A Southerner's Guide to The Hamptons - Part 2 - Watermill & Bridgehampton

Things to do in Water Mill.......

Water Mill is a charming, picturesque hamlet just east of Southhampton on the way to Bridgehampton and Easthampton. There’s no real “village” here like some of the other towns but it's worth a stop by on your drive though. It’s a bit more quaint; not as much shopping but with Jennifer Lopez as one of its summer residents, it has a quaint charm that it not to be missed.

Duck Walk Vineyards is a beautiful winery that offers tours and tastings. With live music and only $8 to try 5 different wines, it’s a nice place to visit and sample the wines from the local vineyards. The Milk Pail is a fresh market known for its seasonally fresh produce and is famous for having local apples well into the summer. In the summer, the fresh market is open and in the fall, you can pick your own pumpkins and apples. I couldn’t help but pass the sign advertising donuts and apple cider!

Things to do in Bridgehampton – BROOKE SHIELDS alert

Bridgehampton is an elegant little town with several antique shops, restaurants with locally produced wines, home decor stores and boutiques sprinkled in among the galleries. It is also very rural here with many horse farms and celebrity residents like Jimmy Fallon and Billy Joel. This is also the place where BROOKE SHIELDS ASKED TO HOLD MY BABY!

Not only is Topping Rose House one of my favorite architectural delights in The Hamptons, it is also where I met Brooke Shields on Easter Sunday. TPR is a full service, luxury hotel with a farm to table restaurant featuring ingredients from local farmers and fisherman. They have a beautiful outside patio dining area as well as a downstairs dining room (which is where I saw Brooke Shields out of the corner of my eye.) Following the Easter Egg hunt, I spoke to her, where she couldn’t have been more gracious or humorous. We joked about our teenage children and she asked to hold my newly adopted son. She even posed for a few photos where all of my Blue Lagoon dreams came true!

Thankfully, Brooke Shields, also a mother, thought my child refusing to take her Easter basket off her head, was a great photo opportunity.

Topping Rose House, Bridgehampton, NY

Another great place to eat and DRINK is The Wine Stand, a beautiful winery right on Montauk Highway on your way into the Hamptons. This is the place to be for "Sunset Friday and Saturdays" where they have live music, wine by the glasses or bottle and wraps for purchase. Bring a blanket or chair to watch the sun go down as you enjoy all this winery has to offer. They also off yoga in the vineyards on Sundays and Wednesdays. Almond Bar and Restaurant is a French bistro with seasonal dishes in an old-world historic building. While my kids wouldn’t eat here, this is a great spot for a couples or ladies night. One of my kids’ favorite restaurants is Tony Meatball, a little spot where the owner serves up his grandmother’s special meatball recipe! Enjoy with pasta or a sandwich while you walk around the shops! Don’t forget to stop at The Candy Shop where they make homemade ice cream…the banana ice cream was so wonderful that I also had them make me a milkshake from it!

Friday night at The Wine Stand.

Bridgehampton is also horse country so don’t miss the Hampton Classic Horse Show or one of the polo matches where you can rub elbows with celebrities, enjoy wines from the local wineries and farm to table cuisine.