Category Archives: Boston

Salem House of 7 Gables and Witches

Salem is a fun day trip from Boston.  There is a parking garage in the center of everything which will give you great access.  After parking you should go to the welcome center to learn about all the events taking place and to pick up a walking map of Salem.

When we were there the city had actors portraying the events of the witch trails.  You could follow the actors and watch the story unfold.

Witch being taken to trial
Witch being taken to trial

When we think of Salem, we may think of Halloween witches, but the city has a statue to remind us of good witches and the fact that they all don’t look like what we see at Trick or Treat.

Elizabeth Montgomery Statue
Elizabeth Montgomery Statue

Because you are in Salem you must see and do the witch things.  It is not all fiction but instead a part of our history and it could serve as a good lesson for all of us to revisit from time to time.  It shows what can happen when we judge people on half-truths just because they are different from us.

Salem Witch Trials Memorial
Salem Witch Trials Memorial

Besides witches Salem offers the visitor much more to see and do.  The old burying ground is the resting place for many historical people, that you can visit.  For those who love literature you will want to see the House of Seven Gables.

House of Seven Gables entrance
House of Seven Gables entrance
House of Seven Gables
House of Seven Gables

For those who love old towns and the beauty of nature, Salem is also the place for you.  Walking through the town and by the docks you can see why our forefathers wanted to live here.

Salem Harbor
Salem Harbor

Whether you are looking for witches, history, literature or natural beauty Salem can provide you with an enjoyable visit.

 

Lexington Concord and Walden Pond

Leaving Boston we traveled to Lexington Concord to see the place the first shots were fired in our war for independence.  The drive to Lexington Concord from Boston is really a short one.  You can choose to either travel by four lane most of the way or you can take the longer but more scenic two lane drive.

No matter which you choose you will see some beautiful colonial homes in both of the towns.

Colonial Home in Concord
Colonial Home in Concord

The Park Service has a welcome center set up in an old colonial farmhouse which overlooks the muster field and bridge.  Outside the welcome center are signs and displays outlining the events which took place.

Muster Field where 400 citizen soldiers decided to march on the British
Muster Field where 400 citizen soldiers decided to march on the British
Battle of North Bridge
Battle of North Bridge

The walk from the farmhouse to the old North Bridge is very nice and the fields are surrounded by beautiful old trees.  At the bridge you will see the minute man statue where the colonial forces made there stand.  Walking across the bridge you will the graves of two British soldiers who die in the fight.  Lexington Concord are great areas to visit and they offer tours which are very informative.

Tree at the edge of the Muster Field
Tree at the edge of the Muster Field

When we left Lexington Concord, we drove a short distance to Walden Pond.  We wanted to see the Pond and to be able to walk where Henry David Thoreau walked and lived.

Walden Pond
Walden Pond

The Pond is a beautiful area and you can see how it would have inspired Thoreau in his writing.