There are two ways to travel the Holiday Shopping Trail this year. You can enjoy a leisurely drive to discover towns you have not had time to visit in the rush of past years. Or you can make virtual visits from the cozy comfort of home. Either way the Trail is a great way to support local businesses, and a fun way to enter to win prizes, like our $500 splurge at a local business. Click here for the Holiday Shopping Trail & Challenge!
Let’s Motor…
Visit a traditional downtown for outdoor sauntering between shops. The Trail website has businesses grouped by town, so open the page on your smart phone and choose a spot to explore. For example you can snap a selfie at the nine shops on the Trail in Mystic: Bank Square Books, Ivory Ella, Main Street Soap, Mystic Knotwork, Mystic Seaport Museum, Rochelle’s on Main and Rochelle’s on Cottrell, The Blue Horse Children’s Shop, and The Spice and Tea Exchange of Mystic.
A trip to Nature’s Art Village is rewarded with six shops sure to satisfy eager shoppers. Toy, fossils and minerals, beads and jewelry, unique gifts—there’s a gift for everyone on your list.
In Ledyard, Holdridge Home & Garden has many departments to browse, from gifts to gardens, home décor to home improvement.
A trip to the woods–Foxwoods, that is–offers a day of shopping at the Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods for others as well as a chance at some entertainment for you!
Enjoy a leisurely drive to Stafford Springs to visit some of our neighbors to the northwest. Eclectic collections await you at Artisans at Middle River and Three Graces Vintage Thrift. And for your trusty steed…Blazing Saddles Consignment Shop. Over Andover Barntique offers a fun store to explore of recycled and repurposed furniture and décor.
The Holiday Shopping Trail is organized by location. Pick a town and head out to explore! We will be highlighting more stores along the Trail, but you can enjoy mapping your own adventure now.
Armchair Adventure
Many shops on the trail are offering online ordering with shipping, delivery, or curbside pickup.
Begin your stay-at-home shopping spree with a delivery from one of the many restaurants on the Trail and have them drop in a gift card to use as a stocking stuffer. Try Puffins Bakery, Pink Basil, Zest Bakery, or Renee’s Bistro.
It’s a trip around the globe with Flavours of Life, The Fair Trade Store. Located in New London, the store is offering online shopping with gifts produced internationally in sustainable, environmental, and equitable shops. Snuggle into an alpaca cap from the Andes or send handcrafted holiday cards from Vietnam.
The Bowerbird is the place to browse and discover all sorts of fun finds. Make a hot chocolate and curl up with your computer to shop accessories, baby items, toys, games, kitchen, books…well, just about anything! Your virtual trip to Old Lyme can include shopping at the Florence Griswold Museum, where books, puzzles, crafts, and art-themed gifts are available online.
If it’s a home refresh you are shopping for, or gifting to your spouse, Laysville Hardware has paint to order, Board and Brush offers rustic sign kits and instruction, and Keith’s Appliances makes kitchen dreams come true.
Travel the trail online to discover all the ways to shop local this year. Click, share, and shop to enter to win great prizes!