Water's Edge Resort & Spa

The property began in the early 1900s as a summer beach cottage for the Knothe family, who sold it in 1940. Bill Hahn opened it as a hotel on Memorial Day in 1941, after about a year of setup with his sister Ruth. Hahn gave more than $1 million to the American Cancer Society through donations and fundraisers. In 1982, developer Michael Dattilo bought the closed hotel, renovated it and reopened it as Water's Edge. The resort says it has operated as a beachfront property for over 30 years and describes itself as Connecticut's largest beachfront resort.

The property has 185 rooms in total: 97 hotel rooms, 68 condos and 20 two-bedroom Villas by the Sea, which have ocean views and beach access. Garden Condos sleep four and Loft Condos sleep six. Timeshare units come with a living area, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchenette, a working fireplace and a private balcony, and can be bought or rented through Vacation Club memberships. Private accommodations include a historic colonial residence and two beachfront cottages. Guests can use indoor and outdoor pools, two tennis courts, a fitness center and a business center, and can order room service. Wi-Fi is complimentary. A private sandy beach on the Sound is also available.

Treatments are given by massage therapists and estheticians. The full spa menu is not all bookable online, so for some services guests need to phone the spa. An 18% gratuity is added to every spa service, and state tax applies to all services except massage. Day spa guests can use the indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, fitness center and relaxation room on the day of their appointment, while the outdoor pool and beachfront are reserved for overnight guests. The spa is open 9:00 am to 7:00 pm Sunday through Thursday and 9:00 am to 9:00 pm Friday and Saturday. Day spa packages run seven days a week and have to be finished on the same day. The Elevation Package, with a 50-minute hot stone massage and a Vitamin C brightening facial, is priced at $337 per guest before tax and gratuity.

Dattilo Italian Steakhouse overlooks the ocean and serves Italian dishes, with local oysters as part of the Connecticut Oyster Trail. It has two private dining rooms with fireplaces that seat up to 20, and private dining is available for groups of 10 to 15 with water views. Seaview Bistro serves coastal cuisine and cocktails with indoor and outdoor water-view seating. Sunset Bar & Grill offers seasonal outdoor dining on large patios, and Julia's Beach Bar and Cappuccio Caffé are also on site. Sunday brunch runs from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, and happy hour runs Monday through Thursday from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. The resort describes its brunch as award-winning.

The resort hosts weddings, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, beach ceremonies and ballroom receptions, as well as holiday parties, social events and corporate meetings. It has 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. The I Do Package is designed for winter weddings at the oceanfront venue and includes no site fee, a complimentary two-night waterview room for the couple, special guest room rates, use of a gazebo for photos and two oceanview ballrooms for the ceremony and reception. Wedding sales can be reached by phone or email.

A beachfront resort on Long Island Sound with a private sandy beach and water-view dining.