Concord has the cure for nature-deficit-disorder, a condition that worsened during the pandemic. As kids and parents spend more time indoors and less time in nature, they’re becoming more stressed and anxious. But as the beloved sage of Concord, Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air.”
As I pull into the parking area in early summer, I see people down at the dock of the quaint wooden boathouse on the Sudbury River. Family-owned South Bridge Boat House on Route 62 in Concord is the gateway to the rivers for all who would like to rent a kayak or canoe to explore.
The Concord River Boater’s Trail begins at the confluence of the Sudbury and Assabet Rivers, at Egg Rock, where they join to become the Concord River. The river is slow-moving and easy to paddle in this section, so you can appreciate the rich natural and cultural sites along the way.