USS South Dakota Homecoming 2/20/2026

It was a rainy homecoming for USS South Dakota who returned to the sub base in Groton, Connecticut after a deployment. That didn’t stop some people from gathering at Eastern Point Beach to welcome them home.

After Eastern Point Beach, I drove to a different spot to see the submarine up close. As usual, the sub vets were there with the cannon and flags to salute the sailors. I was able to capture a veteran pulling the cannon which made a cool action photo.

Thank you to the sailors of USS South Dakota and the families. If anyone would like the photos — please message me for a photo without watermark for no cost.

Rockport, MA in the Quiet Months

Visiting Rockport, Massachusetts in the off season is a hidden gem experience — offering a quieter, more intimate version of this charming coastal town. Without the tourists, you can wander the narrow streets of Bearskin Neck at your own pace and enjoy uninterrupted ocean views along the rocky shoreline. You get a more authentic sense of the community that makes Rockport so special.

I loved the solitude of wandering around seeing the snow covered shoreline. The quietness of shuttered shops. I felt like I had Rockport all to myself. Don’t ever let the off-season stop you from traveling to a destination. I hope the photos of Rockport shows you why!

Lucky for me, there were still boats in the water to photograph. I had wondered before I came to Rockport if I’d be limited in photographing the boats. As you know, winter does not stop the fishermen — I was able to watch a couple of them at work loading & unloading the gear.

Since this was my first weekend getaway in Rockport, I got up early every morning at sunrise. The beautiful pink sky over the Rockport Harbor was very serene. I watched a fishing boat go out. I went all over Rockport Harbor and Bearskin Neck to photograph the village with the blue twilight that came after sunrise. I drove around Rockport shoreline and came across the Cape Ann twin lighthouses (I had no idea!). This is why it’s worth sometimes to drive around aimlessly with no destination!

The shuttered shops during the off-season felt like they all were in hibernation. The streets are empty, with only the slow movement of gulls overhead and the steady pull of the tide against the rocks. The snow covered entrances. In this stillness, the town feels peaceful but know it won’t be long before spring stirs the town back to life.

In the off season, Rockport is much slower. The harbor feels wider and the streets more personal. It allows more space to notice the small details like textures of weathered wood. It’s every photographer’s dream. Visiting during the quiet season isn’t missing out — it is an experience that you won’t forget. I’ve never felt more connected to the coast.

Gloucester, MA Harbor Sunset

Over Valentine’s Day weekend, I stayed in Rockport, Massachusetts. I popped over to the neighboring town of Gloucester — known as the oldest seaport. There is no shortage of fishing vessels everywhere. There was a downtown with restaurants, shops and businesses. I had a stroll around to check out the bookstore, antiques shops and some clothing stores. Where I parked the car was near the City Hall that had this beautiful boat weathervane.

I came across this spot last time I visited Gloucester during the holidays to see the lobster trap Christmas tree AND the menorah. It overlooks the water with some fishing vessels. It’s a small spot but plentiful photogenic scenes to capture.

Gloucester has a beautiful fishermen memorial dedicated to those lost to the sea. Unfortunately at the timing of my visit, it was recent that Gloucester lost F/V Lily Jean with 8 souls on board. People left flowers and notes to remember those lost.

Right by the memorial, there is a beautiful walkway overlooking the harbor. You can see the lighthouse. I’ve always seen boats in the water no matter the timing of the year. There is parking right along the walkway so it’s always somewhat busy. I definitely see a lot of dog walkers.

It was a great spot to be there for the sunset. The sky was beautiful and the water glowed with the twilight of the last light. The statue made a great focus with the sunset behind it.

Gloucester is still somewhat new to me and I know I have a lot more to explore. From what I have seen, it’s worth the visit. I look forward to discovering more of this city.

Fishin' for Love in Rockport, MA

I spent Valentine’s Day weekend in Rockport, Massachusetts. There was no shortage of red around the town! The iconic Motif 1 fishing shack is always a perfect photographic scene in Rockport Harbor.

It was fun to focus on red objects around Rockport! The Motif 1 birdhouse is a popular object that I kept spotting around town (there’s even replica of Motif 1 mailboxes too!). The buoys were plentiful everywhere. I love the pop of colors on them.

Valentine’s Day weekend in Rockport was very quiet as it was the off season. Many stores were closed but it was peaceful to stroll around the town. A lot of pups were walking around with their owners, I spotted a man and his dog both wearing red coats so I had to capture them. The adorable coastal fishing village is full of so many scenes to capture.

I finally had my first sunset in Rockport — the sky gave me a beautiful pink and blue pastel color. The Motif 1 really stood out, especially the colorful buoys. It was no surprise that I spotted a few other photographers out. I’ve been to Rockport three times now and it’s amazing how different each scene I’ve captured with Motif 1. It never gets old!

A Charming Valentine’s Weekend at Addison Choate Inn in Rockport, MA

Last summer I discovered another New England town — Rockport, Massachusetts located north of Boston. It was only a 2 and half hour drive from Mystic, CT where I am based. I immediately fell in love with the town. The coastal fishing village was every photographer’s dream. The issue I have with day tripping is that I don’t get to see the area at its fullest potential — sunrise, mid-day, sunset and even night time. So with that in mind, I knew I’d want to do an overnight stay in Rockport to photograph all the moments.

