Just last weekend we road-tripped up to Montauk, The End, as it's affectionately called, for our friend's wedding. I had vacationed in the little beach town when I was in middle school, and I have been eager to get back ever since. There is something about the oceanfront that makes me feel small, and I love that. My problems feel small, my fears feel small, my body feels small as I watch the waves break and crash before me. The great big sea, grey and wide, gives perspective that I just can't seem to get from anywhere else. 

Knowing it would be a short visit, we planned to stay near the beach so we could frequently walk back and forth from our condo during our trip. We stayed at the The Surf Club Resort, a recently renovated beachfront complex with rows of split level condos, steps away from the ocean. We went to sleep and woke up to the sound of waves spraying over the sand, and it was gloriously peaceful. 

Our condo had all of the comforts of home: a small, effective kitchen space, a cozy couch with a gigantic TV, and a super clean master bedroom and bathroom suite. With all of my food specifications, it really helped to have a full kitchen so we could cook (and make Bulletproof Coffee) as needed. 

The wedding ceremony took place on a dock located on the north side of Lake Montauk. My eyes swelled with tears as the gorgeous pair said their vows. Love surrounded the crowd like an invisible bubble, and after they were declared husband and wife, we posed for a group photo and burst into the restaurant to warm up with mini mugs of chowder, tiny shrimp tacos, and asparagus fries. The reception was hosted by Swallow East, a surfer-cool restaurant designed with rustic wood, steel chairs, and nautical touches-- exactly the type of place you'd hope to hang at on a beach trip. You can see more of our moments from the wedding on my instagram @nmcaruso. 

Montauk's downtown is a mix of old and new. There are chic boutiques next to outdated, yet charming, restaurants and souvenir shops. We loved that our condo was a close walk to Left Hand coffee, organic market Naturally Good Foods & Cafe, and St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church (walking to mass is the best!). 

We shopped for a few sweatshirts at Montauk Clothing Co. and picked up a few goodies at the well-curated boutique called *Share With..., which had a full array of Tata Harper and Mario Badescu skin products, among breezy tunics, super soft tees, chic sandals, and a covetable woven bag that said Montauk New York USA (seen in the window display). For posterity sake, we drove by Gurney's and The Surf Lodge, but we didn't get to spend much time visiting since we had nap time next on the schedule. If you live in the New York area and you need a break from the hustle and bustle, I highly recommend visiting Montauk, especially in the off-season for lower pricing, to disengage and unwind by the sea.