Things to do in Lexington and Concord

Lexington and Concord sit about 15 to 20 miles northwest of Boston, tied together by the first shots of the American Revolution in April 1775. Lexington's Battle Green is where colonial militia faced British troops at dawn; Concord's Old North Bridge, inside the Minute Man National Historical Park, marks the second engagement that morning.

The Commuter Rail's Fitchburg Line runs from North Station to Concord, but Lexington has no station, so combining both towns in one day usually means a car or an organized tour. Concord is also home to Walden Pond, where Henry David Thoreau lived, plus writers' houses linked to Louisa May Alcott and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Spring through autumn suits walking outdoors; winter is quieter but cold.