My Instagram friend, Haley from @TheConnecticutLife told me about Addison Choate, a boutique inn located in Rockport — literally within a walking distance of the harbor. For full transparency, I reached out to them to collaborate after researching to see if the inn genuinely aligned with my personal tastes and standards. When I do collaborations, I do pick places the same way I would for my own stay. I was gifted a two night stay at Addison Choate over Valentine’s Day weekend in exchange for an authentic account of my experience.

Addison Choate Inn

The boutique inn is in an adorable historical house (circa 1851) with 9 rooms. Each room has en suite bathrooms. It is three floors with some stairs (if you need accessibility, definitely book a room on the first floor). The website explains each room’s location in the inn which is helpful. The inn also had gone through a transformation and was modernized, but preserved the historical charm.

My Stay Experience

I stayed in Crow’s Nest on the 3rd floor. It is located on the top floor overlooking Rockport Harbor with a private entrance. The views from the large windows were the first thing I noticed as I entered the room. I loved how I could see the water! The bedroom had a king bed. The bathroom was beautiful with the white marble tiles. The living room came with a couch, a chair, a TV and a mini fridge. The room was very clean and organized. It was decorated so beautifully.

My Honest Thoughts

THAT BED IS SO COMFORTABLE. There is magic in that mattress. One morning after photographing the sunrise, I came back to the room to photograph the in-room moments. I captured myself writing in my journal in bed and then I ended up staying in bed resting. It was that comfy.

The blankets! They came from Denim Blanket Company, a local shop in the town. I used them as I was watching a movie on the couch. The ultra warm sherpa lined blankets were amazing. I never would’ve considered dropping that much on a blanket but trust me, those would be worth it. I have my eyes on a specific sold-out blanket and will be purchasing it as soon it’s back online.

Location, location, location. You really couldn’t beat the proximity to the harbor. I could see the water from the windows. For photographing the sunrises, I could roll out of bed and be at the harbor within 5 minutes via car. Keep in mind, I visited during winter when the sunrises were 20ish degrees outside. It was close enough that I could walk from the inn to the harbor if it was warmer!

Why Should You Stay There?

Free parking. I visited during the off-season when I didn’t have to worry about parking in town. During busier times where parking will be challenging, the inn provides free parking for the guests and it is an easy walk from the inn to the harbor.

The staff. I met one half of the owners — Marshall. He was very nice and friendly. Also made himself available to the guests via text. I found him to be very responsive. He was willing to answer any questions if I had any. The reviews from other guests reflect this. During my stay, the housekeeper came by to see if anything was needed.

The rooms. It was very clean and had everything you would need for the stay. It came with complimentary gifts — water bottles, tea, coffee pods and candies. Free WiFi and streaming services on TV. I enjoyed the comfortable Terry cloth robes!

How to Book A Stay at Addison Choate Inn

Please book a room at their website here.

A heartfelt thank you to Marshall of Addison Choate for the collaboration. The hospitality and attention to detail made this experience unforgettable. I truly loved my stay in Rockport!

Winter Storm Fern in Mystic, CT

Winter storm Fern came through Mystic, Connecticut last weekend. Dumped between 1-2 foot of snow on the shoreline! We hadn’t seen this amount in a while so I’m excited to have a snowy winter so far!

I caught the beginning of the snow fall — flurries coming down fast. I love how there’s so many beautiful scenes to capture on the river especially the ice covered rocks.

A day after the snow storm, I headed to Downtown Mystic to capture the snow. There were a lot of people out shoveling and cleaning up. Schools were closed for two days to give the town more time to clean up the roads.

I also drove down Gravel Street along Mystic River to see if there were worthy captures. There are always beautiful scenes! I spotted a funny looking bird (I’m not into wildlife so I have no idea names and all). The river never completely froze but it was icy along the shoreline.

After Downtown Mystic — I headed over to Esker Point Beach in Groton. I was thrilled to see that the beach had been untouched but after trekking through a foot of ICY snow, it was much more of a workout than expected! I enjoyed capturing the icy covered rocks.

Hope you enjoyed the snowy scenes from Southeastern Connecticut!

December day at Chatham Fish Pier

I drove to Cape Cod for the day to see the holidays decor in Downtown Chatham and across the Cape. I had to stop by Chatham Fish Pier — a favorite photography spot. I was surprised to see a couple of seals despite no fishing vessels unloading fresh catch (when seals are most active!). I watched two boats come in with no catch.

The pier wasn’t as crowded as it normally is over the summer time — so there was only two other women with me. It was fun to watch their excitement to see the seals pop up. It never gets old to see those adorable faces in the water!

I had a wonderful day of seeing Cape Cod at Christmas time. I’ve officially been on Cape Cod for 3 out of 4 seasons now. Spring in Cape Cod next!

Winter in Mystic, Connecticut: Cozy Activities

The best part about Mystic, Connecticut that you can visit year-round. I’ve visited some towns across New England where many businesses shut down for the winter. There’s no shortage of things to do in Mystic during the winter. After the holidays, it is the quietest you will ever see Mystic.

