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Get to know Westhampton

Owing to the charming vagaries of Hamptons nomenclature, Westhampton is paradoxically located within the town of Southampton. Thankfully, the physical East End space Westhampton occupies completely jives with its moniker. Many regard Westhampton as the western start of the Hamptons, making the hamlet’s name quite literal. Communities left of the Shinnecock Canal tend to skew more residential and reserved than those on the other side, and Westhampton is no exception. Eclectic house styles blanket the area — ranches, estates, post-moderns, and more — offering different kinds of homes to fit different types of homeowners’ needs. For all the beauty of the greater area with none of the perhaps superfluous flair, Westhampton is ideal. Even if you road trip down Sunrise Highway, ride the Long Island Rail Road to the end, or jet-set from Francis S. Gabreski Airport — all easily accessible — Westhampton will always be waiting with the comforting atmosphere of home.

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Westhampton History & Culture

People have long understood that Westhampton is unassuming as they come and remarkable for it. This facet of the hamlet’s personality factored into Cold War paranoia when the government purchased and repurposed a former dairy farm to hide over 50 nuclear-tipped missiles. The secret cache lasted only from the mid-1950s until the base was decommissioned in 1964. Today, excitement in Westhampton is of a much more suburban variety. Anyone for tennis can locate numerous clubs in the immediate and surrounding area — the same goes for any golfers looking for their next tee time. For all of Westhampton’s laid-back character, it sticks close to one treasure trove of classic Hamptons gold: beaches. You may not know Dune Road by name, but you certainly do the sands running along it. Several Atlantic Ocean beaches are oh so close via the neighboring village of Westhampton Beach.

Westhampton Dining & Shopping

Most of Westhampton’s cuisine and commerce is found along Montauk Highway. This hamlet is claimed as the start of the Hamptons, so it must have robust seafood offerings, right? Right. If it comes from the sea and is edible, chances are you can enjoy it in some form — oysters on the half shell, shrimp po’boys, fish and chips — in Westhampton. However, options neither begin nor end at the ocean. Stop in at homegrown favorites serving the area for generations, keep things simple by taking pizza or burgers to go, or venture to the relatively bustling Main Streets of Westhampton Beach and East Quogue for a night on the town. Neighborhood farm stands are well-equipped with all kinds of locally-produced goods for sale, be it fruits, vegetables, pastries, or honey. The best shopping opportunities convenient to Westhampton present themselves in nearby Riverhead or Westhampton Beach’s downtown.