10 Things I Love About Greenwich (That Surprised Me)

When I first moved to Greenwich, I thought I knew what I was getting. A charming town near New York City. Good schools. Nice restaurants. The usual suburban checklist.

Then I actually lived here.

What surprised me wasn't what I expected. It was what I didn't. Here are the things that made me fall in love with this place beyond the obvious reasons everyone seems to mention.

1. The Hidden Beaches

Yes, Greenwich Point Park (locals call it Tod's Point) is gorgeous. It's 147 acres of beach and recreation area right on the Long Island Sound. But Byram Park in the western part of town? That's where I go when I want to remember why I moved away from the city.

It's quieter. There's actual space on the sand. The same Long Island Sound views, but without feeling like you're standing in line for an experience. If you know about Byram Park, you already get what makes suburban living work.

The town also owns Island Beach and Great Captain Island, both accessible by ferry. These aren't just beaches. They're day trip destinations that make you forget you're in a suburb at all.

Source: Town of Greenwich Parks and Recreation

2. The Coffee Shop Culture

I used to think suburban coffee meant chains and mediocrity.

Then I found Coffee Café Roasters in Cos Cob. The owner knows my name. The espresso is actually interesting. Other regulars become friends without trying. This is the kind of place that makes you want to get your morning caffeine locally instead of grabbing it to go.

There are others scattered throughout town. Each one has its own crowd, its own vibe. This is community building disguised as your morning routine.

3. The Farmers' Market Actually Matters

Every Saturday, Old Greenwich fills with people selling food they actually grew. Not imported from somewhere else. Not sitting in a warehouse for two weeks.

I buy vegetables here because they taste different. My kids come because there's energy in the air. Neighbors catch up. It's become something I do, not something I go to. That distinction matters more than it should.

Source: Old Greenwich Farmers' Market

4. The Bruce Museum Punches Above Its Weight

The Bruce Museum sits on the water and hosts exhibitions that would fit right into a major city. One month it's contemporary art. The next, it's science and history. My family has a membership and we actually use it, which tells you something.

It's not enormous or overwhelming. It's exactly the right size for a Saturday morning or a rainy afternoon. Quality over scale. That's Greenwich.

Source: Bruce Museum, Greenwich, CT

5. The Babcock Preserve Is Your Personal Woodland

Three hundred acres of trails. Miles of hiking. Trees everywhere. And it's not crowded because people don't know about it like they know about state parks.

I went from walking on concrete to walking through actual forest in fifteen minutes. That's not something I expected to factor into my love for this town, but it does. A lot.

Source: Babcock Preserve, Greenwich Land Trust

6. The Food Scene Is Genuinely Good

I'm not talking about the fancy-name restaurants everyone writes about. I mean Polpo. I mean the sushi places that have lines out the door because the food is right. I mean the neighborhood spots where the chef actually cares about what ends up on your plate.

The thing that surprised me is that they stay. Owners build here. They're not passing through to bigger cities. They chose this.

Source: Greenwich Area Dining Guide

7. The Architecture Tells Stories

Walking through different neighborhoods, you notice the buildings. Some are 150 years old. Others are recent. What's wild is seeing how they sit next to each other without fighting.

Belle Haven has these incredible historic homes. Old Greenwich has a different character entirely. Riverside another. You're not in one generic suburb. You're in a place with actual history written into its landscape.

8. The Community Events Bring People Together

The Greenwich Town Party isn't just a festival. It's residents deciding to show up for their town. Music, food, kids running around, neighbors you didn't know you had suddenly introducing themselves.

This happens year after year. People know about it. They plan for it. That consistency builds something real.

Source: Town of Greenwich, CT

9. The Outdoor Life Isn't Just Possible, It's Built In

Parks. Golf courses. Hiking trails. Water access. Sailing clubs that have been here since 1888. The Riverside Yacht Club isn't new money trying to look fancy. It's actual history.

You don't need a gym membership because there are places to move around. You don't need to drive an hour to nature because you're already close to it.

The town also has Griffith E. Harris Golf Course, which locals call "The Griff." It's public, which means you don't need a membership to play. That's rare in this area.

Source: Riverside Yacht Club; Town of Greenwich Parks and Recreation

10. The People Actually Want to Know Their Neighbors

This surprised me most of all. Despite what you might think about an affluent Connecticut town, there's genuine friendliness. People actually care about their community.

Newcomers aren't treated as temporary. You're invited to block parties. Asked about your family. Included in neighborhood initiatives. It feels like a town that chose to be this way, rather than one that had to be.

The Unexpected Part

When people ask why I love Greenwich, I used to rattle off the surface reasons. Good schools. Easy commute to New York. The shopping.

Now I talk about the beaches nobody knows about. The Saturday mornings at the farmers' market. The way neighbors actually become friends. The trails that make you forget you're in a suburb.

I moved here for the obvious reasons. I stayed for the surprises.