WELCOME TO THE ANTIHAMPTONS — LONG ISLAND'S BEST KEPT SECRET
The AntiHamptons is located on the South Shore of Suffolk County, Long Island just 70 miles from NYC, and accessible via the LIRR Montauk line. It is best known for the incredible county beach, Smith Point, which is home to the Flight 800 Memorial and the ”Gateway to the Fire Island National Seashore”.
The AntiHamptons are on a peninsula and has beautiful sunlit open-bay views. The property owners had the foresight to maintain the pristine waterfront for everyone to enjoy. There are three marinas, private docks, a beautiful links-style golf course and several historic sites. There is sailing, swimming, clamming, fishing, birding, hiking, camping and shopping. Tadpoles, butterflies, dragonflies are abundant. The sounds of crickets, cicadas and crashing waves bring a sense of peace to AntiHamptons residents.
Rich in history, recreation and surrounded by natural wonders, the AntiHamptons are truly Long Island’s Best Kept Secret. TOP
AntiHamptons has all the beauty and the amenities of the neighboring Hamptons but without all the pretensions and glitz. Flip-flops, not stilettos, are the shoes of choice. That may soon be changing since a few years ago a prominent editor-in-chief of an international fashion magazine abandoned her summer spot in Bellport for a rustic retreat on the Forge River in Mastic.
The dining staples in the AntiHamptons are delicious italian and seafood fare. Roadside farm stands serve up the most delectable locally grown produce. Fishmongers, beef and pork butchers, chicken and duck farms are some of the freshest and most scrumptious on Long Island. The AntiHamptons has every possible mouthwatering ingredient you will need to create your own gourmet masterpiece. If you like to cook, the AntiHamptons has everything you are looking for and more!
The AntiHamptons has a wide variety of shopping destinations. Antiquing is a way of life. Small boutiques containing everything from children's toys all the way to high end jewelry dot the community and estate sales offer the best bang-for-your-buck anywhere.
Local events include The Mastic Beach Memorial Day Parade, The Center Moriches 5K Run, Music By The Bay featuring jazz, folk and classical music under the stars, The Metro NY Baloonfest, The Smith Point Sand Castle Tournament and the Annual Blue Crab Claw Festival.
Nightlife in the AntiHamptons is also buzzing. In addition to the waterfront bars and restaurants, there are plans in place for an amphitheater at the Smith Point Marina promising to spice things up in this quiet beach area.
The AntiHamptons is a diverse community with something for everyone. An up-and-coming artists community, artists, writers and designers are finding the AntiHamptons a diamond-in-the-rough ready to be cut and polished. TOP
ANTIHAMPTONS RECREATION — SURROUNDED BY MAGNIFICENCE
This exquisite community borders the Wertheim National Refuge to the west. There are hiking trails at the refuge which follow the delightful Carmans River. This slow moving tidal river meanders through the refuge offering outstanding fly-fishing. With its wonderful tree covered eddies the river is a spawning ground for many species of fish including rainbow trout.
The Carmans River is also a great place to kayak/canoe. The river winds the refuge affording many opportunities to get a glimpse at the local wildlife. The river empties into the Bellport Bay where there are rare opportunities to explore small deserted tidal islands.
The winds on Bellport Bay are steady, and the bay wide open, offering some of the best windsurfing and kite-boarding on the northeast. Launching is available at Smith Point Marina and Shirley Beach.
Shirley Beach is the perfect place to spend a few hours with the under-ten-set. Shirley Beach has a playground, picnic area, beach house and lifeguard-monitored swimming area. Swim lessons are available during July and August.
South Haven County Park and Brookhaven Calabro Airport border the AntiHamptons to the to the north. South Haven has a shooting range, fishing, boating, horseback riding and hiking trails dotted by random wood sculptures carved into felled trees along the trails. The Calabro Airport is home to the Long Island Balloon Festival held in August.
The natural beauty, pristine beaches, dune trails, and spectacular vistas of Fire Island border the AntiHamptons to the south. Take your surfboard and catch a wave at Smith Point County Park. There is a beach pavilion where you can grab an ice cream cone and take in the live entertainment all summer long. Smith Point has oceanside camping, and you can take a day trip on the beach with your 4x4!
Don't miss fishing and jet skiing in Moriches Bay or better yet, take your boat from one of the fabulous marinas out to the Atlantic Ocean through the Moriches Canal. The AntiHamptons is a recreational paradise. TOP
The AntiHamptons has a rich early American history. Sites include the National Parks Service William Floyd House. Originally owned by William Floyd, who signed the Declaration of Independence. There are wonderful hiking and biking trails at the site which take you through unspoiled wilderness teaming with wildlife, right down to the Moriches Bay where you will see sailboats heading out of the Moriches Canal into the Atlantic Ocean.
The Manor at St. George overlooks Bellport Bay. Granted to Col. W.E. (Tangier) Smith in 1653 for services to the crown. During the Revolutionary War, the manor was a british stronghold, Fort St. George. There are frequent re-enactments of revolutionary life at the manor. The estate today contains documents, furniture and portraits dating to the colonial era.
Haven House Estate, operated by the Moriches Bay Historical Society is located at the mouth of Tyrell's River County Park. The Estate includes a main house, built in early 1750s with 1885 additions. Also on site is the Tuthill barn. The museum has a collection of Native American Indian artifacts, early tools, original cabin door, telescopes and bells from several shipwrecks.
The Famous Ketcham Inn on Main Street in Center Moriches, was a popular rest stop for the Brooklyn to Sag Harbor stagecoach for many years. By far the inn's most famous guests, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, stayed there in 1791 during their historic visit to Long Island. Restoration of the old inn, a portion of which dates to 1693, is under way, spearheaded by the Ketcham Inn Foundation Inc.
The AntiHamptons is also home to the Poosepatuck Native American Reservation, one of only two Native American Reservations on Long Island. TOP
