No need to wait for June to feel the sand and hear the waves. Winter is a special time to hit the beach in the Northeast. Let the crowds stay in the city while you enjoy the solitude of the sea. When the cold wind blows, the prices tumble for those hearty souls who enjoy the ocean despite the chill.
Leave your flip-flops and sunscreen at home, but be sure to pack your warmest socks and coziest mittens to bundle up for your moonlit seaside stroll. These five beach resorts near NYC are open year-round, ready to show you the wintry charms of the off-season.
Chateau Inn & Suites | Spring Lake, New Jersey | chateauinn.com
If you haven’t experienced the charms of this seaside community, get ready to be won over. Although it manages to avoid feeling crowded even in the height of summer, winter visitors will experience peace and quiet like no other time of the year. You can bike or jog this town’s commercial-free boardwalk in all but the harshest of weather. The shops and restaurants along quaint Third Avenue remain open year-round, so you will have the opportunity to sample those delicious handmade chocolates at the Third Avenue Chocolate Shoppe. The Chateau Inn provides guests with a super location, only a few minutes walk from the beach or the shops. Some of the 37 rooms boast Jacuzzis and fireplaces, so inquire when booking. All effortlessly blend charm with modern amenities like plasma TV’s. The common area is full of sweet touches, such as afternoon tea and biscuits.
Cost: The Winter Weekend Getaway Package serves up a bottle of champagne, two nights (Friday or Saturday arrival) in a lovely room with a 7 p.m. checkout on your departure day, and continental breakfast served in the parlor each morning starting at $287 total per couple for the two nights.
Package valid until March 28.
How to get there: NJTransit to Spring Lake takes 75 minutes. You can see the Inn from the station.
Ocean House | Watch Hill, Rhode Island | oceanhouseri.com
If you are looking for the ultimate luxurious beach hotel, you have found it. Ocean House manages to effortlessly blend opulence and understatement in just the right measures. This is the place to come and pamper yourself. If you don’t, a member of the super-professional staff will. Head out to the veranda to watch the waves from a comfy wicker chair, and someone will cover you with a cashmere blanket and hand you a hot mulled cider before you even realize you are cold. Everything about this place screams style and elegance. This once-historic grande dame hotel was completely rebuilt and re-opened last spring, with meticulous attention to detail, keeping much of its genteel original flavor. Rooms feature every comfort, from the finest linens to bathtubs with ocean views. In the off-season, you may have the indoor salt-water lap pool all to yourself. The OH! Spa menu changes seasonally, so look for an array of cinnamon, orange and clove inspired treatments this winter. Don’t miss the chance to dine at the resorts farm-to-table restaurant, Seasons. Dynamic wunderkind Chef Eric Haugen works closely with the in-house forager to create nightly menus using predominately locally sourced ingredients. The open kitchen allows you to see Chef’s talents in action, as he works with the precision of a surgeon, perfecting each plate before it arrives at your table. The resort has just enough activities planned each day, from morning yoga to classes with the Pastry Chef to keep you busy even if the weather doesn’t cooperate. Whatever Mother Nature throws at you, a walk on the beach is in order, because the Ocean House is located on one of the Atlantic’s most pristine stretches.
Cost: Check the Seasonal Packages page for information on frequently updated deals like the Epicurean Adventure, which includes Deluxe or Terrace room accommodations, daily farm-to-table breakfast, two 3-course dinners for two and a welcome bottle of wine. Call 888.552.2588 for the latest rates and availability.
How to get there: Amtrak to Westerly, RI. takes 3 hours. The resort’s Mercedes will shuttle you the short drive back and forth, just let them know when you reserve.
The Inn at Stonington | Stonington, CT | innatstonington.com
Locals call this once thriving Portuguese fishing village “The Borough.” You can walk to all the shops and restaurants on Water Street as well as the Old Lighthouse Museum and The Point, the picturesque beach near this Inn’s ideal location. The Borough blends the natural beauty of its scenic port with cultural offerings that are quite diverse for such a petite village. The La Grua Center is a non-profit cultural organization that host’s concerts, lectures and art exhibits open to the public year-round. On a Sunday afternoon at 5pm, the local literati will gather at the Stonington Free Library for the Sunday Evening lecture Series. The individually owned shops include Dockside Dogs, a proper pet boutique and a must stop-in for dog-lovers. The Inn has 12 rooms in the main building and an additional six in the annex. They are spacious and many offer harbor views, and nearly all have Jacuzzi tubs and gas fireplaces. Décor is vaguely nautical, but in just the right dose. The clean, neutral colors are never obtrusive, and the friendly staff adds to the ambience of a homey boutique hotel. Wine-and-cheese receptions are held nightly, and guests can enjoy a copious continental breakfast. The common areas provide stunning views of the harbor, and comfy seating encourages lazy afternoons curled up with a good novel.
Cost: Winter weekday rates start at $195 and weekend rates at $225. See more rates on the Inn’s page.
How to get there: Take Amtrak to Mystic and arrive in under three hours. Yellow Cab (860.536.8888) will pick you up at the Station, but you need to reserve. Peter Pan bus goes to Mystic, but be sure to book your cab in advance, as there are none roaming in the vicinity. The cab will only wait for five minutes, so call if you hit traffic and are running late. Cabs to Stonington cost around $10 from the train station, $15 from the bus stop.
Sag Harbor Inn | Sag Harbor, Long Island | sagharborinn.com
Long celebrated as a hideaway for literary greats like John Steinbeck and E.L. Doctorow, this quaint village makes a fine off-season retreat. Of course Sag Harbor is just that, a harbor, so don’t expect to feel sand between your frozen toes. Do expect to wander the village’s narrow streets and get an authentic feel for this historical whaling town. Restaurants and stores on Main Street, including the much-loved independent bookstore, BookHampton, are open year-round. Cinephiles should enjoy watching the eclectic programming of foreign and art house films at the old-fashioned Sag Harbor Cinema. The Sag Harbor Inn offers 42 rooms and the sort of attentive, friendly service that you can find at family owned and operated hotels.
Cost: Please refer to Specials for the latest available packages. The Sag Harbor Inn offers reunion rates, perfect for bringing the entire family on a relaxing getaway.
How to get there: The Hampton Jitney has numerous pick-up spots in NYC, and will drop you off three blocks from the Sag Harbor Inn. The ride takes about two hours.
Allegria Hotel | Long Beach, New York | allegriahotelny.com
You don’t need to fly to South Beach to feel like you are at the latest “it” hotel. The LIRR will get you to Long Beach in under an hour. The Allegria is trendy, sleek, and festive. Pack your sneakers for a morning jog or stroll along the boardwalk and watch the surfers, who are out in every season. Rooms feature blond wood tones and many have ocean views. Don’t miss the chance to dine at the hotel’s restaurant, Atlantica. Chef Todd Jacob’s seafood couldn’t be any fresher, and his magic touch extends all the way to dessert. (If blueberry-cornbread pudding is on the menu, you’re in luck.) His menu champions local, organic fare, and he has earned a “Green Skillet Award” for promoting its use.
Cost: Allegria is currently offering a deal in which visitors receive 20% off when they book four nights. More information can be found on their Specials page.
How to get there: The LIRR gets you to Long Beach in 50 minutes. The Allegria is located five blocks from the station.
Photo courtesy of the Allegria Hotel.
Also check out our guide to winter aquatic adventure within NYC.
Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributes travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She is fluent in Italian and Spanish and laughably adequate in French. Her background as an Early Childhood Educator gives her an added understanding of what it takes to travel with kids in tow. She firmly believes that the most important part of education takes place outside of the classroom, on the road, around the world. She never misses a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. Follow Allison at @gourmetrav.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram