Make Your Holiday Shopping a Getaway: Mystic, Foxwoods & Stonington
Make Your Holiday Shopping a Getaway:
Mystic, Foxwoods & Stonington
Holiday shopping doesn't have to mean fighting traffic, rushing through crowded stores and heading straight home.
Here in southeastern Connecticut, you can turn Christmas shopping into a getaway — combining outlet shopping, small-town boutiques, holiday lights, waterfront villages, great restaurants and a relaxing night in the countryside.
From Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods to the shops of Mystic and Stonington Borough, The Cottage Inn at Amos Lake makes a convenient home base for a holiday shopping trip.
Start at Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods
Just minutes from The Cottage Inn, Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods offers one of the area's largest concentrations of shopping in one location. The indoor outlet center features national brands, factory stores and specialty retailers, making it an easy place to tackle a large portion of your Christmas list without worrying about the winter weather.
And because Tanger is located right at Foxwoods Resort Casino, you can easily turn your shopping trip into an evening out with dinner, entertainment or a show before heading back to the Inn. During the holiday season, Tanger also offers rotating store promotions and seasonal savings, so it's worth checking current offers before your visit.
Explore Olde Mistick Village
For a completely different shopping experience, head toward Olde Mistick Village.
The Village is filled with independently operated shops and specialty stores offering everything from jewelry and home décor to toys, gourmet foods, Mystic souvenirs and unique gifts you won't necessarily find at a traditional shopping mall.
During the holiday season, the Village becomes an attraction of its own. Beginning November 20, 2026, the annual Holiday Lights Spectacular returns, filling Olde Mistick Village with more than a half-million lights each evening.
The display is free to visit, and shops remain open later on Fridays and Saturdays through Christmas. That makes it easy to spend the afternoon shopping, enjoy dinner in Mystic and then stroll through the Village after dark to see the lights.
Shop Historic Downtown Mystic
Continue your holiday shopping in Downtown Mystic, where locally owned boutiques and specialty shops line the streets around the Mystic River. This is where holiday shopping becomes more about discovering something unusual.
You'll find locally made products, jewelry, clothing, coastal gifts, specialty foods, home accessories and plenty of distinctly Mystic items. Add lunch or dinner at one of Mystic's restaurants, take a walk along the river, and you've turned a shopping day into a real holiday outing.
Discover Stonington Borough
A few miles farther down the shoreline is historic Stonington Borough, one of southeastern Connecticut's most charming places during the holidays. Water Street and the surrounding streets are home to small boutiques, galleries and locally owned shops where you can find handcrafted gifts, jewelry, artwork, clothing and one-of-a-kind pieces.
Connecticut's official tourism site specifically highlights Stonington Borough and Historic Downtown Mystic as destinations for holiday shopping and locally owned businesses. And while you're in the Borough, don't miss another local holiday tradition — the Stonington Lobster Trap Tree at the Town Dock. The combination of shopping, decorated storefronts, waterfront scenery and the illuminated Lobster Trap Tree makes Stonington especially worth visiting during November and December.
Turn Shopping Into a Holiday Getaway
The best part is that you don't have to fit everything into one exhausting day.
Stay at The Cottage Inn at Amos Lake in Preston and make a holiday getaway of it.
Spend one day exploring Tanger Outlets and Foxwoods, then devote another to Mystic, Stonington and the Connecticut shoreline. In the evening, return to the quiet countryside and relax at our restored 1804 farmhouse overlooking Amos Lake and the neighboring vineyard. Our five private king suites each feature an ensuite bathroom, and guests enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi, free on-site parking, our 24-hour coffee and snack area and self-serve continental breakfast offerings.
Our Holiday Shopping Weekday Getaway
Planning to shop during the week?
Guests who book two nights or more Sunday through Thursday can save 10% when booking direct during our Holiday Shopping Weekday Getaway. Avoid some of the weekend crowds, enjoy the holiday lights, get your shopping done and turn your trip into a relaxing southeastern Connecticut escape. Whether you're searching for outlet bargains, something handmade, a special gift from a local boutique or simply an excuse to enjoy Mystic and Stonington during the holidays,
The Cottage Inn puts you close to all of it.
Shop. Explore. Enjoy the lights. Then come back to the quiet of Amos Lake.