The beaches of the Hamptons—all of them, from West Hampton Dunes to Montauk—are the fourth best collection of beaches in the world, according to the third edition of a book published by National Geographic.
According to “The Ten Best of Everything” by longtime Life Magazine correspondent Nathaniel Lande, the Hamptons’ beaches—praised for their soft sand, comfort facilities, cleanliness and elegant surroundings—came in behind only some of the most exotic and far-flung beaches: the Seychelles, the Maldives and Bora Bora in Tahiti. The Hamptons beat out some of Hawaii’s finest beaches, St. Barths, Fraser Island in Australia and Nantucket.
“For beaches we considered the standards of aesthetics, tradition, beauty, maintenance, erosion, the setting, right down to the undertoe,” Mr. Lande said. “Any selection is always subjective, but the Hamptons have always been among the best beaches in the world in anyone’s estimation.”
Mr. Lande compiled the list of the best beaches—as well as the world’s ten best historical journeys, literary tours, art galleries, historical landmarks, swimming pools and others—from his years of travel and information from correspondents he dispatched. Narratives from other journalists, bon vivants and various experts are intermixed with snapshots and firsthand accounts that Mr. Lande describes as “a hoot” and informative for the active explorer as well as the armchair traveler.
on May 22, 2012