Are you a preppie?: Fall Destination

One of the many things that I absolutely love about living in New England is the fall. Having grown up in California where it feels like the seasons never change, I have come to love the dramatic weather changes that happen in New England. All the beautiful leaves changing, the chill in the air that makes you reach for your favorite cashmere sweater, just let you know fall has finally arrived. I think one of the most beautiful New England fall destinations is Concord, Ma. Being a historic preservation major in college I had a lot of exposure to Concord, and from the moment I made my first visit I was in love (and this is saying a lot because we went to school in Newport, RI which is breathtakingly beautiful). However, not only is concord gorgeous it is one of the single most amazingly historical places I have ever visited. I was blown away that in this small New England village quite far removed from Boston, there was such a enormous congregation of some of Americas most amazing literary minds. Emerson (a personal favorite, as I double majored in philosophy) Henry David Thoreau who wrote his famous book “Walden” about his secluded life while living in a small shack he built himself on the banks of Walden pond in Concord. Louisa May Alcott (of “Little Women” fame) as well as Nathaniel Hawthorne both resided in Concord as well. All of which are buried in Concord’s Sleepy Hollow Cemetery on Author’s Ridge.

This isn’t all! Minute Man National Historical Park is the site at which on Old North Bridge on April 19^th 1775 the American Colonists had their first engagement with British soldiers and what Emerson called “the shot heard round the world” was fired. As I mentioned before I am a huge history buff and setting foot on this eerily quite site where the American Colonists made their first stand was like arriving at Mecca. I could not believe that I was standing in the place where essentially America was born. It was so moving and patriotic to think that in this sleepy town basically out in the middle of nowhere one of the greatest nations in the world was stared by a few relatively peaceful farmers. I have it say it was one of the most touching moments of my life (I told you I am a history nerd…we all have our vices!)

I can honestly say I have traveled to a lot of places all over America (almost all 50 states) and spent a little bit of time in London, and still Concord remains one of the most fascinating. The fact that some of our nations most gifted literary minds have lived an died there as well as the site of the beginning of the revolutionary war simply amazes me. This really only scratches the surface of the history surrounding this area but if you ever have a chance to visit I truly recommend it, you will not be disappointed.