Things to do in Concord
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Walden Pond
Thoreau took the naturalist beliefs of Transcendentalism out of the realm of theory and into practice when he left the comforts of town and built a rustic cabin at Walden Pond. Now a state park, the glacial pond is surrounded by acres of forest preserved by the nonprofit Walden Woods project.
The site of Thoreau’s cabin is on the northeast side, marked by a cairn and signs. Parking costs $5.
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Monument Square
The grassy center of Monument Square is a favorite resting and picnicking spot for cyclists touring Concord's scenic roads. At the southeastern end of the square is Wright Tavern, one of the first places the British troops searched in their hunt for arms on April 19, 1775. It became their headquarters for the operation. At the opposite end of the square is the Colonial Inn, the center of Concord socializing, now as then.
Old Hill Burying Ground, with graves dating from colonial times, is on the hillside at the southeastern end of Monument Sq.
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Concord Museum
Southeast of Monument Sq, Concord Museum brings the town’s diverse history under one roof. The museum’s prized possession is one of the ‘two if by sea’ lanterns that hung in the steeple of the Old North Church in Boston as a signal to Paul Revere. It also has the world’s largest collection of Henry David Thoreau artifacts, including his writing desk from Walden Pond.
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Minute Man National Historic Park
Two miles west of Lexington center, the route that British troops followed to Concord has been designated the Minute Man National Historic Park. The visitors center at the eastern end of the park shows an informative multimedia presentation depicting Paul Revere’s ride and the ensuing battles.
Within the park, Battle Rd is a five-mile wooded trail that connects the historic sites related to the battles – from Meriam’s Corner, where gunfire erupted while British soldiers were retreating, to the Paul Revere capture site.
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The Wayside: House of Authors
The Wayside: House of Authors was at various times the home of Nathaniel Hawthorne, children’s author Margaret Sidney and Louisa May Alcott. Life-size sculptures and audio programming depict all three of these famous authors (and their families) during the times that they lived here. Now operated by the National Park Service, it is open by guided tour only.
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Ralph Waldo Emerson House
Within a mile of the town center is the Ralph Waldo Emerson house where the philosopher lived for almost 50 years (1835–82).Emerson was the paterfamilias of literary Concord, one of the great literary figures of his age and the founding thinker of the Transcendentalist movement.
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South Bridge Boat House
A mile west of Monument Sq, South Bridge Boat House rents canoes for cruising the Concord and Assabet Rivers. The favorite route is downstream to Old North Bridge, and back past the many fine riverside houses and the campus of prestigious Concord Academy – a paddle of about two hours.
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Main Streets Market & Cafe
This longstanding family-owned market has always a favorite for breakfast and lunch, thanks to sandwiches and smoothies made to order. It also offers an eclectic menu of full dinners accompanied by live local musicians playing in the background. It's hard to beat the signature chili, which substitutes beans with butternut squash.
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Helen’s Café
This popular breakfast and lunch spot hums with the sound of plates hitting the Formica tabletops and staff jawing with regular customers. Hungry patrons come looking for cheese-stuffed omelets, homemade soups and grinders, and thick frappes from the ice-cream counter.
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ATA Cycle
The country roads around Concord are beautiful for biking – if you don’t mind battling a few tough hills. The roads around Walden Pond, in particular, boast picturesque countryside and a lack of car traffic. Rent bikes at ATA Cycle.
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Walden Grille
Set in a former firehouse, this popular spot is a tavern-restaurant with soft lighting, exposed brick walls and lyrical landscape paintings. The New American menu gets mixed reviews, but the atmosphere is welcoming.
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Concord Minute Man
Daniel French's first statue, the Concord Minute Man, presides over the park from the opposite side of the bridge. Up the hill, the Buttrick Mansion houses the park's visitor center and a quaint café.
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Bedford Farms
Dating to the 19th century, this local dairy specializes in delectable ice cream, and frozen yogurt that tastes like delectable ice cream. If prices seem a tad high, it's because the scoops are gigantic. Besides their trademark Moosetracks (vanilla ice cream, chocolate swirl, peanut-butter cups), most of the flavors are pretty standard. Conveniently located next to the train depot.
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Liberty Ride
- Concord, USA
- Activities › Bus
For those who prefer to follow in Paul Revere’s footsteps in the comfort of an air-conditioned bus.
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Concord Walking Tours
The Chamber of Commerce offers tours of both revolutionary and literary Concord. Tours depart from the visitors center.
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Concord Guides
Two-hour customized walking tour led by local teachers, authors and historians. Reservations required.
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Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
This is the final resting place for the most famous Concordians. Though the entrance is only a block east of Monument Sq, the most interesting part, Authors’ Ridge, is a 15-minute walk along Bedford St. You’ll find Thoreau and his family buried here, as well as the Alcotts and the Hawthornes.
Emerson’s tombstone is the large uncarved rock of New England marble, an appropriate Transcendentalist symbol.
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Old Manse
Right next to Old North Bridge, the Old Manse was built in 1769 by Ralph Waldo’s grandfather, the Reverend William Emerson. Today it’s filled with mementos, including those of Nathaniel and Sophia Hawthorne, who lived here for a few years. The highlight of Old Manse is the gorgeously maintained grounds – the fabulous organic garden was planted by Henry Thoreau as a wedding gift to the Hawthornes.
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Orchard House
Louisa May Alcott (1832–88) was a junior member of Concord’s august literary crowd, but her work proved to be durable: Little Women is among the most popular young-adult books ever written. The mostly autobiographical novel is set in Concord. Orchard House, her fully furnished childhood home, is across from the Emerson Memorial House and is open for guided tours.
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Concord Bookshop
An independent bookstore packed with good reads.
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Ralph Waldo Emerson Memorial House
The Ralph Waldo Emerson Memorial House is where the philosopher lived for almost 50 years (1835–82). Emerson was the paterfamilias of literary Concord, one of the great literary figures of his age and the founding thinker of the Transcendentalist movement. The house often hosted his renowned circle of friends and still contains many original furnishings.
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Old North Bridge
A half-mile north of Memorial Sq in Concord center, the wooden span of Old North Bridge is the site of the ‘shot heard around the world’ (as Emerson wrote in his poem Concord Hymn). Daniel Chester French’s first statue, Minute Man, presides over the park from the opposite side of the bridge.
On the far side of the bridge, the Buttrick mansion contains the visitor center, where you can see a video about the battle and admire the Revolutionary War brass cannon, the Hancock.
On your way up to Old North Bridge, look for the yellow Bullet Hole House, at which British troops purportedly fired as they retreated from North Bridge.
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Country Kitchen
At lunchtime, this little yellow house often has a line out the door, which is testament to its tiny size, as well as its amazing sandwiches. The Thanksgiving sandwich is the hands-down favorite, with roasted turkey carved straight off the bird. They don't accept credit cards and there's no seating, save the picnic table out front.
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Bullet Hole House
On your way up to Old North Bridge, look for the yellow Bullet Hole House, where British troops purportedly fired at the owner of the house as they retreated from North Bridge.
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80 Thoreau
Understated and elegant, this modern restaurant is an anomaly in historic Concord – but that's a good thing. The menu – short but sweet – features deliciously unexpected combinations of flavors, mostly using seasonal, local ingredients. There's also a busy bar area, which offers a short selection of classic cocktails and long list of wines by the glass.
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