How can it be that we only have two weeks left of summer?!?!? I hope you’ve enjoyed every minute of it so far. I know we have! This week, I wanted to share the highlights of one of our favorite weekend getaways to date… Shelter Island, which many refer to as the “Un-Hamptons.” Located about 150 south of Boston, Shelter Island is nestled between the North and South forks of Long Island, accessible only by boat. As an island girl, I was quite excited for this little adventure. And let me tell you, it didn’t disappoint.

We planned this getaway with our dear friends R + T and you can check out all our pics on Instagram #MRKTShelter.

Stay

When planning a weekend getaway, the hotel options really guide my decision-making process. When I heard that David Bowd of Provincetown’s Salt Hotels was opening The Chequit last May, I knew it would be a place I needed to check-out. Fast forward to finding a summer getaway in-between Boston and NYC, Shelter Island rose to the top of the list. We booked this past April, right before the hotel received its acclaim on the Conde Nast Hot List. And well deserved honor indeed.

The restored hotel, built as a religious retreat in 1872, features 31 bedrooms, designed in a soothing palate of grey, pale pink and a splash of yellow {a favorite color combo}. The fixtures are brass, the floors adorned with beautiful Turkish throw rugs and they even provide you with a sun hat and blue Turkish towel for the beach.

After our stay at Salt House Inn last year, I knew we were in for a treat with the daily breakfast. Each morning, from 8 am to 10:30 am, the staff sets out an impressive breakfast buffet, including granola, yogurt, tea cakes, juices, coffee and a savory egg dish. It’s all so good.

Even better, the hotel offers a delicious restaurant {might I suggest the tuna tartare bites}, coffee shop, should you need a latte fix and a delightfully curated shop. I purchased the cutest tote {featured below #saltstyle}, a paddle board set for the beach and some new hair ties.

Do

I have a firm belief: If you’re on island time, you go to the beach! Luckily, we were able to purchase a beach parking pass at the hotel that allowed us to explore several. $40 for the week… what a deal.

We spent our afternoons lounging in the sun at Shell Beach and Hay Beach {our favorite} and checked out the Sunday scene at Sunset Beach, hotelier Andre Balazs’s St.Tropez-style hangout. For as chill as Shelter Island is, if you want the scene, go here.

Should you not love to hang at the beach for hours, make sure to check out the Mashomack Preserve for some great walking trails. But remember your bug spray. We sadly had to cut our walk short. Looking for a way to stay hydrated? Head over to Shelter Island Craft Brewing. My beer of choice was their Nude Beach, a plum ale featuring local beach plums, honey, lemon verbena and hops.

Eat

The food on Shelter Island did not disappoint. Some of our favorite spots included:

Marie Eiffel Market – From the breakfast treats to the fish tacos, to the view on their back porch, Marie Eiffel is not to be missed. Jonathan Adler and Jerry Seinfeld are fans too! The perfect place to grab lunch before hitting the beach.

Vine Street Cafe – Shelter Island’s fine dining destination. Order the fried chicken. It’s amazing. Skip on dessert from the restaurant and go around the corner to their market for a brownie and coconut sorbet to go. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Maria’s Kitchen – Located next to the Shelter Island Craft Brewing, this little spot had some delicious tacos. The corn tortillas are amazing and so fresh.

Shop

Sylvester Manor Farm Stand – Our favorite little farm stand on the island with beautiful views.

Dabney Lee – Across the street from Marie Eiffel, Dabney Lee has a beautiful collection of goods for the home and got you. Loved the Parrot Design Studio Shelter Island print.

Black Cat Books  – The best used book store ever. Don’t miss it!

Check back next Tuesday as I’ll be sharing some favorite spots we hit along the North Fork and throughout The Hamptons.