The arrival of fall foliage and glorious weather often finds us entertaining out-of-town guests eager for a glimpse of the fabled New England autumn. This field trip is designed to show off some of the best the town of Concord has to offer: its history, natural beauty, and best-kept secrets for fabulous food. Perfect for visitors, this outing would be equally fun with a best friend, the only other thing to bring along is sunshine.

Begin with a hearty cup of Full City coffee and a tender, fruit-filled scone at Verrill Farm. After browsing through the mouth-watering pie selection and colorful bins of fresh vegetables, wander out to the back field to enjoy breakfast on the tent-shaded picnic tables. From this vantage, enjoy the view of the Verrill’s pick-your-own cutting garden and acres of cultivated fields of tomatoes, corn, and vegetables. If arriving after Sept. 20, visitors will also have the opportunity to look through the brand-new farm stand.

From this leisurely beginning the pace picks up, with a five-minute trip to the South Bridge Boat House to rent a canoe or kayak. The Boat House, which operates from mid-May to Oct. 31, is a third-generation family business operated by the Rohan family. Novice boaters and families will enjoy the large, stable canoes and kayaks, and fishermen can rent a small boat and motor for a little bass fishing. A river map provided by Shirley Rohan shows multiple routes through the Concord, Sudbury, and Assabet rivers, where paddlers can fish and bird-watch while making their way through miles of peaceful waterways. Since Concord is renowned for its many famous authors, some visitors will want to take a “literary cruise” to the Old Manse or Fairhaven Bay, where Thoreau and Hawthorne wrote many of their books. Bird-watchers can head out to the Great Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary, and everyone will enjoy the many peaceful picnic spots Rohan can suggest. The boat house also offers a number of catered cruises on a small pontoon boat. A Sunday ‘floating breakfast’ is offered on the first and last Sunday of the month, and weekday lunchtime cruises are also available if weather permits. Both cost $24 per person, with advance reservations required.

After the fresh air and exercise, head into downtown Concord for lunch. Choice abounds, both casual and more upscale. For soup and a sandwich, try Main Streets Market and Café or Helen’s Café; for a little more atmosphere and a glass of wine, try the Walden Grille or—for a real sense of Concord history—the Colonial Inn. All menus offer traditional New England dishes, with chowder and lobster rolls among the choice of entrées. Strolling Main Street, window shopping for anything from a historic house to the latest bestseller, is also a pleasant addition to the day.

An exhibit of American presidential china is on display at the Concord Museum through Oct.12. (Courtesy photo)

A special exhibit at the Concord Museum, “Setting the President’s Table: American Presidential China,” is a lovely way to spend the rest of the afternoon. On display through Oct. 12, the sparkling collection of state dinner and dessert services from various White House administrations is well worth the time. There is something here for everyone, from the enjoyably gossipy snippets of history that accompany the story of each president’s administration to the simple aesthetic pleasure of top-shelf tabletop. Visitors will enjoy the startling images of wildlife—including a fierce tom turkey and bloody carp—painted on the china of President Rutherford B. Hayes and First Lady Lucy Hayes. Deemed “as ugly as it is possible for china to be” by Teddy Roosevelt’s secretary, the service was eventually donated to the Girl Scouts to sell as a benefit.

On loan from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the collection of more than 100 pieces is considered the finest outside the nation’s capital. “It’s an impressive collection, and we’re lucky to have it here in Concord,” said Public Relations Officer Carol Haines. It includes a serving dish acquired by John Quincy Adams while serving as a diplomat in Russia, as well as the remarkably beautiful service owned by 22-year-old First Lady Frances Cleveland. While a number of administrations chose patriotic colors and themes for their services, some of the other china more clearly portrays the heritage and personality of their creators: the china service of Lady Bird Johnson features her favorite Texas wildflowers, while the Reagans’ china is a dramatic red-rimmed service created by First Lady Nancy Reagan in her signature color.

First-time visitors to the Concord Museum will also want to tour the first floor, which interprets the heritage of a town that figures so prominently in American history. Not to be missed is the famous “one if by land, two if by sea” lantern immortalized in Longfellow’s poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride.”

Such an interesting day leaves little time for cooking, so this field trip concludes with a short trip to Concord Provisions for some salad greens and a slice of cheese. (Remember that the first 12 minutes at a parking meter are free in Concord as long as you press the red button). To round out the meal, walk just a few doors down to La Provence for a delicious rotisserie chicken and French baguette. Take it home and reflect on the pleasures of the day. Bon appétit!