For as confusing as the East End gets with its overlapping town, hamlet, and village names, Hampton Bays is self-explanatory. It's a hamlet in the Hamptons, situated on multiple bays — Peconic and Shinnecock, to be exact, along with the Atlantic Ocean and a slew of tidal creeks and coves. It's also home to the Shinnecock Canal, which connects the aforementioned bays via New York's only saltwater lock, and the Shinnecock Inlet, which links Shinnecock Bay to the ocean. Together, they form a popular boater's shortcut between Long Island Sound and the Atlantic's open waters, along with a contiguous corridor of marine-centric businesses. All that adds up to a serious amount of waterfront real estate, which might account for why Hampton Bays is one of the East End's more populous year-round communities. Over the Ponquogue Bridge, Dune Road holds Ponquogue and Tiana beaches, along with several (permit-only) access roads along the hamlet's three-mile stretch of pristine sands. For those who prefer warmer, calmer waters to the Atlantic, county-run Meschutt Beach offers a supervised swim area, kayak rentals, and more.