​​I live in the Hamptons year-round. Visiting in the offseason is quieter, but comes with trade-offs.

As someone who has lived in the Hamptons for most of my life, I can always tell when summer is over: suddenly, it becomes incredibly easy to get around.

But luckily, once the fall season settles in and the Hamptons have entered their offseason, I can get in my car and go anywhere I want with ease.

Sure, the quiet comes with tradeoffs, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the colder months.

When I take a summer staycation at a hotel in the Hamptons, my schedule is packed with dinners, beach time, events, and shopping. So, if I ever want to really enjoy the local accommodations, I prefer to do so in the winter.

Some of my favorite places to stay are the Maidstone and the Baker House 1650, both located in East Hampton. I also love Gurney's Montauk Resort and Seawater Spa, which offers fixed-price meals at the restaurant and hosts mixology classes throughout the offseason.

I don't even attempt to dine out on summer weekends, when many of my favorite spots are packed. However, during the offseason, I love that I can check out restaurants I wouldn't otherwise visit in the warmer months.

Out in Montauk Village, the Montauk Bake Shoppe is famous for its fried jelly croissants, but during the summer, it can be so busy that I rarely even attempt to get one. In the quieter months, I can stop in without delay.

There are considerably fewer events in the offseason, but that doesn't mean nothing is happening.

Many establishments also host a variety of events and activities throughout the quieter months. Guild Hall continues to have films, exhibitions, talks, and performances, while Sag Harbor Cinema has screenings. The latter also hosts HarborFrost, a fun outdoor winter celebration that features hot cocoa, ice dancers, and live music.

Once the Hamptons International Film Festival and Sag Harbor American Film Festival are over in the fall, the community quickly transitions into the holiday season — one of my favorite times to be here.

Because the Hamptons economy remains highly seasonal, there is considerably less work in many industries during winter.

In my case, I own an event production company, so with the area extremely quiet, I have to get a little creative.