Here are some things you can do in Mystic during the winter:

Go shopping — Olde Mistick Village is opened year round! There are plenty of shops and restaurants that you can enjoy. In February, they host annual clam chowder festival and the Ice in the Village event. Downtown Mystic has plenty of shops that you can visit. You can find warm sweaters at Tidal River Clothing, fun socks at Hang the Moon, mugs for those hot drinks during winters at Manufaktura and pick up lotion from Main Street Soap Emporium.

Visit the museums. — Mystic Aquarium located next door to Olde Mistick Village (you can make a day out of it at both locations!), the aquarium has indoor exhibits that you can enjoy. The outdoor exhibits where you can see the sea lions, beluga whales and penguins will be opened if you dare to brave the cold! Mystic Seaport Museum is opened during the winters but only half of the grounds. I would suggest waiting to visit to see all it has to offer. However, if you only can visit during the winter, don’t let that stop you from visiting the Seaport. You can see Charles W. Morgan whaling ship, which is one of the best exhibit at the museum. Mystic Museum of Art is a small museum with beautiful curated art works. Opened year around with free admission (unless there is a special exhibition) but donations are appreciated.

Watch movies or get books — Watch a movie at the Mystic Luxury Cinemas (located at Olde Mistick Village) in the comfy plush chairs with some movie snacks. It is a nice theater. If you’re not a movie-goer, maybe you’re into books? There’s two bookstores in Mystic that you can visit! Bank Square Books has an impressive collection of the latest released books. No Other Books Like This, a used books bookstore located across the street from the train station. Worth a visit to check out the impressive collection of rare/antique books!

Eat your way through Mystic — we tend to load up on the carbs during winters, right? There’s plenty of recommendations in Mystic! Get the most delicious pastries at Sift Bake Shop, eat pizza like Julia Roberts at Mystic Pizza, missing the lobster roll? Off the Hook has a delicious lobster roll flight. The best waffles you can find at Popover Eatery. Get your seafood fix at S&P Oyster and enjoy the best waterfront views. In the mood for cozy tavern atmposhere? Look no further than Daniel Packer Inne. You can’t go wrong with any restaurants in Mystic!

I love Mystic during the winter, it’s so calm and peaceful. The quietness is perfect for that coziness vibes when I dine or visit a small business. It’s also fun not having to worry about parking so much! Enjoy your winter getaway to Mystic. If it inspires you to return for a spring visit, make your plans with my spring recommendations here!

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Christmas in Mystic + surrounding towns

December is always a festive time in Mystic, Connecticut. I enjoy capturing all the trees and lights. The month started out strong with a few beautiful sunsets like these:

I adore the dock trees! It’s such a fun tradition that I look forward to photographing every year. There’s plenty of them along Mystic River.

Mystic River Park tree seemed to be the largest tree we’ve had in a few years! It was a gorgeous tree and I’ve enjoyed seeing it at night time many times through out the month.

Stonington always deck the hulls so beautifully — can’t miss the annual lobster trap tree. I love looking at all the artwork on the buoys!

December is the only time that I actually go photographing in the dark. Each year I make sure that I go to Downtown when it’s all lighted up and capture the beauty!

Dock trees are cute but so are the… boat trees!

Noank is a great spot too — Haring’s Christmas tree is in an excellent location for photographing! It’s right by the water and I always try to capture at least one with Morgan Point Lighthouse in the background. I also hop over to Groton Long Point to see this annual dock tree and was jolly to see this inflatable Santa too!

I closed out the holidays season with seeing this beautiful tree at Fort Rachel Marina on Christmas Day. It was my first year being in Connecticut on Christmas Day — and I enjoyed a FISHmas meal from a local seafood market!

There’s nothing like the holidays on the shoreline!

The photos were captured in Mystic, Stonington, Noank and Groton Long Point in December 2025. Most photos are available for purchase (Stonington Lobster Trap Tree images are not available as it is copyrighted). Please make request here.

A New England Holiday in Rockport & Gloucester, MA

During Summer 2025, I visited Rockport and Gloucester, Massachusetts for the first time. Don’t ask me why it took this long — I'm wondering that myself. It’s a short 2 hours drive from Mystic, Connecticut so it was a perfect day trip destination. I fell in love with the town so much that I knew I'd be back soon. I decided it would be worth the trip to see the holiday festivities during December.

I stopped at Woodman’s of Essex first for lunch. The entire menu was gluten free (with exception of like two items). It was worth the stop — the fried shrimp was delicious. The staff were friendly! I will be back here whenever I’m in the area.

Rockport is one of the most beautiful towns I’ve seen during Christmas time. There were trees in boats everywhere! I loved it. The town had a tree in downtown, the Motif 1 had a wreath and there were even trees out on the floating dock.

When I wasn’t photographing, I strolled around the town and popped in some of the shops. I was worried that with it being winter, that many shops would be closed. I was pleasantly surprised that it was more of 50-50. All of my specific favorites that I shopped in from last summer were still opened. There were plenty to do so I didn’t find myself disappointed with the visit to Rockport.

