You can go to the Hamptons for the beaches, and for the nightlife. You can hit the restaurants and do some serious damage to your wallet shopping at the boutiques. But you can also explore a beautiful wildlife refuge while you're in the area, and it's well worth your time to pay this spot a visit.

The Elizabeth Alexander Morton National Wildlife Refuge is a delightful 187 acres near Sag Harbor, including a one and a half mile long peninsula separating Little Peconic Bay from Noyack Bay.

It only costs $4 to park, and you can take your time exploring and seeing the animals, especially the birds. It is technically discouraged, but it is a time-honored tradition to bring your own birdseed and feed them. They're quite used to humans, and if you are quiet and remain still, they'll land on your hand, eat a morsel, and fly off. When we walked in we saw black capped chickadees, a friendly tufted titmouse, and male and female cardinals. As we walked along the beach trail we saw wild turkeys and an osprey's nest, and lots of chipmunks scampering about.

The sandy beach is lovely, with calm water, ideal for kids and beginning swimmers. Part of it was closed, however, to protect the piping plovers. After all, they're the reason the land isn't someone's private estate today.

It's a beautiful and peaceful spot--the visitors were friendly and the kids attempting to feed the songbirds were absolutely adorable.

Website: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/elizabeth-alexandra-morton

Telephone: 631-286-0485

Address: 2595 Noyac Road, Sag Harbor