Old Greenwich

With its' own zip code, 06870, Old Greenwich occupies the southeastern edge of the town of Greenwich, bordering Stamford and extending into Long Island Sound. A summer beach resort in the 19th century, it takes in a large peninsula that tapers into a spit prized town wide as a public recreation area. Officially, the 147-acre site is called Greenwich Point Park; unofficially, it is known as Tod’s Point, after a banker who once had an estate there.

Old Greenwich, which was the original town of Greenwich, as it was the first area settled by Europeans, has undergone several name changes. According to the town historical society, in the mid-1800s, Greenwich was used to designate the central part of town, and the original Greenwich was renamed Greenwich, Old Town. In 1872, to draw summer tourists to the shoreline inns, the area was called Sound Beach. But public access to the shoreline gradually diminished, and in 1931 the beach moniker was dropped in favor of Old Greenwich.

The heart of Old Greenwich (population 6,600) is its business district on Sound Beach Avenue, the main thoroughfare. The look is small-town America: rows of shops beneath colorful awnings, benches for sitting, plentiful flowerpots. Most of the businesses are independently owned.

The area also has its own train station, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Perrot Memorial Library. Nearby is 32-acre Binney Park, a green oasis with a duck pond and footbridges.

Greenwich Point is the hub for outdoor activity. With panoramic views of the Sound, the park is used for swimming, fishing, sailing, picnicking, hiking and cycling. Seasonal park passes are available to town residents for around $33; for those without passes or for nonresidents, the is a daily entry fee per vehicle plus per person.

A seasonal farmers market is held Wednesday afternoons in the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church.

The private Innis Arden Golf Club has an 18-hole golf course, swimming pools and tennis. The Rocky Point Club, also members-only, offers swimming and sailing.

The Metro-North train ride to Grand Central Terminal from Old Greenwich takes about an hour.