Beyond the Beach: Living The Hamptons Life as a Local

Take a tour of The Hamptons with a local and explore the unexpected side of Montauk in this eye-opening video!

Montauk—a summer paradise for tourists, but for the working-class locals, it’s a different story. Every year, they brace themselves for the swarms of vacationers, turning what’s usually a peaceful town into a gridlocked circus. Trying to get to work through the traffic or run a simple errand? Good luck. The influx of tourists keeps the economy afloat, but it also makes daily life a bit of a headache.

Housing? That’s another challenge. With vacation rentals and second homes driving up the cost, locals are often priced out of their own town, forced to commute from nearby areas just to keep the dream of living near the beach alive. Meanwhile, they’re balancing multiple jobs, keeping Montauk running while the seasonal crowd takes over.

But once the tourists pack up and head home, Montauk’s true vibe comes back. The locals, who’ve been hustling through summer, finally get a breather. They’re the ones keeping the town going—serving up your seafood, keeping the diner open, and preserving the heart of Montauk when the dust settles. So next time you’re there, show some love to the people who make it all happen.

In the video below, join a long-time local for a tour of The Hamptons and discover a surprising side of Montauk you never knew existed!

(Let me say this guy is quite a character! I’d have to do some research to see if all of the information he gives along the tour is true. Also, some opinions in this video are not reflective of my own – but I find this slice of local life in Montauk fascinating regardless.)

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