Old Lyme: Art, History, and Sound View Beach

Old Lyme offers several distinct reasons to stay: historic buildings and art, outdoor trails, and the beach area along Long Island Sound. You can use the following topics to decide which aspects of the town matter for your trip: cultural history, hiking, the beach, or paddlesports.

Art and History

The Old Lyme Historic District is the oldest historic district on the Valley Shore and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The Walking Tour of Lyme Street offers another perspective on older buildings, providing historical background on older homes and buildings along Lyme Street. The Witness Stone Trail also runs along Lyme Street, but has a distinct focus: it honors the dignity and contributions of enslaved African Americans and Indigenous people who worked in the historic town of (Old) Lyme between 1670 and 1820. The two offerings therefore highlight different historical topics: older buildings on the Walking Tour, and the history of the people named above on the Witness Stone Trail.

The current gallery of the Lyme Art Association opened on August 6, 1921. The Old Lyme Arts District is a walkable area in the town center. It includes American art, live music events, specialty shops, dining options, and connections to Old Lyme’s artistic heritage. The gallery’s history provides a specific historical date; the Arts District combines the connection to art with other offerings in the town center.

Hiking and Outdoor Activities

Old Lyme has twenty public hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty and views. The Town of Old Lyme also owns six larger open spaces totaling 936 acres, which are open for hiking and public use. These two figures help answer different questions: the number of trails describes the range of options, while the acreage indicates the total size of the larger open spaces. If you’re planning a specific hike, it’s worth checking current trail conditions, as they can change.

For other ways to stay active, Cross Lane Park has tennis courts, basketball hoops, and a playground. The park is accessible from the beach area via a walkway. If you’d like to include these facilities in your day’s plans, you can treat the park as a separate recreational stop without assuming a specific walking time.

Sound View Beach and Visitor Information

Sound View Beach is considered America’s first public beach and was established in 1892. It lies on Long Island Sound at the end of Hartford Avenue and Swan Avenue, and is designated as a historic site by the U.S. state of Connecticut. The Town of Old Lyme operates a public parking lot at Sound View; there is also public street parking on Hartford Avenue. Before your visit, check the Town’s current parking guidance if this information is important for your arrival.

Paddlesports on the Water

In Old Lyme, the former Black Hall Outfitters location has become Black Hall Marina and Paddlesport. The business focuses on selling paddlesports equipment, as well as kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, rentals, and on-the-water excursions. The Black Hall Marina location offers direct access to the CT River Canoe and Kayak Trail. This brings different interests together around the water: equipment and activities on the one hand, and access to a named canoe and kayak trail on the other. Check current offerings and water conditions before making specific plans.

Discover more destinations: Lisbon, East Lyme, Stonington, New London, Ledyard, North Stonington, Waterford, Uncasville.

Go to the main travel overview: New London.