Collinsville lies about 15 miles west of Hartford. Two good places to stay in the area are the Avon Old Farms Hotel in Avon (800-836-4000 or www.avonoldfarmshotel.com ) and the Simsbury Inn in Simsbury (800-634-2719 or www.simsburyinn.com ). Visitors should also know that Litchfield and its neighboring towns in the picturesque Litchfield Hills, less than an hour away, offer numerous inns as well as bed-and-breakfasts. The Collinsville Antiques Company is open Wednesday through Monday (860-6931011). The other antiques shop in town, Village Green Antiques (860-693-1972), is open all week. Collinsville Canoe & Kayak (860-693-6977), long a center for people who want to buy the craft, also offers rentals and lessons on the Farmington River in its back yard. Above all, don’t miss the Canton Historical Museum, open year-round but with a limited schedule, especially in winter. Call first (860-693-2793) to confirm.