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This... is Greenwich Connecticut. We are going to explore the stunning Greenwich CT Waterfront, so you can decide which area is a fit for you

Hi, my name is Charlie Vinci. I am a Greenwich CT Realtor, and my realty team and I specialize in helping buyers understand what living in Greenwich CT entails and how to relocate to the area.

Today we will be exploring the Greenwich waterfront, answering your questions and showing you what this beautiful area has to offer. 

Table of Contents:

Introduction:

Learning what Greenwich waterfront real estate has to offer can be challenging to say the least. Many areas are private, with gated security, and you may only have a few options on the market at any given time. 

We receive questions from clients all the time about Greenwich waterfront property:

  • How do you know if the home is in a tighter community, or if the community offers more privacy?
  • What are the views like? Do you look over a mud flat to an industrial park? Or is there a picturesque island cluster just off shore?
  • Can you get out of the dock at low tide?
  • What amenities are nearby? Village areas, high end shopping, restaurants or clubs you can join?

Not only am I going to answer these questions, I’ll show you the view from every direction, and give you access to a waterfront market report so you can see what's available now, and what has sold recently. Let's start with Byram Shore:

Byram Shore:

If you are heading towards Greenwich from Manhattan, this would be the first waterfront neighborhood along Connecticut's Gold Coast. You will find the highly sought after waterfront property along Byram Shore Road to have magnificent views. 

When you look southwest from Byram Point, you have the Port Chester harbor with views of Port Chester and Rye, New York. Living in the small, private community on Byram Point allows you access to the relatively large and sandy Hawthorne Beach. 

Speaking of beaches, many of the homes in the neighborhood have a private beach and the water is deep in most locations making it ideal for access to your dock at all tides, even with larger boats.

To the southeast, Byram Shore offers a cluster of offshore islands that enhance the already beautiful waterfront. 

Shore Island, just a few hundred feet off the coast, is privately owned.

However, you can reach Shell Island by kayak or powerboat. It’s owned by Greenwich land trust, and boasts a magnificent tower. At low tide, it’s connected to the federally owned calf island, allowing you to explore both at the same time. Both offer sandy beaches, and on the west side of Calf Island island you will find a bird sanctuary. 

If that wasn't enough, Greenwich offers two more islands just a bit farther off the coast that are public and accessible by ferry.

Great Captain Island has a lighthouse, beach, hiking trails, and bathrooms, and if you want to access the island with your own private boat, there are moorings just offshore. Although Great Captain Island is well developed, the adjacent island, named Island Beach, takes it to another level. Not only does it also have ferry access, restrooms and a well groomed beach, but it has food too. 

In case you’re wondering, the small island that you see just off shore, of Island Beach, is privately owned.

I would love to stay out here all day, but we have some magnificent waterfront to explore, so let's head back to the Byram Shore Boat Club.

The Byram Shore Boat Club is open to Greenwich residents and requires sponsorship. It’s an excellent place for a small power boat if you don’t have a dock. 

Adjacent to the boat club you will find Byram Park, it’s a wonderful place for a stroll, to play tennis, practice your game on the baseball field, sunbathe on the beach, let the kids burn off some steam on the playground, or take a swim in the waterfront pool. It’s open exclusively to those living in Greenwich CT.

Belle Haven:

Next, let’s head over to Belle Haven. This is a private community with beautiful and varied architecture. Some parts are gated, all areas have security and guard houses. You will find some of the most valuable Greenwich CT Real Estate, right here.

To the west, you will have views of the previously mentioned Byram park and its beautiful sandy beach, along with the Marina and some of the private islands just off shore. 

To the south you will have sweeping views of Long Island Sound with Great Island and Island beach off in the distance. If you look closely along the horizon, you will see Long Island New York.

Along the southern coast you will find the Belle Haven Club with it’s tennis courts, marina, beach and ocean front pool. To the east of the club, notice how magnificently large the lots are around Field Point Circle. These are truly some of the finest waterfront estates along the Gold Coast. Many have deep water docks and a few have private beaches. 

If you were considering a property that looks east, you will have views over Greenwich harbor with the communities of Indian harbor and Mead Point off in the distance. The city that you see along the Horizon is downtown Stamford.

Greenwich Harbor:

Greenwich Harbor is just south of the high end shopping on Greenwich Avenue. It boasts several marinas, many with the ability to accommodate larger power boats and sailboats. 

The small land mass on the left of the harbor is Steamboat Road, and it's a great location to explore if you are looking for a waterfront condo. 

Indian Harbor:

Another great option just steps from Greenwich Avenue is the community of Indian Harbor. It’s gated, and one of Greenwich's best parks, Bruce park, is just steps beyond the gate. Bruce park is a wonderful place to walk, run or go for a bike ride. 

To the west you will have views over Smith cove to Steamboat Road, and on the southernmost tip you will gaze across Greenwich Harbor to Belle Haven. 

If you are lucky enough to have a rare southern view, you will see Tweed Island and Brush Island, which are private. Views to the east are over Indian Harbor and the land mass across the way is Mead Point. Let’s go take a closer look.

