Things to do in Montauk When it Rains

Things to do in Montauk When it Rains

Why on earth would one go to Montauk, the surfer-cool Hamptons summer retreat, when it’s raining? When one has lodging lined up that they’ve paid for and can’t get out of, that’s why. It happens. Bad weather can descend and change a much idealized vaca in nanoseconds. It happened to me and my crew recently on a trip to Montauk, when it poured the entire weekend. Rather than wallow in sorrow, or worse, head home, we did a little research and made the most of our trip. Here’s a list of some fun things to do in Montauk when it rains. After all, it could happen to you!

Montauk is the eastern most part of Long Island, and known for its wide expanse of beaches, state parks, farm country, horse-back riding, fishing, hiking, surfer vibe, and, in general, a place  where you spend most of your time outdoors. So when the weather forecast called for rain pretty much the entire weekend, there was a bit of a panic! I wasn’t on a girls’ weekend where I could just booze my way through – I had my kids with me. Actually, it was a girls’ weekend, with my girlfriends and daughters, just a very different kind of girls get-away. I had to entertain the kids!

So, like I said, after doing some research, we were able to fill the days. And actually, we had a really great time. Here’s where to head and what to do when it rains in Montauk:

Visit the Montauk Point Lighthouse

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Montauk Point Lighthouse. The oldest lighthouse in New York State, it’s located at the tip of Eastern Long Island, with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Block Island Sound. There is an interesting museum inside on the first floor on the history of the lighthouse, including interactive displays. If you’re so inclined, you can climb to the top of the lighthouse and look out from above. It’s a working lighthouse, so it was fun to do this! Outside, the grounds are beautiful and we were able to walk around a bit in between rain showers, and look out over the very stormy sea. No trip to Montauk is complete without a visit to this historic lighthouse!

Find Entertainment at The ClubHouse

We loved this venue – The Clubhouse is brand spanking new (opened in July) and is basically the Brooklyn Bowl of the Hamptons! Located in East Hampton, this entertainment space has a bowling alley, arcade, indoor bocce, mini golf and more. There is a large, central restaurant and bar, as well as lounge areas with T.V.’s, making it a win-win for the adults and kids alike. We were on a wait list for bowling, so my friend and I saddled up to the bar, ordered a glass of wine, while our girls played in the arcade. The Clubhouse was a great find – hip and fun – and I would highly recommend checking it out should you come across bad weather (or even good weather). If you want to bowl, I would go earlier in the day so as not to have to wait too long– but there’s plenty of other activity, and chillaxing, to do as well.

Eat Good Food

When the weather is not cooperating, that’s what people do – they eat. And Montauk has a bunch of good to excellent restaurants. Especially if you’re a seafood lover, there are a ton of options. Try Inlet, the Clam and Chowder House, Salivars, The Crow’s Nest, East by Northeast to name a few. We had an amazing meal at Harvest, and while I practically fainted at the prices, what I didn’t initially know is that it’s a family-style restaurant and the portions are huge. This Italian farm-to-table is definitely worth the splurge, with great atmosphere too. We ate at Joni’s for breakfast, a little bohemian local favorite, serving healthy, but delicious fare. I hear that Naturally Good is another popular spot too. There are so many restaurants in the Montauk area that you can eat and drink the day away. But be forewarned – that’s what everyone else is doing too! If you don’t make a res, expect a wait.

Go Shopping

Montauk has lots of cool boutiques, surf shops, designer shops and eclectic finds. We pretty much stuck to the main street and dipped in and out of the various bric-a-brac shops, because kids love them. We tried on Montauk sweatshirts, found quirky souvenirs, got goodies from the General Store, and did all the things you do when you’re on main street in a beach town. If it wasn’t raining we may never have left with our comfy new sweatshirts! That’s one way of looking at it at least.

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You may also enjoy: Why Long Island’s North Fork Makes for the Perfect Weekend Get-Away

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Go Wine Tasting

The North Fork gets all the buzz, as it should, but there are a few wineries on the South Fork to be noted. If you’re up for a drive there is the popular Wolffer Estate, probably the most well-known winery in the Hamptons. It’s located in Sagaponack. There is also Channing Daughters in Bridgehampton and Duck Walk Vineyard in Water Mill. Honestly, when the weather is bad in a beachy summer retreat, I can’t think of a better way to while away the day than to go wine tasting.

Take a Blustery Beach Walk

If the rain lets up, or there is a slight drizzle, a beach walk on a stormy day can be the best. Huge waves, atmospheric sky, and no crowds can make for the perfect recipe for time spent on the beach. We were able to enjoy some beach time on Ditch Plains beach on our last day when the dark skies started to disperse. Too bad it was a travel day, or we would have happily put down our towels on an overcast day and just enjoy it for what it is – beautiful Montauk, with or without the sun.

And those are our top things to do in Montauk when it rains. If you have any to add, please leave in the comments below.

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