West Concord has been enjoying a well-deserved renaissance over the past few years with the opening of the most recent addition of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, three highly rated restaurants, and an art space where both kids and adults can channel their inner Van Gogh. Anchored by the nationally recognized Debra’s Natural Gourmet; the West Concord 5 & 10; and two bakeries, Nashoba Brook Bakery and Concord Teacakes, this artsier, hipper, more vibrant part of Concord is home to so many outstanding destinations that one afternoon may not be enough to enjoy them all!
Explore the Rail Trail
West Concord is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. Whether it’s hiking along the Assabet River, fishing at Warner’s Pond, or biking (or walking) the brand-new section of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, your family will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the natural splendor of the area. There are two parking options for the rail trail: the public lot that borders Warner’s Pond just off the Route 2 rotary and across from the prison; or the public lot off Commonwealth Avenue between Brookside Square, located at 70 Baharrell Street, and the back side of the West Concord commuter rail train stop. After crossing over Main Street, the hustle and bustle of downtown fades away as you pass through quiet neighborhoods and enter woodlands.
The path is smooth and even, lending itself to a leisurely ride along this 3-mile-long path that ends at the culvert on Powder Mill Road. Plans to continue the rail trail into Sudbury are currently in the works and, when it is all completed, will stretch a total of 25 miles from Lowell to Framingham.
Other outdoor options: Westvale-Harrington Park for hiking along the Assabet River; Warner’s Pond for fishing; Mattinson Field for hiking through a scenic meadow with a wide variety of birds.
Freshly Baked Bread, Anyone?
It’s hard to resist the slightly sweet aroma of fresh-from-the-oven bread wafting out of Nashoba Brook Bakery on any given day. Located in a non-descript mill at 152 Commonwealth Avenue and bordering--you guessed it--Nashoba Brook, the bakery has been turning out their famous slow-rise breads for patrons, restaurants, grocery stores and hotels since 1998. Although it’s the perfect spot to grab some lunch after your bike ride—specialty or make-your-own sandwiches, soups and salads are the name of the game here--they also offer a delicious breakfast menu. Definitely make a return trip for their egg sandwiches, croissants, coffee cake, muffins and hot drinks.
Choose to sit at a table or on the comfy couches and chairs in the back of the café. If the weather is nice, enjoy your food outside at the picnic tables bordering Nashoba Brook and then take a short stroll over the bridge to snap a few pictures. On your way out, stop back inside to purchase a loaf (or two) of bread to savor at home!
Other dining suggestions: Adelita for a farm-to-table twist on Mexican food; Walden Italian Kitchen for straightforward pizza and subs; Saltbox Kitchen for casual farm-to-table food and the only craft brewery in Concord; Club Car Cafe for family friendly fare in the old West Concord train depot.
We Are All Artists
Located on the second floor of the mill complex at 152 Commonwealth Avenue and next to Nashoba Brook Bakery, the Village Art Room is a gem of a spot that just opened this past winter. This community-minded collaborative art space offers drop-in/drop-off hours, classes and workshops for kids age 6+, teens and adults.
Housed in a warm and welcoming sun-splashed studio, the Village Art Room provides an opportunity for visitors to engage in a variety of community art projects, such as the Let’s All Join Hands portion of the UNESCO-nominated Global Art Project or personal art projects, such as drawing, painting, handcrafts, collage making, and much more, all at reasonable rates. Their goal is to bring art to as many people as possible, regardless of skill or ability, and they offer a sliding scale for those that cannot pay the $10 per hour drop in/drop off fee.
The Village Art Room is also a great place to host your child’s next birthday party, a Mom’s Night Out or other group event. The idea at Village Art Room is to relax, have fun, and see what you can create when you slip into the artistic zone. My six-year-old son loved spending nearly an hour creating his own Pokemon creation from modeling clay and can’t wait to attend one of the drop-off sessions! As Village Art Room continues to develop, they expect to host a number of community events throughout the year, including a summer outdoor silkscreen event and a fundraiser in November in conjunction with Three Stones Art Gallery located across the street.
