Lexington Visit

I%26#39;m coming end of June and was wondering if it%26#39;s worth the drive to Lexington to see the Minuteman National Park. I%26#39;ll be coming in from NH, so I%26#39;ll pass on my way into Boston. I%26#39;m already booked in a hotel in Boston for the night I plan to drive through. I have my husband and 11 year old son. If you do think it%26#39;s worth stopping and seeing, how long can I estimate seeing the touristy sites?

Lexington Visit

I guess it depends on how important it is to you. If you%26#39;re into the history, then it%26#39;s an important, exciting place. If you%26#39;re not that into history and if you%26#39;ll be tired from the drive then maybe not...

Lexington Visit

The Park Service has refurbished Minuteman Park recently tomake it more enjoayble. Also in the area The Battle Green in Lexington and the North Bridge in Concord.All very close together and 10Mi.from Boston.I think they are a must if visiting the area.Will take the better part of a day.

I think you and especially your son will enjoy visiting the parks. Begin at the Lexington part of the Minuteman park, on Route 2A in lexington. There is a visitor%26#39;s center that shows a short introductory movie that will help to explain the timeline of the Battle. There is a nice walking/biking path as part of that park, too, for some exercise if the weather is cooperative. Also along the path there are sometimes guides dressed as in 1776 to explain one of the houses along the route. Look for the sheep or cattle or whatever they have keeping the grass short this year!

From there you can go to the Battle Green in Lexington center and don%26#39;t miss the Concord part of the parks. In Concord you approach the North Bridge (off Monument Street from Concord Center) and can see what the British saw as they approached. I believe they also have a movie, and there are often costumed Minutemen around. It%26#39;s a nice place to rest overlooking the river. You can park at the North Bridge and it is a nice walk into town from there as well.

While in Concord there are several other sites you won%26#39;t want to miss! Orchard House--the home of the Alcotts (Bronson Alcott, friend of Emerson and Henry David Thoreau and others; and his daughter who wrote Little Women, etc.) ; Homes of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne and others. Many famous philosophers met here. Also in Concord is Walden Pond where Thoreau spent a year in the woods.

In addition, Concord center is a cute area to walk around and see old buildings and some neat shops. You could eat at Helen%26#39;s a small local place or the Milldam restaurant down a little alley on the other side of the street and overlooking the Milldam brook. Also the Colonial Inn has good meals, with outside porch dining where you can people watch.

It%26#39;s a great place for a restful, historical, pretty visit and I hope you%26#39;ll enjoy MY town. Wishing you good weather, too.