Rockport at Christmas time honestly was stunning and I would recommend a visit. I’m even thinking to come back next season — maybe a new tradition?!

Gloucester is nearby Rockport so I had to stop by to see the lobster trap tree that inspired the one in Stonington, CT. It was so similar with a few differences — Gloucester had three entrances/exits while Stonington only had one. The buoys on Gloucester’s tree all were created by children. Stonington’s buoys are mostly from local artists in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Regardless, the tree was beautiful and I enjoyed seeing it in person. I went just before sunset and went back after sunset to see it both ways.

Another reason for my visit to Gloucester was to see the lobster trap menorah. I’ve known about it for years and have been wanting to see it! So worth the visit — it was amazing sight! The menorah is located next block to the Main Street with shops in Gloucester. I popped in some of the shops, the antiques shops were particularly fun to check out.

It was a fun day in Rockport & Gloucester, MA. I can’t wait for many more visits back to the North Shore of Boston.

Christmas at Mystic Seaport Museum

As a Mystic local, I have a membership at Mystic Seaport Museum. I love to go there weekly to stroll around the grounds. The holidays season is one of my favorite time of the year to photograph the Seaport all decorated with wreaths and greenery.

I was thrilled to get some snowfall in December (in last couple years we didn’t get snow until January!). The Seaport was the first spot I went to capture the magic of the snow with the holidays decor! It’s magical how snow and holiday greenery can transform the Seaport!

I also finally attended the annual Lantern Light Village event this month! It is a self-guided immersive experience through the village. There were theatrical performances inspired by Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. My favorite part about it was seeing the Seaport at night time and the horse carriage ride. There were bonfires around the grounds and Santa was there too. This event usually happens on the weekends during December.

The photos were captured at Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut during December 2025. All photos are available for purchase. Please make request here.

Mayflower II returns to Mystic for the winter

Living in Mystic, Connecticut means I get to see all the cool ships come by! Mayflower II is no stranger to Mystic Seaport Museum shipyard. She has come before for routine maintenance during the winter. These photos were captured on December 6, 2025.

How to have a Hallmark Christmas in Mystic, Connecticut

Before the 2023 holidays season began, Hallmark graced us with a movie based in Mystic, Connecticut. The movie, Mystic Christmas starred Jessy Schram, Chandler Massey and Patti Murin. We follow Juniper (Jessy Schram) who comes to Mystic to work at the rehabilitation center at Mystic Aquarium. She previously had a fling with Sawyer (Chandler Massey) who owns a pizza shop. They reconnected again and Juniper has to decide if she wants to stay in Mystic permanently. Fun fact: Tim from Mystic Pizza movie made an appearance in this movie too!

This movie is a love letter to Mystic! It was so fun to recognize all the familiar places in the movie. I thought I’d share here how you can re-create your own version of Mystic Christmas by visiting the filming locations:

MYSTIC AQUARIUM

It’s a real life aquarium with a rehabilitation center! Mystic Aquarium has a rehabilitation center helping rescued seals from beaches across CT and beyond. During the day hours, you can attend a seal show. That’s always my favorite part! To add a Christmas touch to your visit at the aquarium, I’d recommend you to check out the Home for Holidays — Lights Extravaganza event. It happens on selected nights where you can have a holiday stroll through the aquarium at night, enjoy the aquarium decorated in holiday lights.

MANGO’S PIZZA

The pizza shop is based at Mango’s Pizza in Olde Mistick Village. The pizza are really good, even earned a visit from Barstool Pizza Review with Dave Portnoy. The environment is very cozy and perfect for a lunch during your Christmas visit to Mystic.

SIFT BAKE SHOP

There is a lot of love for Sift in Mystic! It made quite a few appearances in the movie. I highly recommend you to go visit early in the morning before the lines gets long (trust me, they do!). You can’t go wrong with any pastries they offer from croissants, macarons, cookies and more. During the month of December, they have specials such as peppermint croissant and peppermint macarons.

FRIAR TUCK’S TAVERN

One scene in the movie showed the crew going to Friar Tuck’s Tavern for trivia night. I love eating at Friar Tuck’s and have been since they opened in their old location! They do host trivia nights so be sure to check their social media for specific nights. The bar is also decorated with the cutest Santa sleeves on the chairs.

HARBOR VIEW LANDING

The two homes (Candice’s house and the one Junpier stayed in) are located at Harbor View Landing. It is a luxury waterfront stay that you can rent. Make a weekend out of it and stay in the very house where they filmed (either Bluff House Floor 1 or Nantucket Cottage)!

DOWNTOWN MYSTIC & RIVER PARK

Several scenes shows Junpier and Sawyer walking across the drawbridge and the festival in Mystic River Park. While there won’t be a festival, you can enjoy the Christmas tree in the park! The downtown area is also decorated for the holidays where you can support the small businesses!

BANK SQUARE BOOKS

In one of the scenes, they went to Bank Square Books to pick out books for each other. While the filming location was at the former location in Downtown, they have since then moved to Stonington town line (80 Stonington Rd). The charm and books selection are the same at the new location. Worth a stop to pick up your holiday reads!

