I want to see the Atlantic Ocean. I'm pretty sure he does, too.
February 4, 2021 1:25 PM Subscribe
I'm sorry, my google-fu can't even.
My dog and I would like to spend a couple of days walking on the beach and gazing at the Atlantic Ocean. We would like to do this as soon as possible. We are not deterred by cold, snow or ice, only by crowds of people without masks.
I'm sorry, my google-fu can't even.
My dog and I would like to spend a couple of days walking on the beach and gazing at the Atlantic Ocean. We would like to do this as soon as possible. We are not deterred by cold, snow or ice, only by crowds of people without masks.
A beach. With parking. That allows dogs on a leash. And looks out onto the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean.
We're looking for someplace within 4 hours of Albany, NY, so Eastern CT, RI, MA,NJ or the south shore of Long Island.
Bonus for some place we might want to return to someday, post pandemic.
I'm sorry, my google-fu can't even.
My dog and I would like to spend a couple of days walking on the beach and gazing at the Atlantic Ocean. We would like to do this as soon as possible. We are not deterred by cold, snow or ice, only by crowds of people without masks.
A beach. With parking. That allows dogs on a leash. And looks out onto the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean.
We're looking for someplace within 4 hours of Albany, NY, so Eastern CT, RI, MA,NJ or the south shore of Long Island.
Bonus for some place we might want to return to someday, post pandemic.
Cape Cod? I was up at Nauset Beach on the Friday after Thanksgiving and there is miles of beach for walking on and lots of ocean to stare at (with seals in it!). There won't be crowds this time of year on the beach. It was a day trip for me so I didn't have to deal with hotels and food but they have drive-thrus and curbside pickup there the same as anywhere else. Mask-wearing was good at the Dunkin where I stopped to use the bathroom and grab a breakfast sandwich.
I grew up north of Boston and still mostly go to the beach on the North Shore or in Maine so I'm not supposed to say this but the Cape Cod National Seashore is legitimately amazing.
posted by mskyle at 1:33 PM on February 4, 2021 [4 favorites]
I grew up north of Boston and still mostly go to the beach on the North Shore or in Maine so I'm not supposed to say this but the Cape Cod National Seashore is legitimately amazing.
posted by mskyle at 1:33 PM on February 4, 2021 [4 favorites]
Long Beach NY.
Fort Tilden has no places to stay, though nearby Rockaway could be ok.
posted by sandmanwv at 1:35 PM on February 4, 2021
Fort Tilden has no places to stay, though nearby Rockaway could be ok.
posted by sandmanwv at 1:35 PM on February 4, 2021
Here are some dog friendly parks in Long Island.
Fire Island off season is a lot of fun, you can walk from the lighthouse and visit the virtually empty towns (and have a chance to spot the wild deer and fox that wander the streets off season). As for camping, there might be something open at this time, but I don't know for sure.
posted by rambling wanderlust at 1:40 PM on February 4, 2021
Fire Island off season is a lot of fun, you can walk from the lighthouse and visit the virtually empty towns (and have a chance to spot the wild deer and fox that wander the streets off season). As for camping, there might be something open at this time, but I don't know for sure.
posted by rambling wanderlust at 1:40 PM on February 4, 2021
Marblehead MA is picturesque AF, has a bunch of (small) beaches, and allows dogs on those beaches from October to April; it is just over 3 hours from Albany. I don't know if there's explicit beach parking, but the whole town is very very walkable.
If you go, please visit The Muffin Shop for some of the titular muffins (I love the corn, triple berry, and chocolate chunk ones especially) and a lobster roll.
The fort, the lighthouse, and Brown's Island are must-sees, but please be sure to watch the tide when you're on Brown's Island, lest you get marooned there once it rises (ask me how I know!)
posted by punchtothehead at 1:51 PM on February 4, 2021 [3 favorites]
If you go, please visit The Muffin Shop for some of the titular muffins (I love the corn, triple berry, and chocolate chunk ones especially) and a lobster roll.
The fort, the lighthouse, and Brown's Island are must-sees, but please be sure to watch the tide when you're on Brown's Island, lest you get marooned there once it rises (ask me how I know!)
posted by punchtothehead at 1:51 PM on February 4, 2021 [3 favorites]
From a web site called "Hike With Your Dog" - a whole list of Dog-Friendly Long Island beaches.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:51 PM on February 4, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:51 PM on February 4, 2021 [2 favorites]
It's a bit of a hike, but how about Provincetown? They have off-leash hours, and miles of hiking trails through the dunes.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 2:16 PM on February 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 2:16 PM on February 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
This time of year you can bring your dog to more beaches than usual. When I want to get some Winter Beaching in, and maybe see some friendly and happy animals but not TOO many humans, I usually go to Horseneck Beach which is in Westport MA. There are a few other neat little places around there including Gooseberry Island (literally, right up the road) and some great places to get food and some places to walk that are also not beaches in case you like that sort of thing. The Winter Cape is also truly gorgeous, I don't know if all the way to Provincetown is necessary but that whole area is dynamite.
posted by jessamyn at 3:08 PM on February 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by jessamyn at 3:08 PM on February 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
New Jersey dog friendly beaches often have a lot to offer. In Asbury Park, you also have a city that is becoming quite a nice place to visit. Sandy Hook it also amazing to visit, with historic areas as well that you can enjoy, usually pretty people free at this time of year.
