This place is great! This is a treasure of unique handmade glass pieces, from jewelry, ornaments,…read moregarden stakes, art pieces and so much more. Beatiful works from the artist and proprietor, Jeni, for all price ranges and tastes. Every piece is unique to buy or you can sign up for a class and make your own. Jeni is so knowledgeable, enthusiastic and a great instructor. Lots of fun making fused glass. You can also get pieces on the website. I got necklaces for my wife and garden stakes too plus some glass coasters, all very affordable. I've never seen a place like it!

My friends & I attended a glass fusion class today with Jeni. She shared her extensive knowledge…read moreabout glass, some useful terminology, a quick & compelling history of glass, all before giving a discussion on safety & the tools used in the process which were seamlessly parlayed into a demonstration of the process to make our chosen pieces. Before we knew it we were constructing our pieces, sharing stories & laughs while she guided us through our making and learning. She generously allowed us to bring in party food & beverages to celebrate those among us having birthdays which we enjoyed while she gave her talks mentioned earlier. The entire time was pure pleasure. Her studio's gallery space is full of astounding works of art she created. She is enormously talented. I hope you'll take one of her classes.

I've never done anything like this before! I was afraid my artwork wouldn't turn out well, but…read morethankfully it did! If any of you are Kpop fans, I painted a Stray Kids character, 'Tasy' that they represent of what we look like to them. And it's just so cute not to paint! I'm definitely coming back again to paint more pottery! (The '8' candle is the 8th anniversary of Stray Kids of being in the group for 8 years so far.)

Cute little paint your own pottery studio. Had a very fun girls day out trip here and will…read moredefinitely come back for other seasons to check out more ceramic options!

New to Old Saybrook and eager to explore the town. Went to all the shops on Main Street and…read moreabsolutely LOVE Where Memories Are Made. Unique and fun items for you or to gift. Bought super cute car coasters that say Dogs Make the Best Travel Partners and several throws that I was able to personalize. Lynn was able to personalize in less than 24 hours, which was perfect for the birthday dinner I was attending the next day. Loved it so much, ordered one for my dog Lulu and as gifts for friends with dogs. If you are interested in supporting small businesses, especially small women-owned businesses, please check this store out and make your home beautiful in the process!

Lynn is terrific & her shop is filled with all sorts of wonderful and unique items, which she wraps…read moreat no charge!

I liked that bead store! Fossil beads are present as well as many different shades and sizes of…read moreseed beads. There's a pretty large selection and prices are comparable to craft stores. They had a 2$ section where any strand of beads was priced accordingly and then a larger clearance section where strands were 1/2 off listed price. Worth a walk-about. Not a ton available in terms of general supplies but enough for a beginner to get started. Pay out by the register in the main store. Easy to lose track of time here!

I always love stopping in here for new rocks. They have a great selection of options, and the guy…read morewho runs the shop is always really helpful with what I'm looking for on that particular day. There are really great options available, and pricing is fair.

You will find an enormous selection of every category of toys and games and models and dolls and…read morebooks and more at Toys Ahoy. You can complete all your child gift-giving here, and even find some classic favorites for yourself. Proprietor and staff are ever-cheerful and engaging with product knowledge and local lore. Worth the trip from anywhere.

I came here to shop for a gift for a 1 year old. The owner came by and walked me through the toys…read morefor kids and gave me a few recommendations. I went on a whim and bought the items he suggested and they are a huge hit. I will definitely be back!

Beautiful grounds. Felt slightly unwelcome…read more We drove one hour to the farm and were very excited. An employee sped into the exit and parked and rushed towards us as we were stepping out of the car. She did a b line to us and we thought it was serious. She told us that they weren't even open and we were parked on the wrong side of the parking lot near barn. Due to her approach we thought that we were perhaps an hour early but when we asked what time they open she said 10 am. It was 9:50 am. I wish she had approached us differently. Why not just say that they will be opening in ten minutes. We weren't trying to get inside. We had just commuted an hour and stretching out. It was so unwelcoming. On the other hand a young man on a tractor said welcome while driving by us. The farm itself is lovely!

This was the fourth year my bestie and I have made it here and it's one of our must do summer…read moreactivities every year now because who doesn't want to go and frolic through lavender rows (carefully of course). The giant chess set is fun, and there's tic tac toe you can play with rocks on giant logs. The train is adorable and you can buy a ticket to ride in it, and make sure you go check out the pond, there are fairy villages all around it. We love going into the shop and buying dried lavender and their lavender lemonade, and I have so many of their lip balms now it's not even funny. Definitely a must do right now because it's their peak season.

The Little Station is one of my favorite gift shops in Connecticut. Whenever I visit Hammonasset…read moreduring the summer, I make a point to stop in at the Little Station afterwards, but it's definitely worth a trip into Madison unto itself! The shop wares are eclectic, whether you're looking for a beach tunic or bag, lotions and lip balms, loose leaf teas, jewelry, candles, perfumes and eau de toilettes... They've got it. There are always special little treats that you just won't see elsewhere, which makes this a great stop if you're looking for stocking stuffers or small gifts. On my most recent visit, they had wildflower confetti: biodegradable confetti containing wildflower seeds, so you can celebrate and garden at the same time! I got a packet of those for my nephew, so hopefully he can have fun planting his own little garden. Highly recommend the Little Station, whether you're just passing through the area or making a special trip of it!

A sure sign of summer is the annual opening of The Little Station at Beech Tree Cottages. It's a…read morecharmer of a shop, the sort of place you can pick up a beach hat or bottle of water on your way to Hammonnasset. But that's never all. Owner Amanda has sweet taste in everything from breezy scarves and sarongs, to Rifle Paper Company Cards (a personal favorite), and cheap and cheerful costume jewels. If you don't know about the Beech Tree Cottages, it's become a popular Shoreline spot for a rustic wedding or family gathering. Either throw your bash on the tented lawn out back, or rent the entire venue, including eight tidy cottages. Their famous CT Roadside BBQ Truck provides a full-on Southern feast, from brisket and pulled pork to corn bread. There are plenty of fancy venues on the Shoreline, but if you're looking for something a bit out-of-the-box, Beech Tree Cottages could be just the ticket.

If you need a souvenir, this is your place to go. They have your local Connecticut seaside vacation…read morechockskeys, book about the area, jewelery, and books and toys for children. It's located across from the Griswold Inn, and there is parking available behind the store. Sadly, no postcards though!

The Griswold Inn Store is one of my favorite holiday shopping destinations. If you're completely…read moreflummoxed by your list, this shop will have you exclaiming, "oh, my sister would love those" or "finally, the perfect tchotchke for my mother-in law"! There is truly something for everyone in this packed and charming shop. Me, I loved the recycled Christmas stockings, the vintage inspired stationery and fountain pens, unisex mismatched wool fleece slippers, stunning wrapping papers from Caskata, cufflinks crafted from old copper pennies, and the giant lollipops from classic Hammond's candies. From hostess to baby to best friend, you can get it done here. The buyer has a keen eye and the staff is lovely.