GROTON, Conn. -- With gas prices reaching record highs, more state residents are planning on spending their summer vacations in Connecticut.

The down-turn in the country's economy has led Connecticut vacationers to snap up cottage rentals on the shoreline quickly.

Eyewitness News took a tour of several cottages for rent on the shore.

The first cottage was a four-bedroom house on the water of Groton Long Point. The cottage featured hardwood floors and a view of Fisher's Island Sound.

The cottage is renting for $4,500 per week.

"There's a crescent beach steps to the beach. You can enjoy sitting there sipping a glass of wine, watching the boats go by," said Liz Viering of Stonington Realty.

Eyewitness News' second destination was a cottage on the ocean in Old Saybrook. The cottage, built around 1910, rents for $2,000 per week.

"People who come here want to relax, they don't want to have to be careful that they don't have to spill something on the rug," said Traver Steiner of Prudential Realty.

The house is equipped with private dunes and a private beach.

The final cottage Eyewitness News checked out was near Pilots Point in Westbrook. The four-bedroom cottage is suited for families with young children.

"If you have a brother and sister and stuff like that, bring the kids, because there are four bedrooms. There are cribs in this one," Steiner said. "You can walk outside, have your feet in the sand, in the water. It doesn't get any better than that."

The cottage rents for $3,500 per week.

Steiner said shoreline rentals are going quickly this year.

"Because of gas prices and all that other stuff, they don't want to make a trip out to the Cape," he said.

More Information:

Web Sites Devoted To Rentals:

Link: Vacation Rentals By Owner

Link: Vacation Rentals By Owner

Link: Cyber Rentals

Link: Rentalo.com