Greenwich Point juts out into Long Island Sound at the edge of Old Greenwich, Connecticut, and the view from its shore is the reason to stop: a wide expanse of water dotted with sailboats, small rocky islands, and on a clear day the low line of Long Island on the horizon and, far to the southwest, the towers of Manhattan rising faintly from the haze. Old Greenwich itself is a pretty village of shingled houses, small shops and a little railway station, part of the wealthy town of Greenwich.
Greenwich Point Park, known locally as Tod's Point, was once a private estate, and the town bought it in the 1940s. It now has beaches, walking paths, salt marshes and an old stone building from the estate, and it is a favourite place for joggers, birdwatchers and families. In summer, access is limited to residents and their guests, with passes required, so for visitors the off-season, roughly autumn to spring, is the best time to visit. Outside summer, the park is quiet, and the light on the water early or late in the day is beautiful.
The riding to Old Greenwich is short and civilised. Shore Road and Sound Beach Avenue wind through the village and along the water, with big houses, stone walls and old trees. The Boston Post Road, US 1, runs through town with shops, restaurants and traffic lights. To the north, the Merritt Parkway, a historic road from the 1930s with ornate stone bridges and wooded borders, is a parkway built as much for looking as for driving, though trucks are banned and the lanes are narrow.
Old Greenwich has cafes, delis and a few restaurants, and fuel is easy to find on US 1. Greenwich, with its fancy shops and restaurants, is just a few minutes away.
For photographers, the best images here come in the golden hour, with the sun low over the water, or on a winter morning when the Sound is calm and grey and the islands seem to float. It is a gentle stop before the longer run north toward the Adirondack foothills and the wilder roads beyond.