MYSTIC SEAPORT MUSEUM

There were many scenes filmed at Mystic Seaport Museum. South Entrance building was featured as the train station and where they had the town meetings in the movie.

Anchor Cafe and Sweets was where Junpier meets Sawyer again. It is a cafe located in the Mystic Seaport Museum gift shop offering food and drinks.

In the opening scene when Juniper was at a holiday party for work, it was inside the North Entrance building.

Lantern Lights Village was featured in the movie too. It is an annual event happening at Mystic Seaport Museum during December on selected nights. Be sure to check their website for more details and information.

Several more scenes were filmed at the Seaport. It is a beautiful grounds with seafaring history. December is one of my favorite months to visit because the grounds is decorated with beautiful seasonal garlands and wreaths.

HOLIDAY LIGHTED BOAT PARADE

The annual lighted boat parade was featured in the movie. The event has passed for 2024, but if you’re considering to come to Mystic for a future Christmas themed trip — definitely look into coming for the parade! It’s unique and always fun.

ABBOTT’S LOBSTER

The filming location took place at Abbott’s Outpost in Downtown Mystic which is no longer opened anymore. I do suggest a visit to Abbott’s in Noank during spring/summer!

ESKER POINT BEACH

The seal release in the movie happened at Esker Point Beach in Groton, Connecticut. While you won’t see an actual seal release (unfortunately!), the scenery at Esker is beautiful. From the shore, you can see Morgan Point Lighthouse and Mouse Island (an island with three homes). It is a small beach so it would be a quick stop to appreciate the beautiful shoreline.

Mystic is a beautiful coastal town with charm! Especially during the holidays. I’m so glad that Hallmark could see that and decided to capture it in the movie. I’m not the biggest fan of cheesy movies but this was a very well done movie portraying Mystic at Christmas time. There is plenty more to do in Mystic during Christmas which you can read more here: Celebrate Christmas in Mystic, Connecticut.

Happy Holidays!

Quiet November in Wickford & Galilee, Rhode Island

November was a very challenging month in my personal life. I’m fortunate that I have many options for somewhere to get away to within a hour from Mystic, Connecticut. I ended up going to Wickford and Galilee a few times this month.

I caught a beautiful sunset in Wickford one evening. I was thrilled to have dramatic clouds to capture! I was surprised that there were still sailboats in the water so lucky me! Usually all sailboats and boats are pulled out of the water by this time of the year in my area.

There’s no shortage of beautiful historical homes to appreciate in Wickford. I love that the owners take the time to maintain their houses and also decorate it seasonally. While I was photographing one of the homes, a resident passed by and suggested that I return during the holidays. I already have been and I concur with her recommendations.

Galilee, Rhode Island is another favorite spot to sit and watch fishing vessels come back in. It is a busy port — I've been there a few times and captured at least 3-4 boats each time. Maybe I was lucky with the timing! I almost always spot a seal too. November gave me a lot of peacefulness to capture and I hope you can feel it in the photos.

A Very Connecticut Christmas: Stonington’s Lobster Trap Tree

When the holidays roll in, Stonington’s Lobster Trap Tree is a must-see! Built from lobster traps and decked out with buoys and lights by the fishing docks, it’s a festive, fun coastal showstopper.

It takes hours for the volunteers to set up the tree and to hang the buoys! This is my favorite part — the buoys are a community involvement project. Each buoy had been hand painted by Connecticut and Rhode Island artists. These buoys are sold off in an auction on the website. Other buoys are painted by children and sponsored by local businesses.

The Stonington Lobster Trap Tree was first erected in 2021. It became so successful that it returned every season since then. The amount of buoys grew over the years, the tree even got taller! Many proposals also have happened here — I personally witnessed one during 2025 season!

Every season I have enjoyed walking around the tree looking at each buoy (remember, there’s hundreds of them!!). The variety of artist skills always is amazing. There were many buoys dedicated to the fishing village with paintings of specific fishing boats that you normally see at the docks. Most often you’ll recognize the popular landmarks from surrounding area such as the Stonington Lighthouse, Downtown Mystic drawbridge and the Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI.

Did you know you can go inside the tree? The view is amazing on the inside at sunset hour or at night with the lights on. I do have to warn that there are long lines every weekends. The people wait to take their photos inside the tree by one of the many volunteers.

The lobster trap tree is magical to see. I always visit it several times during the season — it never gets old. I also almost always see something new each time. I strongly recommend you to visit around 4pm, when you can see the buoys in day light then watch the lights come on around 4:30pm. It stays on until 9:30pm daily. If you don’t feel comfortable being around many people, it’s almost always empty during the daylight hours during the weekdays. 

The tree is located at the park right next to the fishing docks. You can’t miss it. FYI families, there is a playground right by the tree. There is a public parking lot near the tree — it can be limited when it’s crowded. If there aren’t any spaces right by the tree, there are plenty of side street parking surrounding the park or on the Main Street in the borough.

I love how the community rallied together to make this tree happen. A lot of help, monetary donations, time, volunteering went into this! Thank you to all who were involved to make this wonderful and magical tree! It’s a favorite holiday tradition that I can’t miss!

