The American Revolution is modern history to Water Mill, where grist for its water-powered mill was first ground in 1644. But it was the arrival of the Long Island Rail Road, in 1875, that shaped the Water Mill of today. That's when the rich and mobile of Manhattan turned this farming and fishing community into a rustic yet refined playground for the well-to-do. Things haven't changed much since then. The mill still works and the wealthy still flock to Water Mill.

The hamlet has three magnificent beaches: Flying Point, Mecox, and Dead End. And there are still huge areas of woodsy wilderness, like the 148-acre Laurel Valley Country Park. Robert Wilson's Watermill C...

The American Revolution is modern history to Water Mill, where grist for its water-powered mill was first ground in 1644. But it was the arrival of the Long Island Rail Road, in 1875, that shaped the Water Mill of today. That's when the rich and mobile of Manhattan turned this farming and fishing community into a rustic yet refined playground for the well-to-do. Things haven't changed much since then. The mill still works and the wealthy still flock to Water Mill.

The hamlet has three magnificent beaches: Flying Point, Mecox, and Dead End. And there are still huge areas of woodsy wilderness, like the 148-acre Laurel Valley Country Park. Robert Wilson's Watermill Center, where the avante garde visionary develops new work in collaboration with students and professionals, is the East End’s newest cultural mecca.

More mundane, yet still brilliant, are Hampton Coffee and the Green Thumb farm stand, which are conveniently located next door to each other on Montauk Highway. Hampton Coffee does make the island's best and its down-home food is lip-smacking good. Green Thumb, with its 300 varieties of locally grown organic produce, is the best explanation of why slow cooking is so darned delish.