It’s just past 6 a.m., and my eyes slowly flutter open. The inside of Milo’s Beach Shack is dark, except for the thin band of muted daylight barely peeking out the edges of the blackout shades.
I consider getting up to make coffee using the Chemex pour-over available in the room, but then I remember it’s Sunday, and I have nowhere I need to be but this cloud-like bed.
At Silver Sands Motel, a beachfront boutique hotel on Long Island’s North Fork, that “easy like Sunday morning” vibe is present 24/7. Their mantra is “Happiness forgets,” a philosophy that when you are truly present, time slows, worries fade, and life unfolds at the pace of the shoreline. And when I eventually lift the shades to reveal a cinematic mist rolling over the gentle waves in Peconic Bay, that ethos is as clear as day, despite the morning fog.
As the property enters its fourth year under new ownership, Silver Sands continues its meticulous rejuvenation of the iconic 1957 Greenport landmark with its latest addition: the Salt Marsh Wellness Sanctuary.
Honoring a Greenport landmark through sustainability
Silver Sands, along with its glowing neon seahorse sign, has remained a fixture on Pipes Cove since the 1950s. But when Alexander Perros became stewards of the 45-acre property in 2022, it was in need of a serious revival. Through a context-driven collaboration with Leroy Street Studio Architects and Hollander Design, they have managed to preserve the spirit of the mid-century original while introducing the understated comforts of a modern waterfront retreat. A later phase of the project included The Beach Houses, which opened in the summer of 2024.
The idea that “simplicity is the luxury” is the foundation of their entire operation. And like any true luxury, they understand that building things the right way takes time. It began with a 14-month restoration of the landscape and rooms, transforming the property into one of only two all-electric, fossil-fuel-free hotels in the United States. These meticulous efforts recently earned the property a 2025 Hospitality Design Award for Landscape and Outdoor Spaces.
They planted more than 13,000 native grasses and trees, removed invasive species, and established a legally protected 100-foot wetland buffer around the property’s 18-acre salt marsh. In collaboration with the North Fork Audubon Society and the Centre Island Bird Sanctuary, they installed a dedicated Purple Martin nesting colony, which last summer hosted 14 nesting pairs.
Slowly, they have continued to layer in upgrades. In 2023, Perros’ wife, Anna Perros, led the vivid, 1970s-inspired design of the property’s Beach Houses, which opened in the summer of 2024. Late last year, they quietly introduced The Boathouse, a restored century-old structure on the working waterfront that quickly became a cozy local favorite.
The latest addition is just another example of this “IYKYK” mentality. Billed as the North Fork’s first hotel spa, the Salt Marsh Wellness Sanctuary enjoyed a discreet soft opening in March before officially debuting in early May. It serves as a serene, nature-inspired retreat for restoration and stillness.
“We’ve always preferred to let things unfold more naturally rather than over-announce them,” Anna explains of their strategy. “It creates a different kind of discovery—more personal, less performative.”
The art of slowing down
Right at the edge of the wetlands sits the new sanctuary: a space to truly unwind and reset through ritual and hydrotherapy. Deliberately moving away from the highly social, prescriptive wellness environments commonly found out east, the sanctuary operates as a fully private, reservation-only experience exclusive to hotel guests. Experiences range from a self-guided hydrotherapy ritual to treatments that include private access to the sauna, steam room and cold plunge. The true luxury is the guarantee of zero overlap with strangers — meaning you get the entire retreat to yourself, whether it’s a small group of friends, a couple’s retreat or a solo spa day.
“Many areas at Silver Sands are inherently social … There’s an energy to those spaces that we value, but we also felt something was missing: a place that offered the exact opposite experience,” Anna notes. “It’s a place where you can step away from everything and feel completely on your own, even while being on property.”
My session starts with a trio of nourishing, gluten-free snacks crafted by Executive Chef Finn O’Hara: cinnamon apple chips, fruit and granola bars, and chocolate-covered gooseberries that burst in your mouth with a delightful combination of tangy and sweet. It’s accompanied by a chef-curated tea service; I go with the Chana Cacao Chai, which has a subtle spiciness to it.
