Bookish New England Trip: Salem & Concord

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“Some books are so familiar, that reading them is like being home again.”

– Louisa May Alcott (Little Women)

Isn’t that the truth? For me, reading the first page of “Little Women” takes me back to those days when I daydreamed of being a March sister. Back then, my goals for my grown-up self were simple: writing, acting, and wearing fluffy dresses all day long.

Last October, we took a roadtrip through New England to visit some historic literary sights, and I was surprised to discover that eleven-year-old Christa and her daydreams were still a big part of me.

Traveling can do that to you–whether you take a plane or simply open a book. It can reacquaint you with yourself and inspire you in new ways. That’s why I think it’s so important for authors to travel!

So if you’re an author with a love for the classics and a free weekend this fall, here are some New England sights you don’t want to miss:

Salem, MA

I’m more of a cozy fall girl, not a creepy fall girl, so I was unsure about visiting Salem…but it was so worth it.

Of course, Salem is famous for the Salem Witch Trials, but it also has a lot to offer for us bookworms.

Must-See Places:

The House of the Seven Gables

“Halfway down a by-street of one of our New England towns stands a rusty wooden house, with seven acutely peaked gables, facing towards various points of the compass, and a huge, clustered chimney in the midst.”

– Nathaniel Hawthorne (1851)

This museum is definitely a must-see, whether you’ve read the book or not. Tour the infamous house, explore the gardens, or simply enjoy the beautiful view of Salem Harbor! Also on campus is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s birthplace, the Hooper-Hathway house (1682), the Retire Beckett House (1655), an old gift shop, and more!

The Essex Street Pedestrian Mall

From here, you can access famous sights like the “Bewitched” statue, The Burying Point (the historic, 17th cemetery & memorial), the Old Town Hall, shops, restaurants, etc.

A person with arms outstretched stands on a grassy lawn in front of a large, dark-colored house under a clear blue sky.
The House of the Seven Gables
A smiling person wearing a purple knit hat stands in front of a large dark-colored house and lush greenery under a blue sky.
Interior of a museum exhibit featuring a display case with artifacts, a wooden chest, and a portrait on the wall. There is a window with natural light illuminating the space.
Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in this room!
A joyful young woman taking a selfie while sitting in the passenger seat of a car, holding a coffee cup, with a smiling man driving.
Road trip!
A woman stands next to a bronze statue of a witch riding a crescent moon, both smiling and posing with their hands raised. The woman wears a cozy sweater with a leaf pattern and a pink beanie.
I had to…

Travel Tips:

  1. Save yourself time and just park in the parking garage lol…
  2. Venture out of the town square and drive through the neighborhoods. They’re beautiful!
  3. Public Restrooms are few and far between…just FYI

Concord, MA

To say this place is magical is an understatement. Maybe it’s just because I’m a nut for “Little Women,” but of all the places we hit on our road trip, this was my favorite.

Must-See Places:

Orchard House

I teared up when I toured this place. Stepping into the “Little Women” home made me realize that though I’m not eleven anymore, I still have many of the same dreams, though they’ve been refined.

What struck me most was the tiny desk that hung between Louisa’s bedroom windows where she wrote the story the shaped the “girlhoods” of so many women. It’s encouraging to us writers. You don’t need a fancy space to write something meaningful!

Author’s Ridge

Located in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (not the Headless Horseman one…), Author’s Ridge is the resting place of several famous 19th century writers including Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thorough, and more.

The North Bridge

The North Bridge is considered to be the starting place of the Revolutionary War. The Old Manse, featured in Hawthorne’s “Mosses from an Old Manse” (1846), stands on the eastern side of the bridge. (Built in 1770, this house witnessed some of the first shots of the Revolutionary War and also hosted several prominent historical literary figures.)

We were lucky enough to walk the area during golden hour and I wish we’d spent more time there. It’s beautiful.

A smiling couple takes a selfie in a park with a flag and church steeple in the background, surrounded by green grass and trees.
Lexington Battle Green
A bronze statue of a soldier standing on a large stone pedestal, surrounded by a clear blue sky and trees, with people walking nearby.
Shot Heard ‘Round the World
A woman stands beside a gravestone at Authors Ridge, with inscriptions honoring Thoreau, Hawthorne, Alcott, and Emerson, surrounded by a cemetery in a wooded area.
Author’s Ridge
Sign for Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House, home of Little Women, with the house visible in the background.
Grave marker for Louisa May Alcott surrounded by colorful pencils and pens, with pennies scattered on the ground and autumn leaves.
A vibrant autumn scene in a cemetery with a maple tree displaying bright red leaves, surrounded by grave markers and fallen leaves on the ground.
South Burying Ground
White church building with a tall steeple and clock, surrounded by trees and a clear blue sky.
Lexington Battle Green

Travel Tips:

  1. Take a lazy evening drive. Follow the windy roads through historic neighborhoods with the windows down.
  2. Bring good walking shoes. There is so much nature in this beautiful town. Explore it!

Fellow bookworms and travelers, did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading,

Christa

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