You Say Potato, I Say Po-Tot-o - Colchester, Conn.

As fun to eat as it looks.

Who doesn't love tater tots, I ask you?

If you adore indulging in your fair share of carbs as much as I do, be sure to stop by Cafe on Main some night soon. Located right on the green in Colchester, Conn., Cafe on Main offers one of the friendliest, laid-back neighborhood hangouts around.

Here, nearly every glorious item on the menu - from Philly steak grinders to steamed hamburgers to the aforementioned tots - costs a mere $6 apiece. And we're not talking about skimpy portions, either, my friends. Not to mention there's also a considerably long list of fun beer on tap from which to choose.

Luckily for me, I have a very wise friend named Heather who lives literally across the green from this cozy establishment and knew just whom might enjoy such affordable deliciousness: moi. So being the lovely gal she is - as well as one of my beer-drinking partners-in-crime from those long lost days of college - she cordially invited me and our fellow adventurer, Marisa, out on the town.

Today's Stefcations Highlights:

• What You'll Find: Inexpensive, comforting pub food - each item a mere $6 apiece - along with many flavorful beers on tap.
• Where You'll Find it: 20 Main Street, Colchester, Conn., adjacent to the town green.
• When to Go: Sunday-Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Friday-Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Kitchen's open till 11 p.m. everyday; Also, take note: Happy Hour runs M-F from 4-7 p.m. (allegedly with FREE pizza!)

My Pilgrimage to Fine Food, Wine, and More - Plymouth, Mass.

The Mayflower II, a replica of the 17th-century vessel that
brought those courageous pilgrims to this side of the pond,
adds to the picturesque Plymouth Bay.

A lifelong New Englander, I'm rather ashamed to admit that it was not until this past week that I made the trek to Plymouth, Mass., which, as it turns out, is one cute seaside town that has more to offer than its famed little granite rock.

Courtesy of my mother, who purchased a one-night stay at a local inn for my birthday (thanks, Mom!), my husband and I enjoyed a pleasant night away, checking out some of the historic sites, doing a bit of shopping, and spending a solid couple of hours tasting just about everything on the menu in a fabulous wine, tapas, and dessert bar.

Best of all, it was just two hours from our home base of Glastonbury, Conn.

Today's Stefcations Highlights:

• What You'll Find: A quaint seaside town perfect for a relaxing night or two away.
• Where You'll Find it: Plymouth, Mass. (Take note, The Wine Cellar - a fab wine, tapas, and dessert bar, can be found at 690 State Road in Plymouth. Visit their website for more info.)
• When to Go: Anytime! It looks like it'd be especially lovely in the summer, but we spent a night away in January, and it was still enjoyable. Note that some of the historic exhibits are open only seasonally.

Baja's: Bordering on Brilliance - Orange, Conn.

The utterly fantastic carnitas plate,
found in Orange, Conn., of all places.
(Tortillas not shown.)

You may recall that I’m a huge fan of San Diego – where fresh, authentic, delicious Mexican food can be found at a moment’s notice, whether it’s at the fabulous restaurants in Old Town or among the most random of food trucks by Ocean Beach.

Unfortunately for me, Connecticut is not known for its Mexican cuisine. Living in central Connecticut, I often lament the fact that finding decent Mexican fare remains a never-ending challenge.

Hence, this is why I will happily take a 45-minute drive down to Orange, Conn., for the best Mexican food I’ve found yet in this state.

The Art of R&R - New Britain, Conn.

Me, marveling at the museum's giant wall o' color
(made of paper and plastic cups painted in bright colors and
nailed to the wall by the thousands), by Lisa Hoke.

The holidays can get a tad overwhelming.

Particularly if you're, say, hosting a big holiday dinner, having family and friends from out of the state stay over, or trying to fit in all the last-minute shopping, gift-wrapping, and cleaning around your day-to-day life.

I'm doing all of the above - and let's just say I was in dire need of an afternoon filled with nothing but peace and quiet.

For you Connecticut peeps, it may come as a surprise that of all places, Hard Hittin' New Britain offers just such an oasis.

My husband and I recently ventured to the New Britain Museum of American Art, a great spot to spend a relaxing couple of hours just ... unwinding. Here, you can take in the art at your own pace, check out whatever exhibits interest you, wander around the outside grounds to see cool pieces of sculpture, and, perhaps, find a bit of inspiration and calm.

Today's Stefcations Highlights:

• What You'll Find: A wonderful place to de-stress during the holidays. 
• Where You'll Find it: The New Britain Museum of American Art
• When to Go: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays noon to 5 p.m. (Closed Mondays!)
• Cost: Admission is a super reasonable $10 per adult and free for kids under 12. Senior admission is $9, and student admission is $8.

