This site is in the cute little town of Concord, and the site itself has a beautiful visitor center…read more(former Buttrick family residence) which contains a small informational exhibit. What's really nice is the outdoors. There's a garden space where you have a good lookout of the North Bridge, a significant location where the Minute Man faced the British Army. The path to the bridge is not too far of a walk, and you can see a beautiful memorial quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem "the shot heard round the world." I also liked the plaque honoring the graves of the British soldiers since a lot of lives were lost on both sides for American Independence. The bridge is a great scenic walk and great to do for both history and nature lovers.

Apart from being an important part of American History, this park is GORGEOUS! The North Bridge…read moreoverlooks a steady stream with trees along the banks. Plaques and monuments are erected over the places where one of the first battles of the American revolution was held. Plenty of space for walking as well

This farm house was formerly located elsewhere. It once belonged to an African American family in…read morethe 1800's. At that time slavery had been abolished for quite some time in Massachusetts, so they would have been considered "free blacks" until 1865 when all slaves were formally emancipated in the USA. I didn't get to see the inside of this house but walked around the outside. I estimate that this house is roughly 16' x 32'. It looks like there is a tiny second floor area. From the front it looks probably much like it did when it was first built. The back has a wheelchair ramp, a piece of metal contemporary art and an air conditioning unit in one window. There is a large bell, some seating, and an informative sign out front. It is not owned by the National Parks but is right next to the parking lot for the North Bridge. It would be easy to visit the bridge and the Old Manse (owned by the trustees) at the same time. While this house is not grand, like the Old Manse, it is important to acknowledge how all Americans have lived, whether their ancestors were born on American soil, chose to start a new life here, or were forced to.

The Robbins House Docent dressed in period costume was excellent, storytelling on the lawn in front…read moreof the 1823 Farmhouse* to a rapt audience on a lovely Summer afternoon. She cited such little-known facts as:: In 1641, Massachusetts was the 1st American Colony to legalize Slavery, as well as the 1st State to ban Slavery in 1783. John Hancock was a Slave Owner. Hmmmm . . . Some were led to believe that Slavery was strictly a Southern thing . . . Granted, The South was slow to enforce Abolition . . . *Restored & relocated to this site in 2011.

For my birthday last year, I gifted myself a day's retreat in the house/room where Thoreau was…read moreborn. My entire trip to the Concord area was a transcendental pilgrimage in its own right, and my day alone in the home of seclusion's champion was more than meaningful. I read all the exhibit panels, wrote at the little desk by the window, picnicked on the lovely grounds for lunch, and read Emerson's "Read, then Write." I might have even slept a little in the peaceful, bird-sung quiet. It was a gift to have the entire day in this place, to see the shift of sunlight across the eaves, to contemplate the coming year. The staff made it so easy - they worked with me to shift days - and they made me feel absolutely welcome. It was quite humbling to have a key of my very own for the day! I came away with good written words, good philosophy, and a belief in the actuality of personal connection with literary heroes. Thank you for allowing it to happen!

I am so grateful for the writing space at the Writer's Retreat provided by the Thoreau Farm:…read moreBirthplace of Henry David Thoreau. It is a privilege to spend time in the very room that this American author was born. As the author and illustrator of eight children's books on Thoreau, I can attest that the Writer's Retreat has provided me the impetus for creating them during the numerous times I attended the Writer's Retreat. One might say that they were conceived in that room where many of my words and illustrations began. The Writer's Retreat provides a quiet space where one might write, read, and be reflective. It is beneficial to the amateur or professional writer or to anyone who just needs a space to think and read. The Farm is in a rural setting where one may take a meditative walk and is a special treasure. Imagine writing or reading on a replica of Henry's own green desk where he wrote his works. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to have a place to rest and think without any distractions in the room where Henry was born. Rebecca Migdal, Executive Director of the Thoreau Farm: Birthplace of Henry David Thoreau, is warm and welcoming to anyone who visits the Thoreau Farm or uses the Writer's Retreat. During the time I spent at this special place, Rebecca made me feel very comfortable. Rebecca's cheerful demeaner makes any visitor feel special and at ease. I highly encourage anyone who needs a space for quiet reflection or pursue literary endeavors to spend a day or two at the Writer's Retreat.