Mead Point:

Mead Point is a private, gated community with security. It offers a beautiful sandy beach to its residents, is a few minutes to town, with bruce park just outside the gates.

To the west, you have views of Indian Harbor. To the south you have sweeping views of Long Island Sound, and to the east you have views over the Cos Cob Harbor,with Greenwich Point Park off in the distance in some cases, with the closer land mass being the neighborhood of the Riverside. Let's take a closer look at the picturesque Cos Cob Harbor.

Cos Cob Harbor:

As you can see, Cos cob Harbor is an excellent location for large power boats and sailboats.

You probably recognize this view if you have ever had the pleasure of gazing south while passing over the Mianus river bridge on I-95.

The bluish colored bridge is the metro north train line that runs south to Grand Central Station.

The park that you see just beyond the bridge is Cos Cob Park and it’s another fine example of all that Greenwich has to offer.

As we approach Long Island Sound, you will notice three islands. The first is Goose Island, which is under conservation. The second and third are Diving island and Bluff Island respectively. Both are public and accessible by kayak and small power boats.

Next, let’s go take a look at one of Greenwich’s most popular neighborhoods, Old Greenwich.

Old Greenwich:

There is a lot to love about Living in Greenwich CT, especially in Old Greenwich. It has its own independent village area, and there's hardly a reason to leave the neighborhood because it has everything you will need on a daily basis, including a train station, grocery store, banks, coffee shops, great restaurants, a butcher and more. Since this is a waterfront tour, I’ll leave it at that, but if you want to learn more, check out our Old Greenwich Neighborhood tour. 

The other feature that sets this neighborhood apart is the stunningly beautiful Greenwich Point Beach and park, which is in my opinion, the best waterfront park in the entire gold coast. You access the 147 acre park by a narrow strip of land which gives it an island-like feel, but allows easy access by car, foot or bike. It’s well developed with concession stands, a marina, bathrooms, trails and a beautiful stretch of beach. New York City and Long island are easily visible on a clear day. 

There are no gated communities in Old Greenwich, but you will find many private roads and communities along the coast. Some of these communities have private beaches and or docks available to their residents. You will also find that some of the homes have their own private beach and or dock. Your best option for a deep water dock is along the eastern coast of the neighborhood, although the Old Greenwich Yacht Club may be a better option depending on your needs.  

Views to the west look over Greenwich Cove to the neighborhood of Riverside. To the southwest, you will have views of a few public islands, Great Island being the most significant. Views to the south are mostly of Greenwich Point Park. 

Views to the east look over Stamford Harbor. You will notice the peninsula of Shippan off in the distance, with the smaller peninsula closer to shore being the community Dolphin Cove. Both offer excellent waterfront value, you can learn more about them in our Stamford Waterfront Tour. 

You may have noticed that Old Greenwich is a tighter community than the other waterfront communities. But, if you love the amenities that Old Greenwich offers and want a larger lot, I have an option for you in the neighboring peninsula of Riverside. Let’s take a look.

Riverside:

At any given point in Riverside, you are only about five minutes away from the Old Greenwich village, giving you easy access to things you will need on a daily basis. 

There are a couple of communities with private beach access in Riverside, the most notable being Harbor Point which is gated with security, it also offers a small marina. You are going to find that some of the roads leading to the waterfront are private.

The southwestern tip of the peninsula is the best location for a deep water dock but if you aren't fortunate enough to find a suitable property for your needs, there is also the Riverside Yacht Club.

You can learn more about Riverside in our extended Riverside Neighborhood Tour.

Views to the west look over the Cos Cob Harbor to the community of Mead Point. The islands you see are the previously mentioned Goose Island, Diving Island and Bluff Island. To the south you will have sweeping views of Long Island Sound. 

If you were on the eastern side of the peninsula, you would have views across Greenwich cove towards Greenwich Point Park and Old Greenwich.

Wrap-Up:

If you are still exploring, check out my website where you will find my raved about local buyers guide, neighborhood maps, and all of the homes listed for sale in Greenwich. 

I hope you enjoyed this tour as much as I enjoyed making it for you. When you are ready to start shopping, call me, I’ll help you find a great home.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Best,

Charlie Vinci

Greenwich CT Realtor

203.952.7752

charlievinci@gmail.com

About the Author:

Charlie Vinci, the Founder and Lead Agent of the Charlie Vinci Team has become a mainstay in Connecticut’s real estate market, earning accolades as one of the top 3% of realtors within the state. Fueled by a dedication to the success of his clients and an ever-growing assortment of area-specific resources, the business continues to thrive in the constantly evolving real estate marketplace. An informative YouTube presence has been the primary driver/focus for the team, as it has allowed Charlie to engage directly with his audience and provide a consultative approach to an often ambiguous process. Whether an international client seeking relocation to the US or a local homeowner considering the sale of their property, The Charlie Vinci Team has the market knowledge, resources, and expedient level of service that clients not only desire, but deserve.

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