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
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 BritishBattle 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
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
The Pond is a beautiful area and you can see how it would have inspired Thoreau in his writing.
Our last evening in Boston consisted of a meal at Menotomy Grill, but before going there we stopped to visit the Longfellow House located at 105 Brattle Street. The beautiful home was built in 1759 by John Vassall. Mister Vassall was loyal to the King and chose to abandon the house when George Washington and the Continental Army marched into Cambridge.
Finding the house empty General Washington moved in and used it as his headquarters during his time in Boston. In 1843 the house became the property of the noted American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who lived in the house until his death in 1882.
The house is worth your time and is a great example of the colonial period. The part of the visit that I most enjoyed was the walk through the gardens behind the house. I would love to return to the house in summer when everything is in full bloom. As I walked through the gardens I could imagine Longfellow walking as I was with pen in hand.
Gardens at the Longfellow House
After the tour we returned to our hotel – the Homewood Suites by Hilton in Arlington. Beside the hotel is the Menotomy Grill and Tavern. The Menotomy Grill also has its part in history. It was built at the site where another tavern once stood. The older tavern that the Menotomy Grill and Tavern replaced was Cooper’s Tavern.
After the battles of Lexington and Concord the British army returned to Boston. The return march was not pleasant for them. Americans were up in arms and fired upon the British every step of the way. Their march through Arlington was the worst part.
Hearing that the British were approaching the Coopers decided to hide in their cellar. They had only two customers in the tavern, Jabez Wyman and Jason Winship, who refused to hide with them. When the British saw the light in the tavern they entered and killed both men then drug their bodies out into the road.
Enough of the history, let’s talk food. The Menotomy Grill and Tavern has wonderful food and a menu which should satisfy anyone. I had the Braised Pork Shank, which came with cheesy bacon grits, a fried egg, and cilantro. It was a great contrast of flavors and textures. It is something really worth trying.
Also at the table we had herb roasted chicken with a potato sausage stuffing, a grilled chicken BLT which came with a chipotle aioli. Just saying grilled chicken BLT says it all, you know it was good. For those who like to combine the modern with the past, the Grill has a drink called the Cooper Flip in honor of the other tavern.
