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.

We ended up coming to Lobster Landing twice during our trip -- once on the way to Mystic and again…read moreon the way back -- which probably says everything you need to know. It's definitely a little more expensive than some of the other lobster spots we tried, but I honestly liked the food here the most. The lobster meat is lightly seasoned with what tasted like butter and lemon, and it all worked perfectly together without overpowering the lobster. The bun was incredibly soft and loaded with so much meat that it was practically falling apart in the middle. We got the half-pound lobster roll both times and would absolutely order it again, but it is $60. The clam chowder was also excellent. It's creamy without being too thick, and you can really taste all the ingredients. The hot dogs seem to be really popular -- almost everyone was ordering a lobster roll and a hot dog combo. My son loved them so much he had two the first visit! The outdoor seating and water views make it such a relaxing place to sit and eat, and there's also a market on-site where you can buy lobster and shellfish. Definitely one of our favorite stops and somewhere we'd happily return to.

Very disappointing experience. The lobster bisque tasted like thickened flour with almost no…read morelobster flavor. It contained only a couple of small pieces of undesirable lobster meat and was honestly awful. The lobster roll was no better. It contained more undesirable pieces of lobster, was very dry, and I could barely taste any butter. The roll itself tasted dry and stale, which only made matters worse. The corn seemed either frozen or canned and was completely flavorless. The coleslaw was the one bright spot--it was fresh and actually quite good. Overall, the meal was overpriced for the quality received. Nothing about the food suggested care, attention to detail, or pride in the final product. Based on this experience, I would not return and would not recommend it to others.

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.

Great local farm. Best corn ever. and the musk melons, peas, lettuce are also wonderful. Friendly…read morefun people....highly recommended 1

amazing organic farm and flower greenhouses. fantastic vibe and phenomenal products and delightful…read moreproprietors. A hidden jem and worth a quick stop after a day at hamonnasset beach

Food was delicious and everything was huge portions fried mozzarella was delicious and four huge…read morepieces i had fried seafood combo it was so much I had to take it home and it came with a big bowl of pasta that I also took home wife had meatballs grinder that was huge and delicious she also took home service was excellent and the ambiance of very nice with wood structure I would highly recommend this place especially after shopping at the outlets

One of the final days of the year for using the old hot rod, I venture down to the shore, leaf…read morepeeping, and wanting to go to the Log Cabin. Located in Clinton Connecticut, this mainstay restaurant came highly recommended by many of my friends. I pulled in and parking was a breeze, even though it was busy. This parking lot was big. Lots of handicapped spaces also. My friend and I went in and we were greeted warmly, and promptly seated Knowing portions were big, but not realizing how big they would be we passed on appetizer. This is where it gets good! My friend ordered lasagna, and I ordered the eggplant Parmesan. We also ordered water, Immediately out came the salads that were included with the meals. These salads were medium sized, and we're probably good enough for just a lunch! Tomatoes, cucumbers, chopped lettuce, and a very nice house dressing, consisting of a creamy garlic, which was delicious. After salad was done our fantastic waitress brought us a big bowl of pasta and sauce. I could've made a meal out of this! This wasn't just any run of the mill, this was delicious pasta and sauce. Oversized entrées were next on the Bill and I ate probably 1/5 of the eggplant Parmesan. It was huge. I think three or four people could've split this. My friend ate probably about the same of the lasagna. For dessert, we split a Reesie's chocolate pie that was very, very sweet creamy, and hit the spot with the chocolate sauce and whip, whipped cream around the plate Bag probably weighed at least 7 pounds. We brought home the pasta, the lasagna, and the eggplant Parmesan. I loved the eggplant Parmesan. I make a pretty mean Parmesan, but this eggplant Parmesan was on point. It just exploded with great Italian flavors My friend liked the lasagna, as she said it was very, very nice I'm still raving about the big bowl of pasta that came with the meal. Dinner with the tip which included the two big meals which I think were 24.95 each along with the dessert and the big bowl of pasta was roughly $80 and change. This was a deal of deals. There will be meals during the coming week. If you're at the shore and you need takeout, this will be good for the week. I love this I am now a big fan and I look forward to returning in the spring when the weather gets nice All in all, I wonder what took me so long to come to The Log Cabin!

Such a solid stop went on the go! I typically stop by here for a lunch sandwich and I'm super…read moresurprised by how fantastic their breakfast sandwiches are. I ordered egg and cheese with roasted red peppers. The eggs were fluffy and delicious! The roasted peppers added a ton of flavor but layered so they didn't soak the freshly baked roll. I will definitely be back to this small business for a quick on the go breakfast again. They have amazing chicken sandwiches, hand made meatballs and tons of other goodies. Stop by if you are in the area!

I have been going here for years. The staff is always friendly and welcoming. Great food, efficient…read moreservice. Good prices.

Great little shop that I stopped in to, got an espresso, and a bunch of nice, unique Christmas…read moregifts for those on my list. Good balsamic vinegar selection among other packaged foods, etc. available. Stop in to support them!

This store was really cute, and the man at the counter was nice, but I was quite disappointed…read moreoverall. The classic cannolo was decent, but my main issue is actually with the branding. There was a sign with a phrase that was also written on the box for the cannoli I ordered that said "pleaza donta squeeza da cannoli!". The saying was around what looks like an ai generated stereotype of an Italian chef. I understand that the store is clearly Italy themed and claims to bring the culture and authenticity to the area which is great, I just think there is a better way that doesn't involve mocking a people or accent for that purpose. Again very cute store, great options, and wonderful service. Just consider the impact that the branding may have on the community you are trying to support. Thank you.