I skip the Hamptons and head to a coastal town in Connecticut instead. It's less crowded and wonderful year-round.

I traded my weekends in the Hamptons for some great times in Madison, Connecticut. Allison Tibaldi For years, I spent hours stuck in traffic driving to the Hamptons from my home in New York City. Eventually, I got fed up and started spending weekends in Madison, a coastal town in Connecticut. Madison's beautiful beaches and charming downtown area offer lots to do without huge crowds. I spent decades vacationing in the Hamptons, but eventually got tired of it. I can't count how much time I'v...