More information can be found at their website here: Stonington Lobster Trap Tree.

Small Business Saturday in Mystic, Connecticut

The anticipation of Thanksgiving this week is making me excited to celebrate my traditions. Small Business Saturday always kicks off the holiday season! It starts with Santa coming to town on the tugboat, bustling shops and the annual holiday lighted boat parade. The community in Mystic puts on a good display of holiday decorations throughout the town too!

It’s not difficult to celebrate Small Business Saturday in Mystic with all of independently owned shops. I love supporting the mom and pop shops. Can’t get any more friendlier customer service from these shops! I’m going to name off a few of my favorites that you must visit:

Downtown Mystic

Mystic Knotwork is my favorite shop creating nautical knot souvenirs. I’ve already dedicated a blog about them, so read all about it here.

Tidal River Clothing Co. is a long fixture in downtown Mystic since 2004. There you will find the best selection of Patagonia clothing as well as other brands such as Helly Hansen and Prana. This is also the best shop to get your Mystic tees if you’re looking for one!

Hang The Moon, a shop for the women in your lives! Find women’s gifts made by women such as candles, jewelry, socks, ornaments, planters, mugs, etc. There’s so much options and the best part? Most of the shop is organized by theme. There’s the plants/garden section, mystical section, dog/cat mom section, you get the gist! They also have local artisans goods.

The Black Dog General Store and Sea Bags might be considered “chain stores” with few shops across New England. They are a New England operated businesses through! The Black Dog in Mystic is the only Connecticut shop. There’s clothing for the entire family and even your dogs! The staff in there is super friendly, always welcoming everyone. It’s not a surprise that I often find myself in there! Sea Bags is the same with friendly staff always ready to help you locate an item. Pick up a bag or tote made from recycled sails.

Main Street Soap Emporium definitely is the best bath and body shop! Here you can find a variety of soaps, hair products, lotions, bath bombs, oils, body washes and many more! The prices are amazing too - affordable everything is under $40. This is a perfect shop for stocking stuffers!

Mystic Army Navy Store is a military surplus store with apparel and accessories. They do have an impressive selection, so if you have a military enthusiast in your family, be sure to grab them a gift from here! They also have patches.

Bank Square Books is the community bookstore with a huge selection of books! I love popping in there to check out the locals section - books about the area or local authors. It’s neatly organized so it’s not challenging to find a book. If you do need help, the staff is friendly! The bookstore has a cozy environment, there is seating to read a chapter or relax.

Mystic Pet Shop I have been a loyal supporter of this store ever since I got my pup. You can’t beat how amazing the owners are. They remember me when I come in monthly to pick up the dog food (even know the exact brand!). In the past, I’ve messaged them on social media to inquiry if they carried a specific item - they were quick to respond. Don’t cross this off your list if you’re not a local - there are other items for you to buy. There’s souvenirs for your pooches! My favorite are the Mystic collars and leashes (of course I got one for mine!). There’s also a selection of toys and treats too.

Finer Line Gallery is a fine art gallery and custom framing shop. They also carry local artists’ artworks. I have purchased several Mystic scenery prints from this shop that hangs proudly around my home. There’s a great selection of nautical artwork if you’re looking to add lobsters, ships or lighthouses to your home (or for someone else!).

Marine Consignment of Mystic is the shop for the DIY lovers. When I have a nautical project for the home, I stop in here to find a nautical hardware (typically from boats) or look for nautical antiques. There’s always something in this shop to bring home.

Mallove’s of Mystic has been my favorite jewelry shop since I moved here. There’s always a beautiful selection of jewelry. The staff at this shop are also so friendly! Always welcoming you in like you’re an old friend.

Spice & Tea Exchange has an assortment of spices and teas. There’s so many unique blends, it’s fun to try new once out while cooking at home. Most often when you visit this shop, they have samples of teas and dips. If you have a foodie lover to shop for, there are many gift sets already made up of their products for you to buy!

Burgee Mystic is a classic New England coastal shop with men & women’s clothing, house decor items and many more. I love the nautical set up of the shop! I’ve picked up some home decor items from here. I also always eye their cute apparel sporting their shop logo (the burgee)!

Trade Winds Gallery is a fine art gallery carrying a collection of artworks from New England artists. If you’re looking for original antique nautical maps, this shop is the place that has it all! Most of the maps are local but if there’s a specific one you’re looking for, you can shoot them a message. The owner is willing to work with you to find what you’re looking for. One of my favorite nautical photographs, that is hanging in my home, came from here. They also do framing if you’re in need.

Company of Craftsmen carries a collection of handmade goods from mostly New England artists. There’s a small selection from artists who are from beyond New England. I once purchased a cleat necklace that was created by someone in Upstate NY (not far from where I grew up!). The goods includes pottery, wood, jewelry, glass and many more. This shop is my favorite for handmade goods. They have a lot of Mystic related items which is perfect to add to your home or give to someone who loves Mystic as much as I do! I’ve even got my eyes on this nautical ship made out of glass sitting in the front window!

