Kayak Through the American Revolutionary War: Concord, MA

Have you ever been driving down the road and just pulled over because you saw something? That’s how I found this kayaking spot on a trip to Concord, Massachusetts. For me, the most spontaneous finds end up being my favorites.

Nestled along the road in Concord, Massachusetts lies a beautiful boathouse with kayak rentals. I’ve gone kayaking at The South Bridge Boathouse at least four times since I discovered it a couple of summers ago. Truly a New England gem, this boathouse makes it simple to go kayaking, especially if you have no gear and minimal experience.

The boathouse allows you to push off into the Sudbury River, a 37.2-mile-long tributary of the Concord River. The scenery along the river includes a myriad of birds, exquisite historic homes with New England flare, and beautiful bridges to pass under. The water is gentle and not too deep. Although I wouldn’t swim in the Sudbury River, the gentle splashes of water will cool you off on a hot summer day. Here is my perfect itinerary for kayaking the Sudbury River and exploring the historical sites of Concord.

I’d start with the North Bridge. Here you can hear the shot heard all around the world, say hello to the kayakers below, and walk up to the gardens of the North Bridge Visitor Center. The gardens at the visitor center are built for hide-and-seek, there are so many nooks and crannies to explore. You can hang out under the trees and smell the flowers. The visitor center has a nice, clean bathroom, so I’d recommend using it before continuing to go kayaking.

We then drove up to the South Bridge Boathouse to kayak. I’d recommend kayaking in pairs to be the most financially efficient. Plus, having a partner makes it more enjoyable. My friends and I raced in our kayaks, spent time looking around, and read the historical markers as we passed along.

We ended the day swimming. If you’re looking for a way to go swimming, but cannot get into Walden Pond, check out White Pond. This pond includes a small beach to sit at and is only minutes away from Walden Pond. Every time I’ve tried to visit Walden Pond the parking has been full, so if visiting Thoreau’s special piece of history is your main objective, I’d recommend going there first. I preferred to go swimming last because I didn’t want to walk around soaked.

We ended the day by getting ice cream at Reasons to be Cheerful. The ice cream was great and the shop is very cute.

Overall, I think I spent less than $25 to spend the entire day out with friends. Concord, Massachusetts is the perfect place to learn more about our history, relax, and have some fun!