Literary Traveler Debuts Concord, Massachusetts Trip October 21-24, 2021
Thanks to Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, the historic hamlet of Concord, Massachusetts, 20 miles west of Boston, has achieved legendary stature as a literary outpost. After all, it was here that Thoreau ventured to the woods with ax in tow in March 1845 to build his hut on Walden Pond. The town where Alcott grew up with her sisters in the Orchard House, which remarkably still stands today and was the backdrop for the latest version of Little Women in 2019. Also still standing on the banks of the Concord River is the circa-1770 Old Manse, where Emerson wrote his integral work, Nature, in the upstairs study, and the young Nathaniel Hawthorne brought his bride Sophia to live for 3 years. It happens to reside next door to Minute Man National Historic Park, where the Revolutionary War started as a result of the “shot heard round the world.”
With such a rich literary history, it’s no surprise that the founder of Literary Traveler, Francis McGovern, has chosen Concord for his inaugural trip, October 21-24, 2021. It also doesn’t hurt that Francis lives in Concord and knows the area intimately! Over the course of three days, you’ll visit all the important sights with Francis and other experts who specialize on the works of these renowned 19th-century scribes. Cost is $2495 per person double occupancy and includes three nights lodging at Concord’s Colonial Inn and dining at such esteemed local restaurants as Woods Hill Table, which Yankee Magazine recognized as the top farm-to-table restaurant in New England. ActiveTravels is happy to join forces with Literary Traveler to make all the bookings and provide any assistance to and from the region. We’re excited that Literary Traveler has started to design trips around the globe and this is the perfect start!
Working professionally as a travel writer since 1990, I’m fortunate to know the best in the business. If I want to send a client on a European skiing trip with the family, I’m calling Everett Potter for his keen insight. For a golf outing in Scotland, longtime scribe Larry Olmsted is your man. For cruise travel, I’ve always relied on the expertise of Fran Golden. In fact, I’ve quoted her for many of my cruise pieces. Golden has covered the cruise industry for more than 15 years and has personally sailed aboard more than 100 cruise ships. She’s the former travel editor of the Boston Herald and former travel news editor for AOL. Now she’s just been hired by 
Celebrate Valentine’s Day on the Maine coast, where Kennebunkport is 
In the 
We spotted a patch of sun this morning as folks were strolling around my neighborhood, camera in tow, to take photographs of the many massive uprooted trees. Tall pines and maples had fallen on power lines, cars, and in the street. Thankfully, I didn’t see any trees atop homes, but power is still out on several streets. One neighbor told me she’s been living here for 40 years and this is the worst storm she’s ever seen. Though I’d love to talk travel with you this week and think about escaping away from this mess, it would be best if I remain firmly rooted like the oak trees in my backyard that remarkably weathered the 65 mile per hour gusts. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone still suffering from Sandy, especially all my friends on the New England coast, New York, and New Jersey. I’ll be back next week with a fresh batch of blogs.