Pennywise is my favorite women’s clothing shop in SECT. It is a consignment store, I sell my clothes there too. I opened an account and brought in some clothes. The staff sort through the clothes and pick the ones that will likely be sold in their store. I love shopping there, as most of the clothes are in great condition! They carry a few of my favorite brands too. This shop is dog-friendly! *Located near Mystic Seaport Museum (tugboat entrance).

Just Mystic is the spot to get your Mystic tee or sweatshirt. All of their apparel are simple and classic sporting the names of local towns around here (Mystic, Noank, Stonington, GLP). I love my Mystic long sleeve tee and find myself wearing it often! The shop is owned by siblings - a sister and a brother. Every time I’ve popped in the store, they’re always so friendly! Be sure to follow them on Instagram.

No Other Books Like This is located across the street from the train station. I love popping in this used-books shop! The owner is always friendly, sometimes you will get a visit from the shop dog, Benny. I love when he follows me around while I’m browsing! The bookstore is very cozy and has an impressive collection of rare/antique books!

Olde Mistick Village

Irish Eyes has been my most favorite shop in Mystic since the day one! Carrying all Irish merchandise from clothing, home decor items, jewelry, to gifts. So many items have been purchased from this shop over the years. I love that they even carry some food products from Ireland that you can’t find elsewhere in the United States. They have BELLEEK collection there too. The jewelry they have is always beautiful.

Becca Rose always smells so good when you walk in there! There’s so many goat milk soaps to pick from, they have signs that describe what the soaps help with, things like stress relief, anxiety, headaches, etc. It’s so helpful in picking the right ones! The staff also can help you if you ask them too - they are VERY knowledgeable about the products they sell in the shop.

Franklin’s General Store has been a long time favorite shop in Mystic. Its the typical general store carrying clothing, books, gifts, food, home decor items, and best of all… FUDGE. The fudge is freshly made in their shop daily. There’s seasonal flavors too which are listed on their website. I look forward to February every year for the cherry fudge. My mouth is watery thinking about it! You can sample the fudge too, which will help you to pick the one (or a few) to bring home or to buy for someone!

Sofia’s Mystical Christmas is full with ornaments of all kinds. If you’re looking for a firefighter themed ornament, they got it. If you’re looking for a teacher ornament, they got it. If you’re looking for Irish ornaments, they got it. Literally, any kind ornaments… they are mostly likely to have it! It’s organized by category so it is easy to navigate through the store to find your perfect ornament.

Sticky Situations is where you get the honey! There’s a variety of honey. A few of my favorites include cinnamon honey, dark chocolate honey, peppermint honey and blackberry honey. You’re probably thinking, what would I put that on? Right? No fears, there are helpful staff in the shop to recommend what to put it on or what to eat with it. There are usually signs by the products with recommendations too. You can sample the honey! They sell other items such as olive oil, vinegar and syrup.

Alice’s Haunted Little Bookshop is a fun shop to visit! I’m amazed by the decor - very Victorian style. There is a curated collection of unique books, especially those that were forgotten or weren’t on any bestseller lists. It’s not just books, but gifts, accessories and more are sold in the shop!

Cloak and Wand is very Harry Potter like! It is a shop with a strong wizards and witches theme, completed with a potion bar. The potion bar is a custom soda/hot chocolate bar where you can customize your ‘magic drink’. This is definitely a must to visit!

There are PLENTY of shops in Mystic to shop for Small Business Saturday! I couldn’t even list them all, but there’s always something for everyone. I love the variety that Mystic offers. It’s always so much fun to shop with amazing customer service there. It definitely motivates me to keep buying from the mom-and-pop shops whenever I can. Don’t forget to visit these shops during the holidays too! Downtown Mystic hosts the holiday stroll in early December when shops stays open later for last minute shopping with refreshments. Olde Mistick Village hosts their Festival of Lights event. The whole village is lighted up with luminaries, it’s so beautiful to see. I love the holidays time in Mystic, CT!

Celebrate Christmas in Mystic, Connecticut

’Tis the season! One of the best time of the year is when Mystic gets festive for the holidays. As a Mystic local, I’ve got all the best recommendations for you. Here are some events happening in November & December that you can’t miss!

MONTH LONG EVENTS:

Enjoy the largest lights display at Olde Mistick Village

The lights show usually begins around Thanksgiving week. It is the largest lights display in southern New England region with over half a million lights! It’s decorated through out the village. You can also pop in the small shops to do some holidays shopping or dine at one of the establishments there.

Dine at Santa’s Sleigh Station

Taquerio converted to Santa’s Sleigh Station for the winter. Enjoy the food and drinks from their Christmas menu (they also offer the regular menu). The restaurant is decked out in Christmas decor inside and outside! While you dine, there are several Christmas classic movies playing throughout the restaurant. Read more about it here.

ON SATURDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING:

Watch Santa’s Arrival on Tug Boat

Santa arrives on the John Paul tug boat to the Mystic River Park. You will have photo opportunities with Santa and the Mystic Park Christmas tree.

Attend the Mystic Christmas tree lighting

Right before the lighted boat parade, the Christmas tree in the park will be lit.

