Well hello there! The last few days have been INSANE and I’ve literally let more than a week slide by without posting anything (sad face).
Somehow… between everything that’s been going on, I feel like there’s not enough time to sleep, let alone write!
Hopefully, things will take a slightly different turn soon. As I said, much of July and early August had been nutty – as mamma had to go straight from a business trip in Washington to a week in Switzerland, and then direct to a weekend getaway in Shelter Island. Eeks.
Speaking of which, so let’s talk Shelter Island for a bit, shall we? You know that I’m a big proponent for that rustic neck of the woods. Not only is it accessible solely by ferry (which lends a nice quiet air to the surroundings), but it’s also captivated my heart, ever since we celebrated the little man’s birthday here a year ago. Next year, we're thinking of doing a house share!
This time around, we stayed at Sunset Beach, run by the ubiquitous hotelier André Balazs (known for building luxury hotels like the Standard, which you might have heard of, and… well, for being Uma Thurman’s baby daddy, among other things). It’s quite easily the most chic and glamorous hotel on the island (and possibly the entire Hamptons), so of course, the allure was bar none. The boutique property only offers twenty rooms (each with its private sundeck overlooking the ocean). So you’re best served to book quickly, because these reservations don’t last very long!
We stayed on the second floor (room 15 to be exact), and loved loved loved the serene vistas as well as the distance from the hubbub of the waterfront bistro and bar. I seriously could not get enough of the posh ambience of the fashion-set there, and on top of everything our room was also nice and spacious. In the evenings, hubs and I even had the luxury of indulging a cocktail or two by the sea while our little man slept soundly while we had the baby monitor on (#momlife).
There’s something quite impeccable about this place, as I marveled to hubs – I mean where did all the beautiful people come from? Do they all just happen to descend off the ferry and know instinctively that they had to don their shabby-chic best and head straight to Sunset Beach? Seriously, I felt like I had been transported straight to the French Riviera. Saint-Tropez style.
The hotel is handily situated straight across from the beach (Sunset beach, get it?), and it’s certainly a picturesque little beach. We spent the bulk of our time by the water, as our little man simply LOVED it. He’s much more interactive now, and is absolutely OBSESSED with all things ocean and sand. There were lots of rock throwing action in the ocean, castle-building, making waves & splashes, and eating watermelons under the sun… all aspects of summer I find truly delightful.
My one complaint… (and I’m so finicky) is that the beaches are not private, not even the section directly across the hotel. Must have been some licensing issue with the township. I Know I Know, that’s so bourgeois of me, but when you’re paying top dollar for a hotel (I try not to look at the bill when we checked out), you kind of want to make sure that your beach time is not, shall we say, mixed. It’s a small gripe of mine, but it does make a difference! Yes, I sound spoiled don’t I? Ah well, and so it goes. However, all of the other bits and pieces of bliss and sunshine more than made up for the hotel’s shortcomings… and we couldn’t have been happier with our quality time together as a family.
Oh, and did I mention? This weekend we’re embarking on a week-long holiday in Montauk. I can’t wait!!!
Related:
Summer Fun (and Birthday) on Shelter Island
Baby's First Birthday Celebration
Wine Tasting Date in North Fork