For an easy escape from NYC at a minimal cost and travel time, prepare to enter the land of polo ponies and patisseries found just over the state line in Greenwich, Connecticut. This chic, cultured enclave is named after the eponymous borough in London, England.
Watch this video to get a glimpse:
While Greenwich’s reputation precedes itself, boasting 2010’s second-highest income in America and claiming Ron Howard, Regis Philbin and more as residents, it is not without its hidden, budget-friendly gems. Enjoy a crêpe for under $10 or ferry out to one of Greenwich’s four beaches for a sunnier setting at a low daily rate.
Things to Do
Visit the Greenwich Arts Council and enjoy the Bendheim Gallery’s exhibitions, free of admission. Before leaving, request a map and stroll the Art in Public Places project, a presentation of outdoor sculptures dispersed throughout downtown.
Introduce an educational angle by visiting the Bruce Museum, free on Tuesdays, with permanent exhibits on the Earth’s formation, tides and more. A ferry service provides transportation to the local islands, Great Captain Island and Island Beach, for a day of (cheap) fun in the sun.
Watch this for many more things to do Greenwich:
Where to Eat
French bistro Versailles presents savory pâté, fresh salads, and a sunny, open-air decorum, making it a smart summertime selection. Eat cuisine Française without breaking the bank at Meli-Melo, featuring lunch or dessert crêpes around $10. With the walls of the restaurant acting as colorful, handwritten menus, the cozy crêperie is as easy-going as it gets in Greenwich. Mediterraneo, a nautical-themed Italian-Middle Eastern restaurant, features daily specials, numerous pizzas and an assortment of entrées, including lamb, veal and sea bass. Finish with dessert at Swiss-styled St. Moritz, family-owned and operated since 1939, and snack on their tasty, one-of-a-kind “pupcakes” styled after adorable schnauzers.
Events in Greenwich
Celebrate the commencement of summer by hobnobbing with Anglophiles and watching a match at the Polo Club, beginning in June and continuing into September. Make your getaway active, and take part in the Cook Your Buns run on June 9, a three-mile run and one-mile kids run ending with a barbecue at Greenwich Point Park, also a great place for leisure bike riding. The annual event benefits the Greenwich Point Conservancy. Jazz on the Sound is a summer tradition, allowing attendees to enjoy Dixieland jazz while touring the Long Island Sound.
How to get to Greenwich from NYC
Catch the Metro-North Railroad out of Grand Central Terminal, riding the New Haven line. The one-way trip takes only 40 minutes. The train will let out directly at Greenwich Avenue, where taxi services are available and waiting near the train station.
Bring your bike on Metro North, as bike rentals are unavailable in Greenwich. Just make sure you have your $5 bike permit with you. All activities listed are within a five or 10 minute walk from the train station.
Header photo by Paul Sableman.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram