17 photos that show why wealthy homebuyers are ditching the Hamptons for this laid-back island destination

Courtesy of Sotheby's

This Shelter Island property is on the market for $32 million.

If you're looking for a quiet seaside destination to summer in, Shelter Island might be just the ticket.

This 8,000-acre island sandwiched between the North and South Forks of Long Island has long been known as the Hamptons' quieter sibling. It's stayed this way mainly because it's only accessible by ferry.

Local real estate broker Jonathan Smith of Sotheby's says that Shelter Island's less convenient location (for New Yorkers, at least) has helped to keep property prices down.

"It's in the heart of the Hamptons but separated by ferry, and that impacts the perceived value of land," Smith told Business Insider. "It offers excellent value for Hamptons buyers."

According to real estate site Trulia, median listing prices for homes in Shelter Island's most expensive neighborhoods hover around $1 million. The median listing price for houses listed in the Hamptons' most expensive hamlets - parts of East Hampton and Southampton, for example - are as high as $6.5 million.

We've rounded up the best spots to eat, drink, and stay on the island. And if you like it enough, check out some of the most high-end real estate you can pick up right now on Shelter Island.