posted by annieb at 3:41 PM on February 4, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by annieb at 3:41 PM on February 4, 2021 [2 favorites]
Cape Cod in winter is quiet and without the gonzo traffic of summer, there are beaches on either side, with somewhat different characteristics. Cape Cod Natl. Seashore looks like dogs are allowed on leash. There are other beaches if you want to go off leash and your dog is trained. Cape Cod is gorgeous, and the ocean warmth keeps it from being quite as cold as some area. Restaurants and lodgings will be limited.
posted by theora55 at 3:56 PM on February 4, 2021
posted by theora55 at 3:56 PM on February 4, 2021
I was recently at Sandy Hook in New Jersey, which is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. It was cold and deserted and very beautiful. Dogs are allowed out-of-season, and there are currently no fees to access the park (though of course the ranger station is closed). The town of Highlands looms over the beach - indeed, it's the highest place on the entire East Coast between Maine and Mexico - and had cool local attractions.
posted by minervous at 5:38 PM on February 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by minervous at 5:38 PM on February 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
I'm a little late to the party, but I'd like to recommend the New Hampshire coast. Hampton Beach is absolutely lovely, although the website says dogs are not allowed to walk on the beach in New Hampshire state parks. There are definitely areas to walk next to the beach. This is the Hampton Beach website. I highly recommend checking out the webcam to see if it's what you're looking for. It's a good webcam. I've never been to Hampton Beach in the winter, but the whole northeast just got clobbered with a nor'easter, so I can't imagine there will be crowds.
There are a couple of perks of the NH seacoast. There is a breakwall with a walkway on it along the majority of the coast (probably icy right now though). There's a nice little downtown area in Portsmouth, NH which is more applicable in non-covid times. You're very close to Maine and Massachusetts, so you could check out the coast in a variety of states. If you like seafood, Newicks is the best seafood restaurant I have ever been to. I drove 6 hours round trip one day over the summer just to get my fix. The restaurant has a very large indoor dining area, with tables well spread out for covid, and they were taking contact information for contact tracing over the summer. They also do takeout, if you're not up for eating inside.
The best part about the NH seacoast for you is how easy it is to get there. From Albany, you would take the NYS 7 east through Hoosick, and just keep driving. 7 turns into VT 9, then shortly after the NH border, it turns into NH 101, which ends at the Atlantic Ocean. Probably about 3 and a half hours. Do not recommend making the drive in a snow storm though, as it is pretty hilly. The Bennington Battle Monument has a nice little park and restroom (may or may not be open in winter). Needless to say, I've done the trek to Hampton Beach a number of times over the years (from Buffalo). Definitely check out the webcam to see if it's what you're looking for.
posted by DEiBnL13 at 9:45 PM on February 4, 2021
There are a couple of perks of the NH seacoast. There is a breakwall with a walkway on it along the majority of the coast (probably icy right now though). There's a nice little downtown area in Portsmouth, NH which is more applicable in non-covid times. You're very close to Maine and Massachusetts, so you could check out the coast in a variety of states. If you like seafood, Newicks is the best seafood restaurant I have ever been to. I drove 6 hours round trip one day over the summer just to get my fix. The restaurant has a very large indoor dining area, with tables well spread out for covid, and they were taking contact information for contact tracing over the summer. They also do takeout, if you're not up for eating inside.
The best part about the NH seacoast for you is how easy it is to get there. From Albany, you would take the NYS 7 east through Hoosick, and just keep driving. 7 turns into VT 9, then shortly after the NH border, it turns into NH 101, which ends at the Atlantic Ocean. Probably about 3 and a half hours. Do not recommend making the drive in a snow storm though, as it is pretty hilly. The Bennington Battle Monument has a nice little park and restroom (may or may not be open in winter). Needless to say, I've done the trek to Hampton Beach a number of times over the years (from Buffalo). Definitely check out the webcam to see if it's what you're looking for.
posted by DEiBnL13 at 9:45 PM on February 4, 2021
Gloucester has a number of beautiful beaches, and dogs are permitted on most of them during the off season.
Good Harbor is our favorite. The main parking lot is closed off-season, but on-street parking is allowed on Bass Avenue near the footbridge entrance at the east end of the beach. If you can arrange to be there at low tide, there is a lot more beach (Cape Ann has an unusually large tidal range) and depending on conditions you can walk the sandbar to Salt Island.
Cressy Beach at Stage Fort Park is not as spectacular as Good Harbor, but there is plenty of parking and you can walk from there along Stacy Boulevard, past the Fisherman's Memorial, to Pavilion Beach and downtown.
Also, pretty much everybody wears a mask.
posted by mr vino at 3:01 AM on February 5, 2021
Good Harbor is our favorite. The main parking lot is closed off-season, but on-street parking is allowed on Bass Avenue near the footbridge entrance at the east end of the beach. If you can arrange to be there at low tide, there is a lot more beach (Cape Ann has an unusually large tidal range) and depending on conditions you can walk the sandbar to Salt Island.
Cressy Beach at Stage Fort Park is not as spectacular as Good Harbor, but there is plenty of parking and you can walk from there along Stacy Boulevard, past the Fisherman's Memorial, to Pavilion Beach and downtown.
Also, pretty much everybody wears a mask.
posted by mr vino at 3:01 AM on February 5, 2021
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posted by coffeecat at 1:29 PM on February 4, 2021