Amagansett was settled in 1690 by Abraham and Jacob Schellinger, sons of a New Amsterdam merchant who moved to East Hampton after the English took over New York. It is a small village east of East Hampton with an Indian name meaning "place of good water." It was known for farming, fishing and offshore whaling. Main Street today is filled with shops and galleries. The Atlantic Ocean is just a few blocks off of Main Street.
A spectacular attraction is the Amagansett Wildlife Refuge, a 36-acre protected area of double dune beaches. The primary dunes are a barrier reef to the Atlantic Ocean. The secondary dunes proliferate with flora, from Cape Cod-like cranberry bogs to rare varieties of orchids. It is a spectacular place to hike.