Such a wonderful, peaceful spot. It's incredible how you go from driving in a cute residential…read moreneighborhood, to taking a turn onto a quiet street that brings you to a parking lot to this wildlife refuge. Incredible. You pay $2 to park and then can walk around and soak it all in. I love how there's benches to sit and relax, and a handful of people had big cameras with large lenses to take cool pics while they bird watch. There's plenty of side trails you can venture out on too. The big loop we did ended up being 1.8 miles or so, and there's even a nice bike path right there too. Here, it's the perfect balance between it being not too busy at all, and not being completely empty too.

The walk was crisp and clear. I think it was too crisp for my younger son. I thought the starkness…read morewas beautiful. I need to come back with binoculars

I've always looked forward to their delicious chicken pie. Well, it's no longer the traditional pie…read morewith a flaky crust--it's more like a shepherd's pie with mashed potato and crumbs. I found that to be extremely disappointing. Why ruin a good thing?

Turkey dinner was very disappointing. The turkey was not carved from a turkey but had to be from a…read moreturkey loaf that had been injected with gel. it was not what I expected. The mashed potatoes, green beans, and gravy very good. Also, the deep dish apple pie was delicious.

According to local legend, the founder of Middlesex University was traveling through Ireland and…read moresaw Lismore Castle. He was so impressed with the castle that he asked to bring it back with him. The owners denied his request. He then asked for the blueprints, only to be told no again. Not one to be stopped, he had drawings done of the outside of the castle. The Castle in Waltham was constructed based on these drawings. This is now Brandeis University and "The Castle" as it is called, was first used as an administrative space as well as a dining hall. It was used as a dormitory until the building was condemned and later partially torn down to make room for a new building. Some of the benches outside of the dormitory neighboring Usen Castle are made from materials of the demolished structure. The remaining part of Usen Castle is closed to visitors. Only the coffee house inside the castle is open to the public. Still, it's cool to check out the exterior if you're nearby. [Review 15210 overall, 712 of 2021, number 1073 in Massachusetts.]

Have been to Ward Park several times in the Spring with the BFF who lives in Marlboro... Love the…read moreplayground - Just hate that it is a football field away from the Parking Lot, but I can deal with that... Today for the first time, we visited the Pool - She had been talking about it all spring & I was very weary - but actually had a GREAT time... First off its a 2ft Wading Pool - so dont show up expecting to do HandStands & Dives (Unless of course you are vertically challenged)... The baby was unsure at first (hes never really been in a pool now that he is aware of the world), but I got in & laid down with him & we had a blast... It was busy but not soo much that we were bothered... There were some lifeguards there that do make you feel safe, there is a restroom which is also convenient... It was a good time, I would definitely recommend if you have smaller children & dont want to deal with bigger kids pushing & splashing... However it was also my first time, I might have just picked a good day - who knows what next weekend will bring (Ill update)!

It looks brand new and is loaded with ramps but there is ZERO flow, it's not concrete but places…read moreramps. I fell and burned my hand on the half pipe then proceeded to split open my knee because some idiot left trash. Should I mention the group of moms sitting on ramps watching their kids on scooters misuse the park all while a tiny white poodle ran around pissing everywhere. I will not return. Ever.

With the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War, we wanted to pay tribute to the…read moreglorious patriots who made sacrifices for this country! It is about 20 to 30 miles northwest of Boston, the drive is scenic especially when you start driving through all of the little towns leading to Lexington and Concord. The main attraction for our visit was to visit the north bridge memorial site where the first shots of the war began at 5am on Apr 19,1775 dubbed the "shot heard around the world" There is also a marker for the two British soldiers killed here. The site is spread out and will require some hiking if you would like to see the entire trail. I believe it was 5 to 7 miles on foot to see everything. The visit was amazing and awe inspiring! I highly recommend any history buff to visit.

Great park on the start of the American Revolution. Although it's only open seasonally, there is a…read moregreat exhibit at the visitor's center with a great video explanation of the start of the war. The presentation is very thorough and engaging. The gift shop has decent items. Grab a map, then on a nice day it's a great walk / stepping down the same road history took the English and Americans to face each other. Some of the sites are walkable and some are a little further, but there are parking areas along the way. The tavern wasn't open when I went, but there are tour options throughout the summer. We ended out outing at North Bridge, which is another great site. On a nice weather day, you could easily spend a few hours here. It's a unique site in our nation's history, and it's a lot of fun and good times outdoors.