According to The New York Times, the coastal enclave of Southport, CT has a rich array of grand examples of Antebellum and Victorian architecture that reflects the area's affluence during its heyday as a seaport. In 1800s, wealthy farmers, sea captains & shippers built large summer homes with expansive lawns.
We'll walk around Southport's large historic district, which has about 150 historic buildings. Many Antebellum and Victorian houses have beautiful lawns/gardens and are located near the scenic Southport Harbor.
Later, we'll walk around another historic district with more Antebellum and Victorian houses on tree-shaded streets at Old Post Road, which is not too far from Southport. Depending on our route and the time, we might walk around a beach area on Long Island Sound.
I'll comment at points of interest, but you will have plenty of time to socialize with others.
Cost: $5.00 per person, paid (in cash) at start of walk.
About 6 to 7 (ONE-WAY) miles. Moderate (not slow) pace. You have to be capable of doing the entire length of this walk and keep up with this group's moderate (not slow) pace to attend this event.
Terrain:
Most of the time we'll be walking on paved sidewalks or streets with occasional uphills or downhills.
BRING LUNCH/PLENTY OF WATER. No place to buy lunch/water at train station or at our lunch spot.
Restrooms:
No restrooms at the southport, CT train station. About 50 minutes after we start, there will be a restroom stop at a waterfront park that has one restroom located in a building and another restroom located at a portable pottie next to the building. There will also be at least one more restroom stop later on.
NO DOGS, please!
IF YOU REGISTER AND LATER CAN NOT GO TO THIS EVENT, PLEASE CHANGE YOUR RESPONSE TO "NOT GOING" AS I TAKE "NO-SHOWS" VERY SERIOUSLY.
IMPORTANT: BRING EXTRA LAYERS OF CLOTHING. WEATHER CAN CHANGE IN A SHORT TIME THIS TIME OF YEAR!
Bring sun protection. (We'll be definitely walking around Southport Harbor and possibly a beach section later on, so there will be some open spaces without trees.)
There is no need to post why you can't make walk.
Have question, contact John (Host) thru his private Meetup acct.
Train Riders:
Take 9:02 AM Metro-North New Haven Line (Express) train from Grand Central, arriving Southport, CT 10:27 AM.
Reg. Fare: $14.00 one way. You have to buy ticket before boarding train or you will pay penalty (extra fare) on board train.
Senior Fare: $9.25 one way. You can buy ticket before boarding train or buy ticket on train, using cash or credit card, without paying a penalty (extra fare) on train.
NOTE: This is a ONE-WAY walk. We'll be ending at the FAIRFIELD CENTER RR Station, which is in the same fare zone as the Southport RR station, so the ticket prices should be the same amount going back.
Drivers:
THIS IS A ONE-WAY WALK FROM THE SOUTHPORT RR STATION TO FAIRFIELD CENTER RR STATION.
DON'T PARK AT SOUTHPORT RR STATION, PARK INSTEAD AT THE FAIRFIELD CENTER RR STATION, WHICH IS THE NEXT STOP FROM SOUTHPORT. THIS ONE-WAY WALK WILL END AT THE FAIRFIELD CENTER RR STATION.
THE STATION'S ADDRESS IS 165 UNQUOWA ROAD, FAIRFIELD, CT 06824
Signs at Fairfield Center RR station say free weekend parking. To be sure, go to website of Fairfieldct.org/Departments/Parking Authority/Day Parking. (the Southport RR station and Fairfield CENTER RR station are part of the Town of Fairfield).
Park your car at the Fairfield Center RR station and then take the train ONE STOP to Southport, CT.
TAKE 10:14 AM TRAIN FROM FAIRFIELD CENTER TO SOUTHPORT, ARRIVING 10:17 AM.
NOTE: THE TRAINS BEFORE AND AFTER THIS SCHEDULED TRAIN DON'T STOP AT SOUTHPORT. THESE EXPRESS TRAINS BEFORE AND AFTER THE SCHEDULED 10:14 AM TRAIN SKIP THE SOUTHPORT STATION.
Reg. Fare: $3:00; Senior Fare: $1.50.
Seniors can buy ticket on train without paying a penalty (extra fare) on train. Non-seniors (Reg. Fare) have to buy ticket before getting on train or will pay a penalty [extra fare] on train.
Bad weather (rainy or very windy conditions) cancels. If Sunday's forecast calls for bad weather, I'll send cancellation before 6:00 PM Saturday. If I don't send cancellation email, I plan to be there.