I'm constantly looking for excuses to escape the city for a weekend away. Especially before we begin the transition into full winter-weather. Give me a destination with a less than two-hours drive and I'll gladly hop in the car and head that way. 

This month our destination was New Haven, Connecticut. I packed up the car on a Friday afternoon, two boys in tow, and drove up to Connecticut for 24 hours of rich fall colors, iconic monuments and New Haven's incredible food offerings. We packed our schedule full of theater tours, historical architecture and hours and hours of wandering through the museum. Did I mention there was plenty of food to enjoy each stop along the way? But don't worry about the calories, New Haven is most definitely a walking city so you burn off every single delicious calorie you eat. 

So, if you find yourself in New Haven for 24 hours (or less or more!). Here's what you absolutely have to do and where you have to eat to get the full New Haven, Connecticut experience. 

Stay at the Omni New Haven Hotel for the Best View of Yale

In the middle of everything, you can't ask for a more convenient and luxurious place to stay while visiting New Haven. Within steps to Yale, you can't get a better view elsewhere. The digs are cozy and charming as you would expect from a hotel placed smack dab in the middle of a town with rich history. Pop up to the 19th floor for a bite with an incredible view at John Davenport's. 

See a Show at the Shubert Theatre 

Do yourself a favor and plan your trip around seeing a show at the iconic Shubert Theatre. It's not just any other theater, The Shubert Theatre IS theater history. Celebrating its 105th season, The Shubert is the site of world premieres for iconic shows like My Fair Lady, The King and I, Oklahoma and The Sound of Music - just to name a few of my Rogers and Hammerstein favorites. Settle in your seat and in take in the same stage that held Julie Andrews, Marlon Brando, and Katherine Hepburn. It will take your breath away. 

Indulge in Street-Style Indian Food at Sherkaan

You know I can't resist a gorgeous restaurant but their skills didn't stop at the perfectly curated decor considerations. The food was incredible. My only regret is not ordering and eating more during our meal. Every irresistible bite was packed with flavor and even the pickiest eater of the bunch inhaled every last bite- not usual. I highly recommend you order the Hot Chicken Sandwich, the Indo-Chinese Pork Ribs and The Butter Chicken. Oh. Ehm. Gee!

Craft up the Ice Cream Combination of your Dreams at MilkCraft 

Into small-batch ice cream with seemingly endless flavor possibilities? Yup, me too. I went with the Campfire S'mores in a fish cone. The boys were surprisingly less creative than I anticipated, opting for Strawberry Sorbet and Chocolate with Nutella. In the end, everything was delicious and left me wishing they had a MilkCraft in my neighborhood. 

Breakfast at Heirloom / The Study at Yale

Located in The Study at Yale hotel, Heirloom incorporates New England-inspired traditions with fresh ingredients sourced from local growers and neighboring farmers. The overall ambiance is cozy and the food is yum yum yum! To round out your meal, on your way out, pop over to "The Living Room" Cafe and hangout with a cup of coffee.

Explore the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History 

Give me a museum chock-full of science and history and you've got a fan in me. Don't tell the Museum of Natural History this, but I actually prefer the Yale Peabody Museum's layout and overall collection of exhibits to the enormous version in my backyard. I could have spent the entire day going from ancient Mesopotamia to the dinosaurs, gems and back again. The kids felt the same. This is a must-stop if you're in the neighborhood. 

Pizza at Sally's Apizza

New Haven is famous for its thin-crust pizza. Being a lover of all things pizza-related, I had to see what the fuss was about. I found myself walking up to the famous Sally's Apizza to find a line almost a block long! After about 30 minutes we made it to a booth ordering 3 not-so-small pizzas with varying toppings. Was it worth the wait? ABSOLUTELY. I highly recommend getting some hot peppers piled on the coal-fired pizza, it was incredible and I can see why this 81 year old establishment is still going strong...

Out of this World Donuts at Donut Crazy

Donuts don't usually need an introduction but Donut Crazy makes some pretty insane donuts that rival any donut I've ever eaten- and I've had some good freakin donuts. With crazy listed in the name, these specialty donuts are fried up with all sorts of creativity and deliciousness as a rule. Sure they're outside the box flavors, but they're definitely great inside your mouth and you're going to want to take a box home with you. My favorite? The Hostess Cupcake Inspired Donut. 

Conquer The Largest Indoor Ropes Course in The World at IT Ropes Course

I’ll preface by saying I’m terribly afraid of heights, so when I saw IT Ropes Course on the itinerary I knew I had to conquer my fears and give the largest indoor ropes course in the WORLD a go! It.is.awesome. Sure, I was definitely terrified scaling tight ropes, angled rope ladders and zip-lining through a ‘firework’ water show but it was absolutely worth it. If you’re looking to add a bit of adventure to your trip, stop by the Jordan’s Furniture Store and you’ll find IT Ropes Course in the back of the store waiting for you. 

Been to New Haven? What are your favorite things to do, see and eat in town?

Season's Greetings! Please allow me to preface by saying I'm not one to get excited about the holidays when they're still months away. I'm absolutely the type to wait until it's the month-of to get in the spirit. Well, that was until I saw the winter wonderland that was the Sam's Club Holiday Event last week. Sure, it was a piping hot 90˚ degrees outside at the time, but as soon as I walked into the event to see the gorgeous Christmas Tree smacking me right in the face, I was instantly transported to a Wintery Wonderland with Christmas carols on full blast, festive appetizers passed around, and brilliant decor from wall to wall.