Landmark Hotel in Historic Downtown Concord

Like a squad of vigilant soldiers, a row of stately Doric columns lining the front porch of Concord's Colonial Inn keep watch over historic Monument Square, observing the bustling activity emanating from the town center as it's done for nearly 200 years. Constructed in 1716, the inn hosted social and political meetings during the Revolutionary War, served as a residence of Henry Thoreau, and thrived as a 19th-century variety store. Today, its farm-style portico hosts gourmet meals and accommodates spirited gatherings to preserve that civil spirit in the heart of modern downtown Concord. American flags suspended from the porch roof salute passersby, and beckon travelers to the inn's Victorian quarters where country-homestyle decor and charming service pay homage to the property's colonial roots.

After checking in at the main-house lobby—a formal seating area dressed in oriental rugs and ornate floral wallpaper of red, white, and blue—guests are escorted to the Prescott Wing, a modern brick annex constructed in 1970 that harbors 30 rooms with modern amenities and a décor that nods to bygone American eras. Each chamber is anchored by a king bed, queen bed, double bed, or real anchor, creating a tranquil retreat for guests that's further bolstered by the building's independence from the main house. In addition to Victorian period pieces, quaint window dressings, and a private bathroom, the Prescott Wing rooms also offer complimentary WiFi and cable TV with four HBO channels.

Guests can sample classic New England fare and seasonal beverage specials at the inn's two dining venues. Steeped in 300 years of history, The Liberty Restaurant and Village Forge Tavern delivers hearty burgers, creamy clam chowder, and local lobster rolls to alfresco café tables while live entertainment invigorates patrons unwinding inside the saloon-inspired eatery. Wood floors and ceiling beams dating back to the early 18th century and a wooden yoke crowning the fireplace heighten the tavern's authenticity and commemorate its station as an ammunition and provisions storage center during the war. For fine dining, guests flock to the white tablecloths of Merchant's Row Restaurant, where kerosene lamps and leather-studded chairs deepen the room's elegant airs. Traditional dishes such as chicken potpie and Yankee pot roast compete with contemporary selections such as the coffee-brined pork chop, furnishing an eclectic culinary spread. Merchant's Row also highlights stays with complimentary breakfast and afternoon high tea on Saturday and Sunday.

Concord, Massachusetts: Small Colonial Town Steeped in Revolutionary and Literary History

Minute Man National Historic Park preserves the scene of the first Revolutionary War battle 1 mile north of Concord's Colonial Inn. Official and self-guided tours originate at the Minute Man Visitor Center where a multimedia theater presentation elucidates Paul Revere's Ride, the Lexington Green showdown, and the "shot heard 'round the world." Outside the center, the revolutionary spirit propels travelers down Battle Road Trail, a 5-mile stretch of restored colonial landscape between Concord and Lexington that approximates the path of the American Revolution's first battle and the road traveled by the minutemen.

One mile east of the Colonial Inn, The Orchard House, former home of Louisa May Alcott, enchants visitors with its rich 19th-century history and authentic family heirlooms and foosball tables. During guided tours, the clapboard manor house where Alcott wrote and set her literary masterpiece Little Women reveals itself to harbor a multitude of period pieces that populate the beloved novel. Perched on an orchard of apple trees, the family home may have hosted legendary intellectuals including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Amos Alcott, Louisa's father, purchased the original property in 1857. It has undergone few structural changes since the family left in 1877, as ongoing preservation efforts help to retain its authentic charm and character.