Yesterday was India Republic Day, and the Monday before that was Martin Luther King Day. The peaceful non-violence of both Mahatma Ghandi and Dr. King was inspired by On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, by Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau's hometown of Concord is an easy drive from Boston; the Concord Chamber of Commerce has good visitor information on their website.
Visit Walden Pond, a short drive away from downtown Concord. This small lake has a beach and is surrounded by a walking trail (easy enough for older kids, but not handicapped accessible). There is also a replica of the tiny cabin Thoreau lived in during the 2 1/2 years that inspired his most famous book, Walden, and a visitor center/gift shop.You will find plenty of parking for a $5 fee (the parking lots occasionally fill up on summer weekends).
The Concord Museum has a special Thoreau collection and exhibits that explain Concord's important role in the American Revolution, literature, and more. You can also visit the homes of several of Thoreau's famous friends: Louisa May Alcott's home, The Orchards; Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Wayside; and Ralph Waldo Emerson's house.
My own favorite place to visit is Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Although winter snow makes parking and walking difficult, it is especially beautiful in the fall when the leaves are turning colors. Author's Ridge is an area with the graves of several famous authors, including Thoreau, Alcott, Hawthorne and Emerson. Thoreau's grave often has apples and other natural gifts left by admirers!
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