Montauk: The End

A Vacation Close to Home. Sometimes you want to take a vacation, but you don't want to spend a whole day traveling. Have you considered Montauk? It's close to home, but feels far away. My family vacations there every summer and we always enjoy it. As I said to my husband before our last trip, "I can't decide what I'm looking forward to more -- the beach, the food, or just lounging around."
Don't get me wrong. There's lots to do in Montauk if you want to do more than relax. There's a championship golf course at Montauk Downs State Park. Those who love fishing can charter a fishing boat or, if you're looking for something less expensive, you can reserve a spot on an open boat.
You can take a tour of the Montauk Point Lighthouse. It's the oldest lighthouse in the state. You can climb up to the top if you're not afraid of heights. I did it a few years ago and I'm glad I did -- once!
Now, let's get back to the relaxing stuff. First the beaches. Montauk's beaches are incredible, and plentiful. Many hotels are on, or adjacent to, private beaches. There are also several public beaches. Remember that during the summer, parking permits are required at all beaches except Kirk Park Beach. Most hotels provide permits to guests. The ocean beaches include Kirk Park Beach and Ditch Plains Beach. If you surf, you'll love Ditch Plains. Gin Beach is on Block Island Sound. The water is clean and gentle, so it's great for kids.
There's a variety of accommodations, ranging from very fancy to very simple. If you don't live too far away, you may even want to take a day trip to check out different accommodations before you make a reservation. Rates vary by season. They are highest in August. Remember to book your room early. On Montauk offers a complete list of hotels and motels. Many of them have efficiencies, so if you want to eat in sometimes, you can. But you may not want to. The food is too good to miss.
My favorite place to eat is Gosman's Dock, home to Gosman's Restaurant. Get there before you're really hungry. You'll have a long wait for a table. While the food is great at Gosman's Restaurant, I prefer Gosman's Clam Bar. All seating is on the dock. Sit right by the water at your own risk -- the sea gulls are very aggressive. Gosman's isn't the only show in town. There are many good restaurants around.
If the sea air has you hungry for a big breakfast, you'll want to try John's Pancake House on Main Street. Be prepared to wait, but it's worth it. If you want a snack, there are several places to get ice cream. John's Drive-In (no relation to the Pancake House) on Main Street has delicious homemade ice cream.