Now for something a bit more upbeat. We had a really great vacation in the Hamptons. Those of you who've been following along for awhile might remember that we went (for the first time) two Augusts ago, after being loyal Cape goers for several years.
The Cape is still where I'd like to retire, at least part time, and DH thinks we should go back next year. I first went there in '95 during spring open campus and lived there full time during my college summers ('96-'98), when I was a live-in summer nanny for two different suburban Boston families who summer in Hyannis Port (the tiny tony town west of Hyannis), when I got lots of time to explore the Cape, Islands and the Sound with them, my au pair friends, and my boyfriend at the time.
Exactly two years ago was just after my younger sister had moved to Brooklyn (for her beau's job) and also as we were presented with the beginning of my cervical problems with the twins (I lost my plug the morning of our flight and, ironically just hours after writing this post @19w, and after a check-up was cleared to go). So that was a shorter and more stressful visit, though we managed to cover a lot of ground (we flew into the city, rented a Jeep, and visited almost every hamlet in the Hamptons).
Last time, we stayed in Montauk (at the very farthest eastern tip of the south fork of Long Island), but this time we decided to stay a little closer to the action in Southampton. Like last time, we rented a place on the water, this time eastern Shinnecock Bay, which was lovely. My sister came along this time, which was great, to visit and for extra hands, and her boyfriend drove out from the city at the end of the week for a visit.
I'm not going to lie, the drive was long, but not nearly as bad as it could have been. Much to my delight, I-80 in PA has been much improved since I last frequented it in the 90s and is no longer one big rumble strip. The kids did really well with frequent stops, every 1.5-2 hrs., (and DVDs, which were new to them, but they are now addicted to) which makes for long days, but that is just the reality when traveling with small children. We decided to drive when I couldn't find the flights I wanted and to take/rent cribs or pack and plays, car seats, etc. just got to seem a bit ridiculous when we could just get in the car and go. (the drive was also a bit ridiculous, but there you go)
We had planned to go away earlier, but since pumping for 12 months kinda took up year one, and then we just kept waiting for Alistair to start walking on his own (which he still is not, though he is getting much closer), but we finally decided to bite the bullet and go. I think this was a pretty good age to go on a first beach vacation. I don't know that going younger would have been much fun, for any of us. I know from my years on the Cape (when I watched older kids, but many of my friends did not) that babies and the beach can make for mostly miserable babies and caretakers.
We're thinking of flying to Boston for a long weekend in the fall, before India, so we can get the kids on a plane and do a hotel (w/cribs) and get around w/o a car.
Since our three hotel ventures last year (with MIL along) were all in suites, this was our first time experiencing the wonder of adjoining hotel rooms while in transit. I'm a fan, since it worked well for us. The four of us all stayed together in the extra bedroom at my sister's in the city for a night and it was cozy. My hat's off to those with small kids in small apts.
My ingredients for a good beach vacation include: 1. ice cream, 2. lobster rolls, 3. other good food and stuff to do besides the beach...
So these are some of the places we enjoyed:
Bridgehampton
World Pie
Pierre's
Bridgehampton Candy Kitchen (homemade ice cream)
Hampton Designer Show house (just outside Sag Harbor) - I'll be posting separately on this later
Southampton
Barrister's
Southampton Fudge Company (homemade ice cream)
Sant Ambroeus
Exactly two years ago was just after my younger sister had moved to Brooklyn (for her beau's job) and also as we were presented with the beginning of my cervical problems with the twins (I lost my plug the morning of our flight and, ironically just hours after writing this post @19w, and after a check-up was cleared to go). So that was a shorter and more stressful visit, though we managed to cover a lot of ground (we flew into the city, rented a Jeep, and visited almost every hamlet in the Hamptons).
Last time, we stayed in Montauk (at the very farthest eastern tip of the south fork of Long Island), but this time we decided to stay a little closer to the action in Southampton. Like last time, we rented a place on the water, this time eastern Shinnecock Bay, which was lovely. My sister came along this time, which was great, to visit and for extra hands, and her boyfriend drove out from the city at the end of the week for a visit.
our view of the bay
I'm not going to lie, the drive was long, but not nearly as bad as it could have been. Much to my delight, I-80 in PA has been much improved since I last frequented it in the 90s and is no longer one big rumble strip. The kids did really well with frequent stops, every 1.5-2 hrs., (and DVDs, which were new to them, but they are now addicted to) which makes for long days, but that is just the reality when traveling with small children. We decided to drive when I couldn't find the flights I wanted and to take/rent cribs or pack and plays, car seats, etc. just got to seem a bit ridiculous when we could just get in the car and go. (the drive was also a bit ridiculous, but there you go)
We had planned to go away earlier, but since pumping for 12 months kinda took up year one, and then we just kept waiting for Alistair to start walking on his own (which he still is not, though he is getting much closer), but we finally decided to bite the bullet and go. I think this was a pretty good age to go on a first beach vacation. I don't know that going younger would have been much fun, for any of us. I know from my years on the Cape (when I watched older kids, but many of my friends did not) that babies and the beach can make for mostly miserable babies and caretakers.
We're thinking of flying to Boston for a long weekend in the fall, before India, so we can get the kids on a plane and do a hotel (w/cribs) and get around w/o a car.
Since our three hotel ventures last year (with MIL along) were all in suites, this was our first time experiencing the wonder of adjoining hotel rooms while in transit. I'm a fan, since it worked well for us. The four of us all stayed together in the extra bedroom at my sister's in the city for a night and it was cozy. My hat's off to those with small kids in small apts.
My ingredients for a good beach vacation include: 1. ice cream, 2. lobster rolls, 3. other good food and stuff to do besides the beach...
So these are some of the places we enjoyed:
Bridgehampton
World Pie
Pierre's
Bridgehampton Candy Kitchen (homemade ice cream)
Hampton Designer Show house (just outside Sag Harbor) - I'll be posting separately on this later
Southampton
Barrister's
Southampton Fudge Company (homemade ice cream)
Sant Ambroeus
Road D (free and amazing) and Ponquogue beaches
Hampton Bays
Brewster's
The Edgewater
Wainscott
Serena and Lily (summer store)
East Hampton
Upscale shopping galore
Hampton Bays
Brewster's
The Edgewater
Wainscott
Serena and Lily (summer store)
East Hampton
Upscale shopping galore
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