Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NEARBY SIGHTS
DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park
Indoors and out, this dramatic
museum shows the work of American contemporary and modern artists, with an
emphasis on living New England residents. The imaginative curatorial staff builds
exhibits around themes as well as the work of individual artists—shows during the
lifespan of this topic will focus on (among other things) contemporary American
drawings, recent work by New England artist Laylah Ali, and prints by Vermont
artists. The main building, on a leafy hilltop, overlooks the outdoor public sculpture
park. The museum also has a sculpture terrace that displays the work of one sculptor
per year. The prestigious
DeCordova Annual Exhibition
(May-Aug) is a group show
of recent work in various media by a select group of New England artists.
Allow at least half a day, perhaps including lunch. Picnicking is allowed in the
sculpture park; bring food or buy it at the cafe (open Tues noon-3pm, Wed-Sun
11am-4pm). Free guided tours of the main galleries start at 1pm Thursday and 2pm
Sunday, year-round; sculpture-park tours run May through October on weekends at
1pm. Be sure to check out the excellent gift shop.
51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln.
&
781/259-8355.
www.decordova.org. Admission $9 adults; $6 seniors, students, and
children 6-12. Admission to sculpture park free when museum is closed. Museum: Tues-Sun and some Mon holidays
10am-5pm. Closed Jan 1, July 4, Thanksgiving, and Dec 25. Sculpture park: Daily daylight hours. From Rte. 2 E., take
Rte. 126 south to Baker Bridge Rd. (1st left after Walden Pond). When it ends, go right onto Sandy Pond Rd.; museum
is on the left. From I-95, take Exit 28B, follow Trapelo Rd. 2
1
⁄
2
miles to Sandy Pond Rd., then follow signs.
Gropius House
Architect Walter Gropius (1883-1969), founder of the Bauhaus
school of design, built this hilltop home for his family in 1938 after accepting a job
at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He used traditional materials such as clap-
board, brick, and fieldstone, with components then seldom seen in domestic architec-
ture, including glass blocks and chrome (on the banisters). Marcel Breuer designed
many of the furnishings, which were made for the family at the Bauhaus. Decorated
as it was in the last decade of Gropius's life, the house affords a revealing look at his
life, career, and philosophy. Call for information on workshops and special tours;
evening tours (reservation required) take place throughout the year.
68 Baker Bridge Rd., Lincoln.
&
781/259-8098.
www.historicnewengland.org. Guided tours $10 adults, $9 seniors,
$5 students with ID and children. Tours on the hour June-Oct 15 Wed-Sun 11am-4pm; Oct 16-May Sat-Sun
11am-4pm. From Rte. 2 E., take Rte. 126 south to Baker Bridge Rd. (1st left after Walden Pond); house is on the right.
From I-95, take Exit 28B, follow Trapelo Rd. to Sandy Pond Rd., go left onto Baker Bridge Rd.; house is on the left.
SHOPPING
Downtown Concord, off
Monument Square,
is a terrific shopping destination. Here
you'll find the
Toy Shop of Concord,
4 Walden St. (
&
978/369-2553
); the
Grasshopper Shop,
36 Main St. (
&
978/369-8295
), which carries women's clothing
and accessories; jewelry at
Mascio-Ricci,
at Concord's Colonial Inn, 48 Monument Sq.
(
&
978/371-1191
); and the
Concord Bookshop,
65 Main St. (
&
978/369-2405
).
At the Concord Depot, the
Muse's Window,
84 Thoreau St. (
&
978/287-5500
), is an
excellent fine-crafts gallery. The compact shopping district in
West Concord,
along
Route 62, boasts the old-fashioned
West Concord 5 & 10,
106 Commonwealth Ave.
(
&
978/369-9011
), which carries everything from light bulbs to lace.
WHERE TO STAY & DINE
Consider taking a
picnic
to the North Bridge, Walden Pond, or another spot that
catches your eye. Stock up at
Nashoba Brook Bakery
(see below) or downtown at the
Cheese Shop,
25-31 Walden St. (
&
978/369-5778
).
