Things to Do in Greenwich with Grandkids — Grandkids Guide

Greenwich has a reputation for expensive. That reputation is earned in some corners of town, but for grandkid days, it’s largely irrelevant. Tod’s Point is one of the best beaches in Connecticut, the Bruce Museum is excellent and has a free day, and Mianus River Park costs nothing to walk. The town works.

Here’s the practical guide.

Tod’s Point (Greenwich Point Park)

The headline beach in Greenwich, and deservedly so. Tod’s Point is a peninsula that juts into Long Island Sound with walking paths along the water, a relatively flat terrain, and a beach that’s big enough to find a quiet spot even on a busy day.

The catch: Greenwich resident sticker required May–October to enter by car. Non-residents can access on foot or by bicycle. If you know a Greenwich resident, this is worth coordinating.

Off-season: Open to all, free parking, often nearly empty. A late-September or early-October morning here is one of the quieter, more beautiful things you can do with grandkids in Fairfield County.

Bruce Museum

The Bruce is a natural history and art museum that’s better than its local reputation suggests. The natural history wing has minerals, ecology exhibits, and hands-on elements that land for ages 5–12. The art wing is genuinely good.

Admission: Adults around $15, children (5–17) $10. Free the first Tuesday of every month.

Why grandparents like it: It’s small enough to do in 90 minutes without rushing. The exhibits don’t require chasing toddlers between rooms. There’s a good café adjacent to the museum.

Parking: Metered street parking on Museum Drive. Arrives early for street spots; after 10am on weekends can be tight.

Mianus River Park

Three miles of flat-to-moderate trails along the Mianus River. No admission, no parking fee (there’s a small lot at the trailhead on Cognewaugh Road). The trails pass through deciduous forest with good river views and are wide enough to walk side-by-side with a grandkid.

Best seasons: Fall (foliage) and spring (wildflowers). Summer can be buggy — bring repellent.

Accessibility: The main trail along the river is walkable for most mobility levels. The side trails get steeper; stick to the river path.

Bowlero Greenwich

The bowling alley on Post Road. Clean, reliably open, bumper lanes available for younger grandkids. Mid-morning on weekdays is the least crowded time. Sunday afternoons are the busiest.

Why it works for mixed ages: Same as all bowling — the experience scales from age 3 to adult without effort.

Greenwich Avenue — Window Shopping and Lunch

Greenwich Avenue is genuinely walkable, with a mix of shops and restaurants that have enough variety for a 30-minute stroll before or after a bigger activity. The restaurants range from excellent to tourist-priced. Pick something off the main drag.

Best lunch move: Sally’s Apizza on Greenwich Ave (a New Haven pizza legend outpost) — consistently good, reliably seats walk-ins at lunch.

Greenwich Timing Notes

Resident beaches: Tod’s Point is residents-only by car in summer. Off-season is open to all.
Bruce Museum free day: First Tuesday of each month.
Parking: Greenwich Avenue has metered parking that fills quickly on weekends. Street parking on side streets is usually available.
School groups: Mianus and the Bruce both see school groups on weekday mornings in spring. Go after 11am or on Wednesdays when fewer school trips run.

Browse all Greenwich venues: grandkidsguide.com/fairfield-county-ct/greenwich/