For a relaxing winter retreat, we like these four destinations because they’re hot, beautiful, and easy to explore without a car. Whether you choose to sink your toes into the sugar-white sand of the #1 beach in America, stay in a Panama ecolodge tucked away in a cloud forest, or bike between the secluded coves of Bermuda, you’ll appreciate how feasible a car-free adventure can be in some of the most breathtaking and remote places in the world.
Sarasota
Beautiful beach towns are a dime a dozen in Florida. In Sarasota, you will find a coastal haven coupled with an artist’s soul. You can spend the morning seaside, basking in the sunshine, before you ditch the bikini and view a world-class collection of paintings by the Old Masters. When the sun goes down, choose between a night at the opera, ballet, symphony or theater. In Sarasota, a city filled with car-free options, the beach vibe blends with an artistic sensibility that will have New Yorkers feeling right at home.
Panama
Here in Panama, the sun rises over the Caribbean and sets over the Pacific Ocean, always in a blaze of orange and pink. The flowers pop with incredible yellows and fuchsias. Pristine beaches, tropical jungles, and more than 1,500 species of birds and butterflies are at your fingertips. Soccer is the second language to Spanish and people treat you with a “Welcome Home” hospitality. From swimming with manta rays to a romantic cloud forest hideaway to tasting the world’s best coffee at the source, these are the best things to do in Panama during their summer (January—March), before the rainy season begins.
Bermuda
With summer still months and months away, the New York winter can feel like an endless barrage of snowy, wet, windy weather. The antidote? A truly car-free romantic, tropical getaway to beat those cold winter blues. Bermuda’s year-round mild climate, miles of secluded coves, pink sandy beaches, and close proximity to New York, make it a perfect long-weekend retreat. So it was a pleasure to discover Bermuda’s naturally green-leaning laws and lifestyle. Getting to the Island is easy, direct flights from New York take about 90 minutes. Book a shuttle service from the airport to your hotel or resort and you’ll never have to get into a car your entire stay.
Puerto Rico
If you think you have to cross the Atlantic to stroll narrow cobblestone streets and visit ornate cathedrals, think again. A three-hour, non-stop flight from JFK will bring you to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The mood is decidedly Latin here, but Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, so you can leave your passport at home. The entire seven square blocks of Old San Juan is made for walking. It’s a Unesco World Heritage Site, but you would be mistaken to think that this is a vacation destination exclusively for history majors. This dynamic, invigorating, 24-hour-a-day town offers fine dining, a trendy art scene, salsa music late into the night, casino gambling, shopping and lots of active recreational opportunities. Of course, don’t forget that sugar-white sand beaches are only a short bus ride from the old city.
Bangkok
Thailand’s “City of Angels” packs over nine million residents into 600 square miles. Side saddling high schoolers and entire families moped through the streets, weaving past taxis, trucks and tuk-tuks. It’s a chaotic town, yet somewhere between the traffic, mega-malls and sleepless street vendors, Bangkok can offer serenity, a vibrant arts scene, and flashes of an eco-conscious culture.
Oaxaca
Beyond the flashy beaches of Cancun and cosmopolitan Mexico City, lies the state of Oaxaca. Oaxaca (also the name of the state’s capital) is a gentle city that mixes the colonial character of traditional Spanish plazas, churches and cobblestone with the indigenous legacy of agricultural and pre-Columbian art.
For more car-free getaway ideas around the world, visit oM’s Way Off site.
Lead photo: Michael
The co-founder and editor-at-large at offMetro, Lauren is a sustainable travel specialist and freelance journalist with frequent bylines in National Geographic, Bicycling Magazine and Shape. Follow Lauren’s adventures at @laurenmati.
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