Other places to visit: West Concord 5 & 10 for toys, decorations, tools, school needs and so much more; Joy Street Life + Home for home décor and gifts; A New Leaf for re-designed and consigned home décor and accessories; Concord Outfitters for outdoor gear.
Ice Cream Makes Us Cheerful
A short walking distance from the Village Art Room is the aptly-named Reasons to be Cheerful, West Concord’s locally famous ice cream shop.
Reasons To Be Cheerful boasts an impressive array of homemade and creative ice cream flavors, such as French toast, S’mores and, my son’s favorite, Cereal Swirl, which is a blended mixture of ice cream and cereal, like Fruit Loops or Cap’n Crunch.
There is a good selection of sundaes, cookies, custom and ready-made ice cream cakes, and hot and cold drinks that round out the menu. Bright and airy inside with plenty of seating in the downstairs area, it’s the ideal spot to take a break and re-charge. If you prefer sitting outside, you have your choice of either the front porch or the quaint cobblestone alley.
Other dessert option: Concord Teacakes for Instagram-worthy cakes, cupcakes, pastries, coffee and light fare.
Feed the Goats at a Neighborhood Farm
Up the road from the center of West Concord and located at 171 Harrington Avenue is Marshall Farm.
Family owned for more than three generations, Marshall Farm has fresh vegetables and potted and cut flowers in the spring and summer; pumpkins and hay bales in the fall; Christmas trees, kissing balls and wreaths in the winter; and firewood for sale year-round.
They carry fresh eggs, meat from Walden Local Meat Company, maple syrup and honey, and more. Take a break at the picnic tables to enjoy a snack from the farm stand and snap a photo as the children feed the goats and turkeys. Peruse their impressive greenhouse for herbs, flowers and vegetable plants or take a walk up through the field that abuts the woodlands along the Assabet River to their chicken coop, cleverly called the Chick-Inn.
Marshall Farm is a low-key, convenient alternative to larger farm stands in the area and offers an opportunity for kids to get a taste of farm life. My son jumps at the chance to visit the goats that seem more than happy to show off their roof-climbing skills when they see him!
Other farm option: Verrill Farm for pick-your-own strawberries in June, events throughout the year, and a grocery/deli section with ready-to-eat meals.
West Concord is full with things to do year-round, including the West Concord Summer Music Series, the town-wide Sizzlin’ Summer Sidewalk Sale in August and the first annual West Concord Porch Fest in September, making it one of the most popular communities in the Greater Boston area. It’s easy to spend more than one afternoon exploring all that there is to offer, so come back soon and discover what’s new in West Concord.
Continue the exploration at home
Spark the love of reading for every member of the family after your afternoon in West Concord with the following books that are either about Concord or written by a well-known Concord resident.
Toddlers/Juvenile:
An extensive list of picture books by local author Josh Funk, including but not limited to:
Lost in the Library
How to Code a Sandcastle
Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast
Youth/Teens:
An extensive list of novels by local author Gregory Maguire, including but not limited to:
Wicked
Hiddensee
Son of a Witch
Adults:
Literary Concord Uncovered: Revealing Thoreau, Emerson, Alcott, Hawthorne and Fuller by Joseph L. Andrews
Leadership: In Turbulent Times by renowned local author Doris Kearns Goodwin
The Presidential Biographies: No Ordinary Time; Team of Rivals; The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Born and raised in Boston, Kathryn Camgemi now lives in West Concord with her husband and their young son. A writer of both fiction and non-fiction for thirty years, she has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul and Reader's Digest, among others. She has been secular homeschooling her son with additional needs for four years and strongly believes all children can succeed given the right environment. She writes periodically about their homeschooling journey at
http://www.ahomeschooledlife.wordpress.com. You can also find her at her Facebook page, A Homeschooled Life.
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