Old Lyme welcomes thousands of seasonal visitors each year to miles of shoreline, tidal marsh, inland wetlands, and forested hills. The town claims a tradition of volunteerism and a commitment to the arts, encouraged by the resources at the Lym Academy of Fine Arts. Fine examples of colonial and Federal architecture grace tree-shaded lanes and country roads. Local businesses include a growing number of high technology design and production companies, although the area is home to many commuters.