Enjoy the festive Holiday Lighted Boat Parade

I love this annual tradition where people decorate their boats! I’ve seen many creative ones over the years and it never gets old. It does get crowded so I suggest getting there early to get a good spot on the boardwalk in Mystic River Park!

Support the mom and pop shops for Small Business Saturday

It’s a day to support the independently owned shops and you can’t beat the friendly customer services. I’ve listed all of my favorite Mystic shops here.

SPECIFIC DATES:

Get in the holiday spirits at the Downtown Mystic Holiday Stroll

The community spirit is high during this annual event on the first Tuesday of December! The shops in Downtown Mystic stay open late and some offer free finger foods/beverage. There are several musical groups performing through out Downtown — whether it’s a band or caroling group. You’ll also see some characters such as Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Reindeers and even the Grinch!

Transport back to 1876 during Lantern Light Village at Mystic Seaport Museum

At this event, you’ll see townspeople dressed from that time period and share stories. There are other activities such as horse-drawn carriage rides, bonfires, carolers, games and more! It’s a popular event in Mystic that can’t be missed. For the dates and times, please visit their website here.

Follow @knotsoloud on Instagram for more recommendations in Mystic, CT!

When Providence, Rhode Island Turns Amber

One weekend during early November, I took a day trip up to Providence, Rhode Island. I had a busy October chasing foliage all over New England and beyond. The foliage seems to arrive to cities last — namely Providence.

I stopped in Plant City first for lunch. I’ve always enjoyed every meal there. Located right next to the River Walk which is where I started the photography walk.

From River Walk, I headed into College Hill neighborhood up to Brown University. I was very fortunate that it seemed to be the perfect peak for the foliage in Providence. It was a stunning day!

After walking around Brown University — a beautiful college campus with buildings to admire, I had to go in Providence Athenæum. It is easily one of my top 5 favorite libraries. It is opened to the public with a pay-what-you-can donation (usually $5 is suggested). I can’t believe this library even exists, it is so gorgeous.

Ended the day with a drink from Dave’s Coffee. I’m a regular at the Charlestown location so it was fun to see a new-to-me location. The drink was perfect fuel for the drive back home to Mystic, Connecticut after a fun day in Providence.

USS Newport News homecoming 11/7/25

USS Newport News returned home to Groton, Connecticut on November 7, 2025. This was my first homecoming to photograph with the fall foliage background. I was thrilled about that! Every time I watch the submarine come up the Thames River — it gives me so much pride for those who are serving for our country. I’ll forever be grateful for those sailors.

A festive dining experience at Santa's Sleigh Station

It’s the best time of the year when all the festivities are happening after Thanksgiving through December. From Santa’s arrival on the tug boat, the lighted boat parade, supporting local businesses for Small Business Saturday and the Downtown holiday stroll. I have a suggestion to add to your holiday festivities in Mystic!

Taquerio converted to a Winter Wonderland for the second year! Taquerio is the restaurant located in a vintage gas station offering tacos, margaritas and more. The winter wonderland has been renamed SANTA’S SLEIGH STATION. I went there last year when they first opened and I LOVED IT! It definitely got me in the spirit so much that I came home to watch a Christmas movie.

The restaurant space is decked out in Christmas — like those fancy restaurants in New York City with ornaments on the ceiling, Christmas dishes, etc that you have seen across Instagram. I’ve always had the FOMO (fear of missing out) when I see those social media posts but now we can see it right here in Mystic!

Outside of Santa’s Sleigh Station is decked out with many inflatables, Christmas decor, a curling game you can play and a couple photo stations. Once you go inside, there’s a wall plastered with wish lists to Santa from kids (a bit of nostalgia!). Also more of nostalgia inside the restaurant where there’s several classic Christmas movies playing. There are multiple screens — I saw Home Alone, Grinch, It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street to name a few. The back room is Frozen-themed with icicles hanging from the ceiling and dimmed blue lighting. The bar is decked out with many Christmas ornaments or decor. It was a great conversation piece as my companion and I enjoyed spotting some familiar objects. The bar had the infamous leg lamp from A Christmas Story, there was a Battle Plan map from Home Alone, even something from the Die Hard movie.

The menu was Christmas themed — many dishes or drinks were named after the classics. I spotted ‘Buddy’s Spaghetti’ which is the very same recipe from Elf movie. Spaghetti with maple syrup, candy, chocolate syrup, marshmallows, sprinkles and pop tart.

The night I dined there, I spotted the appetizer — Santa Salsa and Chips, red and green chips on every single table all around me. They have their regular menu (Taquerio) items, which is very gluten free friendly. The menu is marked well with items that can be made GF or items that already are GF. It is one of the most GF friendly restaurants in Mystic area. I ordered a few tacos and the nachos appetizer. My companion (who is not GF) ordered the chicken and waffles off the Christmas menu. I also had the delicious frozen hot chocolate! We enjoyed everything as it all tasted wonderful!

I absolutely love this addition to the holiday festivities in Mystic. It was such a fun dining experience. They really went all in for Christmas! It took them 3 1/2 days to convert this into Santa’s Sleigh Station. It’s well worth the stop there. I know it won’t be my only visit there.

Visit their website here.