Our Winter Family Getaway to Southampton

This year when we decided to get away during Christmas break, we decided to focus on places close to home.  Last year we had an unexpected delightful visit to Montauk in the Hamptons.  So we decided to return to the Hamptons.  Even in the dead of winter, we found it to be a great destination for us.  It was peaceful, cathartic and relaxing for every single one of us and incredibly child-friendly.

We chose Southampton, one of the “poshest” towns in the Hamptons.  My husband actually spent several summers out there before we were married and we have fond memories of galavanting around the shops and restaurants, taking long walks on the beach and enjoying the scenery (I mean people-watching and the quaint villages).  And after two glorious days of all that, good food and great behavior from our kids, I can honestly say it was exactly what the doctor ordered.

We stayed at the Southampton Inn ( 91 Hill Street), a lovely inn right in the heart of Southampton, just steps away from restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, parks, museums and a movie theater and just one mile from a popular beach.  It was very low key and clearly out of season, nonetheless the perfect destination for our family.  The hotel is local landmark and holds 90 comfortable guest rooms, a game room, a restaurant (though closed in the winter), a pool (also open in the summertime). tennis courts, a shuffleboard court and summer BBQs on the patio (also in the summer).  It was obvious that this is a bustling hotel during the summertime, and clearly the place to be seen, but winter is not anything like that.  For what we needed and wanted, it worked.  The rooms are cozy.  We had two king beds for our family of four, with free Wifi, cable TV and beds that at first glance are really, really hard.  But when we sunk our bodies in, and we were exhausted at the end of the day, so it was easy to do, we all slept like logs. Other amenities include coffee and tea all day long, pastries at breakfast time.

Rates range from $149-$499 a night, depending on the time of year that you’re traveling.  My children enjoyed the spaciousness and truly felt at home away from their real home.  I can see a return trip in our future, perhaps next summer.  

One of the highlights of our visit to Southampton was dinner at 75 Main, We were pleased to find this beautiful, simple Italian restaurant decorated with dazzling white Christmas lights  with a Christmas tree standing at its entrance.  It was festive yet classic and not too crowded. After a long drive from Westchester, my children were eager for dinner.  I had heard that it was where celebrities eat so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the restaurant is elegant yet not at all intimidating.  The restaurant is complete with an outdoor patio, hardwood flooring, and a soothing, white color palette.  75 Main’s interior is lined with a variety of works by famous artist Chris Brown and Sports Illustrated photographer Raphael Mazzucco.

The dinner menu unites traditional Italian with contemporary American cuisine, featuring expertly crafted dishes such as the Calamari Fritti, Veal Milanese,Smoked Salmon with Fettuccini and the Soft Shell Crab.  I splurged with tuna taratre for dessert and  sea bass topped with pesto with rice on the side for dinner.  My husband had onion soup for starter and filet mignon for dinner. The kids’ menu is basic but very reasonable ($10 each), but the portions are plentiful and my kids, being picky eaters, were fine with the options. My son had mashed potatoes to start and mac & cheese for dinner (but it’s homemade, not from a box) and my daughter had broccoli to start and a hamburger for dinner. We shared a lava cake for dessert.

Everything was so delicious, my kids were so well behaved and service was terrific. The restaurant also serves the other meals.  The traditional breakfast menu at 75 Main features omelets, waffles, and fresh fruits, while the lunch menu offers a light fare of salads, paninis, hamburgers and pasta. They also offer Ladies Night on Thursday night, a DJ spinning records on Friday and Saturday nights and a Sunday brunch with free mimosas (unlimited for ladies).

75 Main is a special restaurant. With all its appeal to adults with its full bar and elegant food, it was also a massive hit with my kids.  For that, I give it five stars. Call  (631) 283-7575 to make reservations.

Just one mile from the Southampton Inn is Cooper Beach.  We took a long stroll and collected sea shells, observed countless oyster shells and looked out at the serene horizon.  We all bundled up and the walk was brisk and pleasant.

The Parrish Art Museum (279 Montauk Highway in Water Mill) is an art museum that moved in 2012 from Southampton Village to Water Mill, New York in an old converted barn. It focuses extensively on work by artists from the artist colony of the South Shore and North ShoreT. The collection of mostly American art ranges from the late 19th century to the present, with an emphasis on artists of the East End.

The museum has about 2,600 paintings, sculptures and works on paper. There are seven galleries, and I was impressed with the amount of art offerings. “Malcolm Morley: Painting, Paper, Process,” features some 50 works from the 1980s to the present by the English-born artist, who lives in Bellport. The exhibition is on view through Jan. 13. I was hopeful to catch sight of a Jackson Pollack but they don’t have one on display at this time.

Again, my kids enjoyed the experience.  It’s a big space but you walk from one room to another and the art is spaced out nicely so they didn’t get bored. It is also a lesson in American art and my daughter, who loves art, seemed to thrive on the experience. They also offer activities for children every weekend, just check their schedule for details as the work shops were full when we arrived.

The museum is $10 per adult admission; kids under 18 have free admission.

I loved the United Artists movie theater right outside our hotel.  They had great movies for both me (“Silver Linings Playbook” and I did slip away on my own one night) and for the kids (“The Hobbit”).

Lastly, we spent several hours on what was truly a cold day at the Children’s Museum of the East End (376 Country Road, Bridgehampton).  I was hesitant to take my 8 and 9 year-olds to the museum but my hesitation disappeared quickly. There is so much for children of all ages in this creative space: puppetry, art, books, ships, a pretend forest, a crawler garden and an area to find out how windmills (which you find so many of on Long Island) work. I was so impressed by this museum and so pleased by how much fun the two had.  Admission is $10 per person (adult and child) for non-members; free for members.

We also spent some time exploring Sag Harbor, my favorite Hamptons town on the Atlantic.  We roamed an old book shop and drove around the beautiful, nautical town and dreamed about having a home there.

A trip that reminded us of what dreams are made of.  I think that qualifies as a success for all.

Disclosure: Some of the items mentioned above were complimentary for coverage on this site, as well as Family Vacation Critic and Ciao Bambino, where you can expect to see articles soon.