It was a beautiful trip, and a much-needed break from the routine. Since our one-year wedding anniversary was right around the corner, this trip was kind of our nerdy honeymoon getaway.
Highlights of our trip:
• Going to Concord, Mass. to see a piece of history. Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne lived in this town for a time. All three famous writers are also buried at the same cemetery in town. (Thoreau's very plain headstone is pictured above. He's buried with family members, with a larger headstone naming all of them.)
• Exploring downtown Boston via the Freedom Trail. On the trail includes Paul Revere's home, the site of the first public school in the United States, the site that inspired the Boston Tea Party, among other momentous U.S. historical events.
• Eating some delightful clam chowder. We had bowls at Union Oyster House, in downtown Boston, and had a fancy dinner with soup at Legal Seafoods in Cambridge. (Another food Boston is obsessed with: Doughnuts!)
• Seeing one of the largest rowing races in the world: The Head of the Charles. This was big for me because I am a longtime rower. I always heard about this race. We never raced in it because it was too expensive to enter and too far away for it to be at all practical, but it's kind of the stuff of legends. After that, we walked around Harvard Square and took a peek at the university.
• Spending our last night of the trip in Salem, Mass., home of the Salem Witch Trials. One of the oldest marked cemeteries in the United States is in this town, with death dates going back to the 1700s. There was also a lot of hubbub with Halloween happenings. They really capitalize on the ghost story tours and goofy touristy stuff. But my favorite part was probably seeing the Salem Witch Trials memorial. Twenty people were executed during a one-year span the late 1600s for being witches or wizards. It's kind of crazy how far hysteria went in that case.
One thing I won't miss: Boston drivers. It's not an easy town to navigate at all, and drivers are super aggressive, but I managed.
How has the fall been treating you?
Oh my you are making me homesick. Im from Massachusetts! Ive actually never been to Concord but I lived in Boston for a year and grew up 30 minutes outside of Boston. I love that you hit up both Boston and Salem in one trip honestly I think its really cool. Also hahahahaha thats so funny that you mention the roads thing because my boyfriend came to visit my family with me last year and I drove to Boston for us and he seemed very happy since he was like those streets were the most confusing thing ever. I guess Im used to it but I hear Boston is set up the way it is because of old horse trails. That would explain the lots of one ways and non grid set up. We are known for being really aggressive drivers, we are called Massholes.
ReplyDeleteJustine
http://theredlipchronicles.blogspot.com
Aww very cool! Pittsburgh streets are pretty confusing too, with all the tunnels, bridges and narrow, hilly roads, but at least people are kinda passive aggressive when they drive and give confused drivers a break sometimes.
DeleteMassholes is kind of the perfect word for the drivers there. Ha! Love it.
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ReplyDeleteOh man I would love to visit Massachusetts someday. There are so many cool historical things to see. I especially want to see Salem in the fall Hocus Pocus style. Thanks for sharing these great pictures! It sounds like you had a fun trip.
ReplyDeleteJamie | PetitePanoply.com
It totally was Hocus Pocus-like. Haha. When I watched the movie the other week, I thought to myself, those tombstones in the movie look so fake! But when I actually went to the old cemetery, that's how they really were. Made me feel like a dummy. But now I know!
DeleteBeautiful pictures!!! My husband and I have been talking about taking a New England vacation. Neither one of us has been to Massachusetts and we've both always wanted to visit Salem! Looks like you guys had a great time! Happy one year anniversary!!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Mark and I were talking about going forever too, so just make it happen! It's amazing how diverse and vast the states really are.
DeleteI love love love that first picture! I really want a New England vacation someday. My brother might be moving to Boston for work, so it would be the perfect opportunity.
ReplyDeletehttp://lamentinglizzie.blogspot.com
I remember seeing some photos of Salem last halloween and I thought it would be quite a cool place to visit at this time of the year.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos as always!
oh its GORGEOUS! i love all the fallen leaves :)
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