Brianne Manz Stroller in the City: Long Island Bliss

Photo: Ana Gambuto, anagambuto.com

Brianne Manz Stroller in the City: A Journey to Bliss on Long Island

Some of my dearest mom friends live on Long Island, and I have to admit that I live vicariously through them, especially when I see their Instagram posts sharing their daily lives. While many who don’t live in New York may only refer to Long Island through franchise shows, it’s more than just a reality show or two.

It’s a beautiful place to raise a family. It has beautiful beaches, breathtaking scenery and parks, wineries, food and more. One of those friends is Brianne Manz of Stroller in the city (@stollerinthecity), who you may know from her popular social channels and site, where she covers city life, kids, travel, shopping, recipes, value products and more.

Another thing Brianne talks about a lot is her life on Long Island, a corner of the island she has always loved and visited. A few years ago, she and her family made a big decision when they bought their dream home there, which she describes as “a mix of French farmhouse and English countryside.”

Stroller in the City is still about Brianne’s life as a city mom, but like parenthood, where life is a constant ebb and flow, including what and where home means to you. We’re excited to follow Brianne’s journey on Long Island.

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You’re a born and bred New Yorker. What made you decide to buy a second home here?

I started spending my summers on Long Island when I was about 18, and I absolutely fell in love with it, especially the beaches. I eventually met my husband in a house share in the Hamptons; we eventually got engaged here, and now we’ve been bringing our kids here since they were babies. Even when we didn’t have a house, we rented during the summers and some winter months. We loved being here, so I can’t tell you how grateful I was that my dream of owning something of my own was finally coming true.

What are your favorite outdoor family activities on Long Island?

There are so many outdoor activities to do here. My favorite is of course long walks on the beach, but not only in the summer months. We go to the beach all bundled up, even in the winter months, especially with our dog Cooper – he loves to run around. The kids and I also bike to town a lot in the summer. It’s great exercise and you can avoid the traffic. And lastly, just spending time in our backyard fills my cup.

Can you share with us your favorite weekend getaway spot on Long Island?

My family and I love escaping to Montauk. We spend a weekend there at least twice a year. stretchers is my favorite hotel because it is right on the beach and very close to everything Montauk has to offer.

What sets Long Island’s food scene apart from other places you’ve been? Can you share a unique dish or restaurant you’ve discovered here? Are there any hidden gems of local restaurants or cafes you’d recommend?

There are a lot of New York City restaurants here, but what sets their East End locations apart is the huge focus on seafood. I love that. A real gem of a restaurant here Elaia Estiatoria in Bridgehampton. My favorite cuisine is Greek, and all of their dishes are super authentic and take me right back to our most recent trip to Greece. I would say get the fish of the day, which is usually a grilled white fish prepared with Greek herbs. I promise you won’t regret it.

You’re not just a summer transplant; your family is here year-round. What season do you enjoy most here?

Yes – we are here year round, it is our weekend getaway during school months, holidays and pretty much anytime we can get out of the city. I have to say one of my favorite times to come is fall. It is a sight to see the leaves changing. We love doing all the fall activities here like apple and pumpkin picking. It is something we look forward to when the perfect summers come to an end. I also love hosting and cooking, so Thanksgiving is another favorite time of year when my whole family comes to stay with us for the holidays!

Okay, summer is coming to an end and Back to school is around the corner. How do you organize yourself for the kids and your life?

Yes, I can’t believe it. I’m so sad that summer is over, but strangely I’m also so happy that we’re getting back into our routines. I just bought all of their school supplies and backpacks. I can tell the kids are getting excited about the year ahead when they buy some new supplies for the start of the new school year. I’m also starting to plan their lunches and dinners. I have the kids help make menus of what they want each week.

Does BTS have any tips to make life easier when you start back to school?

I’ll say try it first (and I say with a wince, because I am so guilty of it) to not overschedule. This fall, the girls are going to the same school and my son is going to a different one. That means we have to keep track of both the public and private school schedules and vacations, which can be a challenge. I have a big calendar on our refrigerator that we can all see daily. I also encourage the kids to pack their lunches the night before so mornings aren’t always chaotic. This was a lesson I learned when they were younger, when I was still the one making sandwiches and filling water bottles. And for after-school events, I try to have the girls do an activity together so I don’t have to split up to pick them up at the same time.

Back to LI, what do your kids love about Long Island?

I would say the best thing about my kids is that they have their own room here because in NYC they all share a room. It’s funny to see how they transition into the suburban lifestyle when we’re here. They have their little routines with friends where they ride their bikes into town and meet up for ice cream. My youngest loves horseback riding so she takes lessons in the summer and fall. It’s so much fun to see her.

How has your business changed since you’ve been on Long Island?

Stroller In The City has definitely changed since we bought a house here. I’ve started doing more cooking videos because my kitchen is so much bigger and nicer to film here. I’ve also added a lot more home decor content to the blog. I will say that I love filming my fashion content in New York City, but my day-to-day life is much easier to film on Long Island. I think because the lighting is better and there’s more space, that’s important! I think my readers enjoy going back and forth.

Do you think you will ever move to LI full-time?

Absolutely! Every time I leave and go back to NYC, I feel something pulling me back to stay there. It’s definitely something I think about a lot: maybe we’ll stay here permanently once the kids are done with high school.