Our family moved to Concord from Sudbury last year, in the midst of the pandemic, because we wanted a community that had vibrant downtown for shopping and socializing, as well as pristine natural spaces to explore with our girls and dog, Coco. We found the perfect house minutes from the quaint Main Street area and tucked in behind historical sites and beautiful conservation land, with miles of hiking and biking trails. Most weekends we don’t even need to leave town to keep everyone in the family entertained, happy and fed, but Concord also has quick access to the highway for beach or mountain time, as well as a commuter rail station right into Boston!

We hop on our bikes and head into town to grab coffee and breakfast sandwiches or pastries at Haute Coffee and ride up beautiful Monument Street to have a brunch picnic at The Old Manse and North Bridge where the “shot heard round the world” was fired. It’s the perfect spot for a short walk and a history lesson from costumed park rangers. If you prefer to view North Bridge by water, stop by the Concord Boathouse and rent a canoe or kayak for a fun afternoon. Our girls love this activity on a hot day and sometimes jump off for a quick dip in the Sudbury River. 

After our morning history lesson, we usually swing back by our favorite shops in town. We love that most of the shops are independently owned by Concord residents, and they are invested in keeping this small town thriving! 

Fritz and Gigi for the most current kid fashions. My girls can always find an outfit for school, vacation or holiday here. Also a great place to pick up an adorable baby gift! 

Revolutionary Concord is a must for any out-of-towners looking for fun trinkets and souvenirs. It also has a hidden toy shop perfect for those last-minute birthday-party gifts parents are always scrambling to get! My girls could spend an hour here looking at all the fidgets and gadgets to buy with their allowance. 

My favorite movie as a child was Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and I always wanted to live in a town with a candy shop like Charlie and his friends visit. My dream is realized in Concord with these two delicious options. Priscilla’s Candy and Graem’s Nuts and Chocolates – perfect for picking up a sweet treat for yourself or others! 

I stop by The Dotted I at least once a week to pick up notecards, wrapping paper or fabulous paper goods for a festive gathering!

Our new home was built in the 1930s, and I’m on a mission to fill the butler’s pantry with beautiful antiques and tableware from that period. I’ve been making weekly stops at both Northbridge Antiques and Thoreauly Antiques as I am addicted to this form of treasure hunting! Even my daughters have gotten into it and purchased an old Star Wars figurine and vintage Christmas ornaments over the holidays.

All that shopping makes us hungry, and it’s hard to resist the Concord Cheese Shop when you see a line down the block. Stop in for fresh sandwiches or salad for lunch, but you must bring home cheese and wine for an afternoon snack. This is a Concord institution, and we’re all hoping they bring back the beloved Crucolo Cheese parade after stopping it in the pandemic. 

Right at end of our street is The Orchard House where Louisa May Alcott grew up and wrote Little Women. Explore the house and apple orchard to get a sense of life in 19th-century Concord. Tell your kids they didn’t have iPhones or WiFi, but they made the best of it… Make sure to snap a pic in front of the iconic house! Our family enjoyed the recent film adaptation of Little Women and found it fun to compare the real house to the set.

Usually, my husband and I head out for a date night on the weekend, and there are some fantastic options nearby, so no need to head into the city. We usually alternate between Woods Hill Table and 80 Thoreau. I highly recommend any of the cocktails at Woods Hill Table; I am partial to the Minute Man Mule and Hawthorne House, both named after local spots! You can’t go wrong with anything on the menus, but everyone in Concord knows the bar burger at 80 Thoreau is a classic! If my kids feel like tagging along, we usually visit Adelita for tacos and freshly made guacamole. It’s the sister restaurant to Woods Hill Table and they focus on all-natural and locally sourced ingredients. 

We usually like to spend Sunday outdoors if the weather cooperates. My husband is an avid runner and is always finding new trails throughout Concord and Carlisle to explore. His go-to is the Battle Road Trail, and it is beautiful in any season. Sometimes the girls will follow along on foot or bike, and occasionally our French bulldog, Coco, joins too! In the summer we often put on our swimsuits, pack a picnic, and head to Walden Pond. Its crystal clear water is the perfect temperature for an afternoon swim. If you are more adventurous, pack some gear and join the hardcore swimmers traversing the entire length, or try your luck with fishing from the shores. 

Most Sunday afternoons in the fall and spring, my youngest daughter plays soccer at a nearby field at Rideout playground in West Concord. With a playground, tennis courts and a fitness course, this park has something for everyone in the family. After the game, we head to Reasons to be Cheerful for some homemade ice cream. Their sea salt caramel pretzel ice cream is out of this world!

On a rainy or cold weekend, we head indoors to learn more about this incredible town at The Concord Museum or the beautiful and recently expanded Concord Free Public Library. The collection at the museum features objects dating back to 10,000 years ago and it’s humbling to think of all that’s happened on this land, and we are grateful our family gets to call it home.