Next, I partake in the unstructured, self-guided ritual, moving freely between heat and cold. There is a panoramic hybrid sauna with custom lighting options; a large steam room with benches, a shower, and aromatherapy; and finally, an outdoor cold plunge looking out over the salt marsh. (I last approximately 30 seconds in the 50-degree tub.) Back inside, the light, airy lounge provides a space for relaxation with blankets, books, and infused water.
Ocean-infused restoration
A 30-minute hydrotherapy session is also included as part of the guided treatments such as yoga, deep tissue massage or the sanctuary’s signature Salt Marsh Sculpting Facial. The latter was thoughtfully shaped by Victoria Schade, a highly sought-after North Fork aesthetician who co-owns Greenport’s Special Effects salon alongside her mother.
Intentionally moving away from the harsh extractions of a traditional spa, Schade and the Silver Sands team designed an intuitive, 60-minute restorative experience that mixes tradition with technology. The treatment utilizes ancient gua sha, gentle cupping, and a finishing layer of Celluma PRO LED light therapy to encourage lymphatic flow.
“More than anything, I wanted guests to leave with a new perspective on what a skin treatment can actually be,” Schade explains.
According to Schade, the true magic lies in the 30 minutes of private hydrotherapy access guests receive just before the facial begins. “It’s not just a lovely add-on—it genuinely transforms the treatment,” she notes, emphasizing the full benefits of the restorative setting. “By the time a guest arrives on my table, their mind, body, and skin are already open and receptive.”
This is further enhanced by Silver Sands’ new designation as the only hospitality property on the North Fork to exclusively partner with OSEA Skincare. The facial features the brand’s seaweed-infused formulas, which Schade weaves throughout the treatment to leave guests immediately lifted, plump, and radiant, meaning you can walk straight from the sanctuary to dinner.
A comprehensive coastal retreat
Between the new spa and the robust culinary offerings, Silver Sands has deliberately evolved into a comprehensive destination; one where the urge to leave the property completely dissolves.
In the mornings, you can opt for a delivery from Pip’s Cafe & Provisions, their Greenport sister restaurant, which will bring coffee and fresh-baked pastries straight to your door. Of course, you can visit Nookies, the bright mid-century diner named one of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2024 Best New Hotel Restaurants in the World. Here, Executive Chef Finn O’Hara recently debuted a new spring menu packed with seasonal produce, such as the early spring citrus with toasted hazelnuts, Taggiasco olives, and Fresno chile, or the crispy skate wing topped with sugar snap peas and mint lightly dressed in a turmeric vinaigrette.
The Lobby Bar serves as a warm communal gathering place, where Friday and Saturday happy hours include freshly shucked oysters with wine and French fries. The Boathouse checks the box of a quirky, coastal watering hole serving upscale tavern food as the property’s casual, walk-in complement. Meanwhile, the seasonal open-air restaurant, Eddie’s, reopens on May 15 as a fully outdoor, reservation-based experience.
Beyond the dining, Silver Sands encourages visitors to explore the North Fork at their own unhurried pace. Guests can book a sailing excursion on Peconic Bay, take a tour of their sustainable 15-acre underwater oyster farm, or even partake in a signature “you fish, we cook” experience. Back on land, there’s plenty of room for bocce, biking and birdwatching across the property’s 45 acres. It all reinforces that feeling of unstructured leisure, bringing the very best of the North Fork directly to your (beach shack) doorstep.
Happiness forgets
As our little staycation comes to a close, I can envision just how much joy this place has brought to vacationers over the past seven decades. Alex and Anna Perros have preserved that carefree summer spirit in a way that pays respect to the land and embraces a sanctuary where the outside world peacefully slips away.
I ask Anna what ‘Happiness Forgets’ means to her, and while she says the phrase is purposefully left open to interpretation, its core sentiment is universal: “It speaks to the idea that happiness exists outside of time and noise. It’s not something you have to chase or document—it’s simply felt in the moment, often in the simplest things.”
And as I pack up my bags, I leave knowing exactly what she means.