The town of Acton is an appealing combination of history and modern-day conveniences situated within hundreds of acres of conservation and recreation land. Remnants of its colonial and Revolutionary War past are still evident in historic buildings scattered around town, particularly at the Faulkner Homestead and the Jones Tavern, both of which are open to the public on the last Sunday of every month, during the town’s Patriot’s Day events in April, and for special events throughout the year. As Acton gradually grew from its roots as a farming settlement and into a wealthy suburb with services and amenities along Routes 119/2A and 27, a movement to develop a welcoming village-like vibe, with locally owned businesses and restaurants along walkable streets, was quietly gaining traction. The result is the recent addition of the popular West Acton Villageworks, a community of independent restaurants, shops and wellness centers which extends out from historic Acton Center and down to the border of Route 2. For the purpose of this article, we are starting in Acton Center, the civic center, and then working our way into West Acton.
Acton Center has an Obelisk and a Playground!
If Acton is anything, it’s expansive. There are five village centers within 20 square miles, all with their own identity and all either on or with accessibility to one of six major thoroughfares. Some villages are smaller and more residential than others, like historic Acton Center, the leafy, quiet heart of the town marked by distinguished homes along Route 27. There isn’t much commerce in the immediate vicinity except for Acton House of Pizza, but it’s worth starting your adventure here if only to stop and admire the towering obelisk that stands guard in the town triangle. The monument commemorates the local soldiers who died during the Concord Fight of the Revolutionary War. The story is intriguing; when a company of soldiers was needed to lead the advance against the British at North Bridge in Concord, the Acton Minutemen were chosen because they were the only company who were equipped with bayonets. Despite this advantage, many Acton Minutemen perished during the fight. There is a saying within Acton that goes something like this: “The Battle of Lexington; fought in Concord, by the men of Acton.”
It’s impossible to safely pull over to the side of the road to visit the obelisk; your best bet is to park at the Acton Memorial Library (located directly across from the obelisk and next to the Town Hall) and walk up to Main Street (Route 27). After your visit to the obelisk, you can choose to visit Goward Playground located directly behind the library or go inside to visit the Children's Room.
An Arboretum You Never Knew Was There
Although most of Acton is forested, other than what has been cleared for residential, commercial and agricultural use, it also enjoys more than 1,650 acres of town-owned conservation land that range from woodlands to meadows, glacial basins to hills. Acton boasts at least ten excellent recreation areas that are worth a hike or visit, including NARA Park, with a town beach, walking trails, playground and concert pavilion (it is home to Acton’s extremely popular 4th of July celebration), and two rail trails—the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and the Assabet River Rail Trail. The most notable, however, is the lovely Acton Arboretum, a 53-acre park a short drive away from Acton Center and the first of our stops in West Acton.
This enchanting spot is probably one you never knew existed; a literal secret garden located just off Route 2 on Taylor Road. From its 18th century herb garden that is designed around an old stone foundation to the charming butterfly garden and enchanting crabapple allee, there are more than 18 unique sections to immerse yourself in. Paved walkways, wooden bridges, grassy knolls, and boardwalks cross through the well-planned land and sometimes lead to surprising nooks and crannies that would make Frances Hodgson Burnett proud. Ponds, grape arbors, a lush fern garden, a fragrance garden, and so much more highlight this simply beautiful spot.
Free to the public, the Acton Arboretum is never overly crowded and is the perfect place for a picnic or a peaceful, contemplative stroll. Parking is easy in the small lot abutting the entrance off Taylor Road and there are porta potties along the edge when you first pull in, but there are no other restroom facilities within the arboretum itself. There are also picnic tables near the entrance, most under shady trees. To experience the Acton Arboretum is to appreciate the care and commitment of its dedicated staff while admiring their carefully curated collection of flowers, trees and plants, all of which make the Acton Arboretum a must-visit destination in Massachusetts.
Hungry Yet?
After working up an appetite from your walk through the Acton Arboretum, head to the vibrant center of West Acton, known as the West Acton Villageworks, located primarily along the 525-545 block of Massachusetts Avenue (Route 111). There are a few solid choices for lunch here, including Twin Seafood Grill (541 Massachusetts Avenue), which could just as easily be situated on a Cape Cod beach with its laid-back vibe and extensive menu that includes New England mainstays like chowders, fried clams, oysters and, of course, lobster rolls. Choose to eat inside or out on the patio at picnic tables with ocean-blue umbrellas and enjoy the freshest seafood in the area.
Other restaurant options: DiCapri Pizzeria and Ristorante (576 Massachusetts Avenue) and New London Style Pizza (555 Massachusetts Avenue) both offer straight-forward Italian fare at family friendly prices. True West (525 Massachusetts Avenue) is an award-winning locally owned American restaurant and brewery known for its solar-powered beer. There is a basic kids’ menu as well as a very decent gluten-free menu. As with Twin Seafood, you also have your choice of eating indoors or out on their porch.
Save Room for Ice Cream
Nestled in between Twin Seafood; the Acton Coffeehouse; the high-end home décor shop HOME by Stamm and Black; Wish, a women’s clothing boutique; and True West is West Side Creamery. Run by three Acton families who became friends when their children were in pre-school together, West Side Creamery offers premium small-batch ice cream that is made on-site and comes in a variety of delicious flavors, such as cherry chocolate chip and chocolate peanut butter. They also offer vegan vanilla and chocolate ice cream, sorbet, as well as gluten-free cones, and are planning to carry ice cream cakes in the near future. Seating is very limited inside, so take your ice cream outside to their patio or right across the street to the spacious Gardner Field and Playground and let the kids play for a little while on the slides, swings and climbing structures while you enjoy a reprieve from the sun under the trees.
A Bookstore That Gives Back
Just around the corner from Twin Seafood and located at 12 Spruce Street is the fantastic Silver Unicorn Bookstore, Acton’s only independent bookstore. It offers a wide assortment of well-selected titles for children, teens and adults, as well as a number of releases from local authors. They carry a small selection of gifts and offer a couple of different incentive programs, including a very fairly priced membership program with discounted benefits and a subscription program with a number of levels depending on your needs. They host events throughout the year, including book clubs, a book fair, toddler storytime, author events and much more. A portion of selected book proceeds also go towards a rotating list of charities. On my most recent visit, proceeds were going towards those affected by Hurricane Barry.
The store is as welcoming as you’d expect a bookstore named the Silver Unicorn to be; the children’s section is bright and airy and has colorful bean bags staged throughout, along with a perfectly sized kids-only entrance. The shelves are low and accessible and filled with a fabulous array of picture books, easy readers and, for older kids, chapter books.
Much to my delight, I have found books here for my six-year-old son that I cannot find any place else, especially at the national bookstore chains. The Silver Unicorn has a wonderful Usborne section, as well. Although on the small side, the Silver Unicorn strikes the perfect balance of being very manageable to navigate while not sacrificing on variety and quality. On every table display and bookshelf, you feel the Silver Unicorn’s commitment to creating a friendly, accessible space within the Acton community that appeals to readers of all ages and abilities.
From its historic beginnings in Acton Center to the hip and modern West Acton Villageworks, these two villages of Acton are a popular destination with much to offer residents and visitors alike. Whether it’s a low-key hike through some of the most charming gardens in Massachusetts, a leisurely lunch al fresco, or a rainy day perusal through a bookstore, Acton Center and West Acton has something for every member of the family.
Continue the exploration at home
Spark the love of reading for every member of the family after your afternoon in Acton Center and West Acton with the following books that are either about Acton or written by a well-known Acton resident.
Toddlers/Juvenile:
Bear Needs Help by Sarah S. Brannen
Dragon Knight by J.R. Krause
Lena’s Slippers by Ioana Hobai
Youth/Young Adult:
The Next Great Paulie Fink by Ali Benjamin
White Rose by Kip Wilson
Adults:
Sea People by Christina Thompson
My Kitchen Chalk Board by Leigh Belanger
After Emily by Julie Dobrow
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.
Macaroni Kid Acton-Concord-Bedford-Lexington is a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun events and information for local families.
We gather together all kinds of local family events and activities each week, and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, book and product reviews, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides and more.
Subscribe today to receive our email newsletter every Thursday!