Keepin' It Regal - Mashantucket, Conn.

"Royal Tea," indeed.
Delicious sandwiches and sweets served
at Foxwoods Resort & Casino's Royal Tea,
part of "Diana: A Celebration."

Perhaps some of you can trace back your ancestry to an illustrious line of aristocrats – earls and duchesses, kings and queens, and the like. Much to my chagrin, it appears I am not one of these people.

Just the same, don’t let this stop you from getting up close and personal with the dazzling tiaras and brooches, royal wedding gown, and other amazing treasures that once belonged to the late Princess Di – all on display for you to ogle through the rest of this month and on into the new year.

Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., is currently featuring “Diana: A Celebration,” an exhibit open through Jan. 15 that offers a look at a breathtaking collection of personal items from Diana’s life – from photo albums, home movies, and school report cards from her childhood days spent at Althorp Estate in England to the awe-inspiring tiara, earrings, and gown (complete with its 25-foot train) that she wore on her wedding day.

Today's Stefcations Highlights:

• What You'll Find: An intimate look into the inspiring life and work of Princess Diana. 
• Where You'll Find it: Foxwoods Resort & Casino
• When to Go: Now through Jan. 15, 2012
• Cost: $25 per person for the exhibit. Or, pay $36 for the Royal Tea Package, which includes admission to the exhibit as well as a fabulous afternoon tea time that's, well, fit for a princess. Tickets for both options can be found here. Note: You'll need to reserve tickets for the Royal Tea Package in advance, due to its popularity!

Whale Watching ... in Downtown Hartford

This is what a midprice ticket will get you:
Pretty awesome seats.
(We were in the sixth row.)

Winter's settling in. Even if you aren't a fan of sledding, building snowmen, or braving New England's freezing temperatures to ski or snowboard, all is not lost.

Whether you've got a family to entertain on the cheap or are just looking for a fun night out with a couple of friends, perhaps it's time to check out the Connecticut Whale.

I'm talking about hockey here for those of you not familiar with the Whale. Not NHL, of course, but still the very worthy American Hockey League, where the top Whale players still score six- and seven-figure annual salaries.

The best part is, you won't have to go broke buying tickets. They run about $12 apiece for kids (ages 2-16) and between $12 and $25 per adult. And this is for very decent seats. (Good luck finding prices under $100 apiece - even in the nosebleed section -  for any Boston Bruins game.)

Not a sports fan? Well, me neither, technically. I assure you, the Connecticut Whale's got something for everyone.

Today's Stefcations Highlights:

• What You'll Find: A fun, inexpensive night out, no matter who you are - sports fan or no, child or adult
• Where You'll Find it: The XL Center in Hartford, Conn.
• When to Go: All winter long (through April 2012)
• Cost: Usually around $12 a ticket for kids, ages 2-16; $12-$25 per adult, depending on the game (and you won't be in nosebleed)

3 Things You Need to Do in San Diego

San Diego beckons.

For those of you living in New England, you are more than likely aware of the craziness that was this year's so-called "Snowtober," a snowstorm that slammed us in October, dumping several inches of snow on our poor little pumpkin patches, downing tree limbs and power lines, and spoiling Halloween for countless kids (and adults - myself included, damn it).

Not to mention the week spent without power ... and heat ... and, for some, water. If you'd seen my most recent post, you may have some inkling of how excited I was for the Halloween party of the year at the Wadsworth Mansion. Alas, the party was canceled, marking my first un-Halloween. Sniff.

Where to go when your backyard looks like this,
and it's not yet even Halloween?  Fly south. Pronto.

As it is, I'm not a big fan of the autumn months, so sans power and heat, and with Halloween erased from the calendar altogether, I ask you, what was I supposed to do? Um, fly to Southern California, that's what.

I swear I'm not that much of a prima donna. It just so happened that I'd planned my vacation with uncannily perfect timing - on the Thursday that we were scheduled to depart for San Diego, it was Day Six of no electricity. Otherwise known as Time to Get the Hell Out of Here.

OK, so San Diego. If you haven't been, I recommend it to anyone who hopes to escape the winter doldrums. It's the perfect getaway for the non-snow bunnies among us, like moi.

In addition to the heavenly weather, there are oodles of things to do there - from the San Diego Zoo to the beaches to Tijuana (just 15 minutes away), you can spend numerous vacations there, as I have, and not see everything. But there are at least three things I do recommend you do once you've arrived.