.

Yes, summer has the glamour, the big parties and the hours of lounging on the beach—but it also has its drawbacks. Like traffic, the inability to get restaurant reservations and even more traffic. But once the madness of summer has passed, the beauty and idyllic nature of the place once again shines through and reveals what it is that has attracted people to the far eastern end of Long Island for so many years.

Stretching about forty miles from Westhampton to Montauk with the Atlantic Ocean to the south and Peconic and Gardiner’s Bays to the north, the string of towns and villages known as the Hamptons have been attracting artists, writers, fisherman, farmers and the wealthy for over 100 years. You can spend time biking through the Estate Section of Southampton with its enormous mansions built at the turn of the century for the wealthy summering New York aristocracy. Or head to East Hampton with its chic boutiques and high-end restaurants. Stroll through Sag Harbor and explore the town's 19th century whaling past when its population was greater than that of New York City and it wasn't uncommon to encounter sailors from South Africa and the South Pacific. Or take a drive through The Springs to see where Jackson Pollock worked and the true Bonackers still call home. Stop in Sagaponack and Wainscott where the farm fields have yet to be developed and catch sweeping views out to the ocean. And head to The End, Montauk, where fishing is still king and clam chowder is both a noun and a verb.

Each area has its own distinct charm and character and one trip just isn’t enough to take it all in. But we’ll help you try. Fall and winter are the perfect times to head out wine tasting at the local vineyards, indulge in the harvest menus at the restaurants, take seal-spotting hikes along the empty beaches in Montauk, do a little surfcasting, take a traffic-free scenic drive, and stop in at the local town events and festivals that reveal what this place is all about.

Sleeping: Get Comfortable

When Bill and Hillary Clinton come to the Hamptons, they don’t stay at The American Hotel in Sag Harbor, they stay at Steven Spielberg’s place on Georgica Pond. But if they didn’t stay at Spielberg’s, they’d stay at The American Hotel and if you haven’t gotten your invite to Spielberg’s yet, you should definitely stay at The American Hotel. It has an old-world charm and elegance, along with an award-winning wine cellar and restaurant, that just can’t be beat, coupled with a central location—halfway between Southampton and East Hampton—that makes it the perfect spot from which to explore. Should you prefer to stay in East Hampton (and indulge in a little pampering) the Baker House 1650 offers similar accommodations as well as a state-of-the-art spa and an indoor pool, all just a short walk from the boutique-filled streets of East Hampton. And if your escape to the Hamptons is really planned as an escape, then consider the Ram’s Head Inn on Shelter Island. You won’t find a quieter, more romantic spot overlooking Gardiner’s Bay than Ram’s Head Island and it’s the perfect spot to be if you want to spend some time exploring the Hamptons or wine tasting on the North Fork.