The Hamptons

There is no shortage of things to see and do in the Hamptons, so your itinerary hinges on whether you want to partake in the glam scene, enjoy a restful seaside vacation with the family, or hang with friends. Regardless of your company, you're sure to spend lots of time on the soft sand of the seemingly endless beaches. To mingle with the jet set, angle for an invite to one of the Hamptons' private clubs—such as Maidstone and Meadow—and book tickets to the annual Watermill Center Summer Benefit to watch avant-garde performance pieces and dance under the stars (www.watermillcenter.org). If you have kids in tow, hike through the Mashomack Preserve and pack in a little educational value visiting the Old Halsey Homestead in Southampton or the Victor D'Amico Institute of Art (aka the Art Barge), which is housed in a beached World War I navy barge in Napeague (www.theartbarge.com). In the evenings, head into town to order an ice cream cone and watch the theatrical goings-on around you. To kick back with your crew, book a fishing excursion out of Montauk, try your hand at a round of golf, sample the varietals at a local vineyard, or visit Jackson Pollock's exuberantly paint-splattered studio at the Study Center in Springs (naples.cc.sunysb.edu/CAS/pkhouse.nsf) or the sculpture gardens at the LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton (www.longhouse.org). When the weather's uncooperative, spend some time trolling through the area's many museums and cultural centers, including the Parrish in Southampton, Guild Hall in East Hampton, and the Bay Street Theatre (www.baystreet.org) and Whaling & Historical Museum (www.sagharborwhalingmuseum.org) in Sag Harbor.