Long Island Excursion To Montauk & the Hamptons

October 5-7, 2014

On this trip, we’ll experience the breathtaking beauty of the most eastern point of Long Island with its wide, sandy beaches, salt air, beautiful marina, and gorgeous gardens. We’ll visit the new Parrish Art Museum, LongHouse Reserve with its gallery, sculpture garden and arboretum, and Jackson Pollock’s House & Studio. We’ll have a tour and tasting at Wolffer Estate – a gorgeous Tuscan-style vineyard, stop at the majestic Montauk Point Light House, and feast on lobsters at Gosman’s Dock Restaurant on the harbor.

The bus departs Sunday, October 5, at 7:30am from the front of the Monticello Government Center on North Street and at 8:30am from the back of the former Ames in the Kingston Plaza. It returns Tuesday, October 7, at approximately 6:30pm in Kingston and 7:30pm in Monticello.

The fee covers the luxury coach, step-on guide, accommodations for 2 nights, gratuities, admission and tour guides at all the art venues, handling of one piece of luggage per person and 7 wonderful meals (2 lunches are dutch-treat). We’ll have champagne with breakfast en route, and a selection of wines with dinner on the return trip.

Accommodations are at the exquisite 4-star Montauk Yacht Club Resort & Marina.  The resort is situated on Lake Montauk, adjoining a world-class marina. The guest rooms have waterfront or courtyard views, goose-down pillows, duvets, plush towels, and flat panel TVs. There are 2 outdoor pools, a heated indoor pool, sauna, fitness center and lounge/bar. We’ll wake up to full breakfast buffets and have dinner one night in the hotel’s cozy dining room. Dinner the first night is a “Lobster Bake” at Gosman’s – the area’s quintessential spot for lobster, although there will be options of fresh caught fish or steak. The restaurant sits on top of a dock with a glorious view of the harbor. We’ll have a fabulous dinner the second night in the “Fireside Room” of our hotel.

The magical light and beautiful landscape has drawn artists to the region for many years. In the 50s and 60s when the land was dominated by farms and potato fields, the Abstract Expressionists or New York School – Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, Franz Kline, Barnett Newman, Robert Motherwell, and their colleagues – settled and painted there. It was the first time that American painters were recognized as the dominant force in international art. Their paintings were produced spontaneously, expressing the artists’ individuality in every brushstroke, every drip. They had studios in the Hamptons, and we’ll see the most famous one – Jackson Pollock’s, on our trip. 

We’ll have a tour of the legendary LongHouse Reserve , with its gallery, sculpture garden and arboretum. This botanical wonderland was founded by renowned textile designer, Jack Lenor Larsen. It’s a true oasis for art and garden lovers alike. The Chihuly glass installation is a treasure, as are the water lillies, lotus plants, Noguchi sculptures, and a giant marble chess sculpture by Yoko Ono.

The trip also includes a tour of the new Parrish Art Museum. The museum opened its doors in 2012 to a brand new building in Water Mill. Designed by the Swiss architectural firm, Herzog & de Meuron,  it resembles two long, narrow barns, fused together with luminous open spaces and stunning simplicity. We’ll see a major exhibit of 75 works by William Glackens,  a realist American artist who worked extensively in Paris and the south of France. The exhibit is co-organized by The Barnes Foundation. The core of the Parrish’s collection represents works by the artists who lived and worked in the area, but there are also works from the early 19^th to the 21^st century, including those by Childe Hassam, John Sloan and James Whistler.

We’ll understand why Long Island is described as the Napa Valley of the East Coast on our visit to the Wolffer Estate Vineyard. This Tuscan-styled chateau is perched on a rise overlooking the lush vineyard and gently rolling Hampton’s landscape. The tasting room has a wall of French doors that open onto a terrace where we’ll sample wines and enjoy the breathtaking view.

We’ll stop at the Montauk Point Light House to stand on the bluff or, for those who wish, to climb the stairs for the most spectacular view from this historical national landmark. It’s the fourth oldest active lighthouse in the US, built under President George Washington in 1796, and sits on the most easterly point of Long Island.

A trip to the Hamptons would not be complete without a glimpse of the stately tree lined streets, the magnificent white-sandy beaches, and the lush, gorgeous landscape nourished by the salty ocean air. After an escorted tour of East Hampton, we’ll have lunch (dutch-treat) in this charming village (we’ll give suggestions). We’ll also have an opportunity to kick off our shoes and walk the beach in Southampton – to be refreshed by the crashing surf and soft white sand.

The Pollock Krasner Foundation is our final stop. A private tour of the Pollock/Krasner house and studio, will give us insight into the humble beginnings of Jackson Pollock and his wife, Lee Krasner. He and Krasner shared the house and studio on Fireplace Road in The Springs from 1945 until his death in 1956. Pollock’s innovative style and technique made him the most celebrated and controversial American artist of the twentieth century. He stunned the art world and continues to challenge viewers today. As art aficionados, we’ll experience art as it relates to history and we’ll stand on the actual floor of the studio where Pollock painted his emotionally-charged canvases.

A deposit of $300 (non-refundable) is due with your reservation. The cost is $822 per person based on double occupancy. Single occupancy is $180 additional. If you wish a guaranteed marina waterfront view, the additional cost for 2 nights is $140 per room.  

Make your check payable to AAUW, include your home and cell phone number and email address, and mail to: Linda Gold, 1 Jacobs Lane, New Paltz, NY 12561. For more info, call Linda at 845-255-5256 or email artladyLG@aol.com (specify “art tours” in the Subject line).  There will be no refunds unless your spot is filled. Travel insurance is available through TravelGuard, Access America, or a company of your choice. Note: You will receive a complete Information Sheet and detailed Itinerary before departing on the trip.