Lifestyle Expert Vanessa Gordon on Wanderlust and Experiencing the East End

Vanessa Gordon is a Hampton’s lifestyle and travel expert, author, and founder/publisher of East End Taste Magazine. She also hosts The Hamptons Interactive Brunch. Her articles regularly appear in Modern Luxury Publications, the Independent Newspaper, Thrillist, and others. She has been featured in and quoted in top-tier national media outlets. She lives in Sag Harbor with her husband and two children. Hamptons.com sat down with Vanessa to talk about travel tips, wanderlust, and The Hamptons Interactive Brunch.

How has travel impacted your life? Have you always had wanderlust?

I truly am at my happiest when I travel, and even more so when my two children accompany me. The wealth of knowledge we gain from traveling is unparalleled to any other experience. I also love the spontaneity and unpredictability of travel. Travel in a sense brings me back to my roots every single time. Even though I enjoy visiting new places and meeting new people, I appreciate coming home more and more.  

How has the magazine you founded, East End Taste, grown over the years?

East End Taste was born out of my passion for the bounty of the East End of Long Island, but also my love for writing and sharing positive experiences that highlight one of my favorite places in the world. I always had a curiosity about travel. I expanded East End Taste to include a travel column in 2018. Soon after, I realized that the demand for travel content was very high. Readers wanted to discover destinations across the world that reflected the Hamptons’ charm and aesthetic.

East End Magazine focuses on “sustainable travel,” can you share any tips for people traveling to the Hamptons this Summer?

Three tips come to mind right away:

– The LIRR is perhaps the most reliable and safest way to travel. The traffic is the most intense it has ever been and the train is a great resource, even for local travel.

– Get those walks in! I walk to the beach every day from East Hampton Village. There is also the complimentary local shuttle service, Ride Circuit. It is a great sustainable option for traveling from the center of the village to the beach.

– Invite friends over for dinner as often as you can. Not only do I love the company, but I love introducing friends and family to new foods that I bring home or am inspired by from my travels.

What are you most excited about at this year’s Interactive Hamptons Brunch? What can attendees expect from this year’s event?

It has been two years since our last event in 2019 and my team and I couldn’t be more excited! Taking place at the stunning coastal Baron’s Cove Hotel, the event will feature a specially curated food and drink menu, beauty and pampering experiences, as well as our coveted loaded gift bags. It is so hard to contain our excitement! We are looking forward to seeing everyone again! 

You are a proud mother yourself – what are some of your favorite places in the Hamptons to relax with your family?

I love taking my two children out and about as much as possible! When they are not at camp, we typically spend our mornings at Amagansett Square or at Havens Beach. We always love visiting the Children’s Museum of the East End and allowing them to participate in their onsite workshops. For dining with kids, we love Sag Pizza, The Clubhouse, and Calissa. For the outdoors, we love the Duck Pond in East Hampton and touring Longhouse Reserve.