Travel Travel Perfect getaway is a lot closer than you think

By Gary Carra

Get out of town.

That’s easier said than done these days.

You’ve waited too long on those now sold-out plane tickets. The proverbial cruise ship – or weeklong, tropical vacation – may have sailed. There’s no one to watch Rover for the week. And since when do these schools have every athlete, musician and drama club member have practice sessions of April break?

But that doesn’t have to keep you and the fam from embarking on a multiday STAYCATION right in your own backyard.

Introducing Cambria Manchester South Windsor. The newest of the brand’s Connecticut hotels pits familiar amenities with unparalleled access to shopping and dining options.

Inside, you’ll find affordable (average prices between $150-$200 per night that can sleep two or four), well-appointed rooms with readily accessible plugs and USB ports to keep the most tech-savvy of families electrified. And oh how the kiddies will enjoy the Bluetooth speaker bathroom mirror feature.

Each room is also equipped with a large screen TV that swivels to all angles — whether one watches in bed, from the desk or sitting areas. Refrigerators and microwaves are also available, so feel free to bring those togo boxes home from the area eateries.

That said, the Cambria Manchester South Windsor also features a wellstocked pantry — perfect for grab-and-go — and the affordable Silkworks bar and restaurant. The latter is open for breakfast 6-10 a.m. weekdays, 7-10 a.m. weekends and the bar/dinner nightly from 5-10 p.m.

Don’t want to pack too heavy? Or just want to go home with clean clothes? A 24-hour, coin-operated guest laundry makes that possible. The Fitness Center is open to guests around the clock. And it boasts a great view of the picturesque patio and firepit.

Which reminds – even if the parental unit(s) need to tele-work, the Wi-Fi flows bountifully throughout the prop- erty. So bring that laptop to the patio or pool area when the kiddos play. The hotel’s business office is also available for printing needs and more.

Oh, the real allure of this particular hotel? It abuts South Windsor’s premiere, open-air mall – formally known as The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk.

Just steps away lie dozens of shopping and dining options — L.L. Bean, Eddie

Bauer, White House Black Market and Apple to Burton’s Grill & Bar, Red Heat Tavern and Sakura Garden. So throw the kids a few bucks and send them off to Dude’s Donuts, Shake Shack or Emerald City Smoothie for a couple of hours while you knock off some work or treat yourself to Anthony Vince’s Nail Spa or Stone Wall Kitchen.