Green Lemonade

After 4 days of rain out here in Montauk, vacationers were getting a little anxious. The yoga studios were packed, the mini-golf course was jammed even as a light drizzle streamed down on the players. The movie theaters were mobbed and all the local pizza spots in town were bursting at the seams. It is summer after all. Everyone out here is craving the beach, the sun and the ocean. On the 4th day of rain, I decided to check out Gurney’s Inn – a favorite spot of the locals out here year round. The first weekend I was here this summer, a group of locals told me how in the winter they ride their bikes to Gurney’s Inn and spend the day at the indoor saltwater pool swimming and enjoying the jacuzzi, steam room and the sauna. There is a rumor that even during a snowstorm, locals pull out their bikes and snow goggles and will ride to Gurney’s in a few inches of snow to take advantage of the fitness center and an off-season massage. Actually, it’s not a rumor. One lovely couple that I met this summer don’t own a car and operate purely by bicycle year round. This winter, while her boyfriend was surfing in the snow, Isabelle took the snow goggles that Dennis got for her and ventured out on her daily ride over to Gurney’s…in the snow. Is that an image or what? I love this couple. It’s a 6 mile ride, roundtrip! After hearing so much about this Inn, I decided that I wanted to check the place out and see what all the hype was about. So I headed over to Gurney’s on Wednesday for a few hours. Gurney’s is beautifully situated on a cliff overlooking the ocean along Old Montauk Highway. The Inn is nestled between some beautiful estates (one of which was formerly owned by Bernie Madoff) along a beautiful stretch of beach. Upon arriving at the Inn, I’m pretty sure I found half of the population vacationing in Montauk this week at the resort. The sun popped out for a few hours, luring everyone down to a comfy lounge chair on the beach. Unlike some of the other beaches out here in Montauk, characterized by a more rocky shoreline, this stretch of beach was sandy and stretched for miles. I’m pretty sure I could walk to the neighboring town, just along the beach.

Anyway, next time you’re in Montauk and stuck with a rainy day, consider spending a few hours at Gurney’s Inn. The saltwater pool and the indoor jacuzzi, sauna and steam room are a nice rejuvenating break from a gray day. And if you have a rainy day collection in one of your piggy banks, a massage just might be a nice treat too. The massages are not like the experience at Parrot Cay (probably the best massage I’ve EVER had), but hey they’re not bad either. Hope you all have a great weekend.