Sometimes a New England summer can come and go, and you suddenly realize: I’ve never set foot in the ocean or in a pool! For many water-loving humans, this is a wake-up call that sends them flying to the Caribbean in winter. But you don’t have to go to the trouble and expense of flying to warmer weather if you want to dive in and swim outdoors this winter.
New England might not be your first thought for year-round outdoor swimming, but if you’re visiting during the winter months and want to swim outdoors without freezing your parts in a Polar Bear Plunge, you actually have a few options. There are a dozen hotels and resorts here that offer heated outdoor pools year-round.
Massachusetts
The family-friendly Cape Codder Resort & Spa in Hyannis, Massachusetts offers New England’s most colorful option – its Rainbow Falls saltwater pool is heated and bathed in colorful LED lights at night throughout the year. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, at least one hour is reserved for adults only. On winter weekdays, when the kids are at school, the adults have a good chance to have this romantic pool to themselves as well.
In the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, book a stay at the classic Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge or the trendy Porches Inn at Mass MoCA in North Adams, and you can also brave the elements and take a dip in the freezing air. Both of these signature properties also have outdoor hot tubs that bubble and soothe throughout the winter. The Porches offers maximum flexibility – its heated outdoor pool and whirlpool are open to guests 24 hours a day.
Maine
After a long day of tackling the slopes at Newry, Maine’s Sunday River, skiers love the warmth of the Grand Summit Hotel’s heated outdoor pool and hot tub. In nearby Bethel, Maine, the Bethel Inn Resort also offers guests a year-round heated outdoor pool, which is maintained at a temperature of 90 ° F. Steam rises from the water’s surface in misty towers when the pool is surrounded by feet of snow.
Budget-conscious Maine travelers who wish they could say they swam outside in the middle of a snowstorm should check into the Best Western Merry Manor Inn in South Portland, where rooms can be reserved for under $ 100 this winter. The hotel’s year-round heated outdoor pool is wonderfully designed so you can swim from inside, where your towel and clothing will stay warm and dry.
New Hampshire
In North Conway, New Hampshire, you can swim outdoors year-round and enjoy fabulous views of the White Mountains. At the White Mountain Hotel and Resort, the heated outdoor pool and year-round hot tub are inviting after a day of vigorous winter snow sports or shopping.
In Bartlett, New Hampshire, the Grand Summit Hotel in Attitash offers hillside access to Attitash Mountain Resort, plus the after-ski appeal of outdoor hot tubs and a year-round outdoor pool. The heated outdoor pool at Indian Head Resort is lakeside, and winter guests at this centuries-old Lincoln, New Hampshire retreat can catch snowflakes on their tongues while practicing the backstroke.
In New Hampshire’s Lake District, enjoy a getaway at Church Landing at Mill Falls at the Lake, and you’ll love the two-in-one experience of swimming in the indoor and outdoor pool in any weather.
Vermont
The mist rises to greet those who soak in the heated outdoor pool at the Green Mountain Inn in Stowe, Vermont, on chilly days. And at the Hawk Inn & Mountain Resort in Plymouth, Vermont, they practically invented the idea of swimming outside in the dead of winter. Hawk Inn opened Vermont’s first year-round outdoor heated pool in 1997, and guests will find it heated to 90 ° F in the winter months. Overlooking the green, snow-capped mountains, you’ll feel like you’re in a dream… until you have to brush the icicles out of your hair.
Packing Tip: If you’re staying at a New England hotel with a heated outdoor pool this winter, be sure to bring a cozy robe or coat to put on when you get out of the water, as well as shoes that are easy to remove. on.
