Tours

Brush Hill Tours. Brush Hill Tours offers daily motor-coach tours from Boston to Lexington's Battle Green and Concord's Old North Bridge area on weekends in May and June and then daily until November. Seasonal trips to Salem, Marblehead, and Plymouth are also available. 781/986-6100, 617/720-6342, or 800/343-1328. www.brushhilltours.com.

Concord Chamber of Commerce. Concord Chamber of Commerce runs walking tours focusing on Revolutionary War or the area's rich literary history April through October. They last about 1½ hours and depart from the Concord Visitor Center at 1 pm Monday and Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11 am and 1 pm. 58 Main St., Concord, MA. 978/369-3120. www.concordchamberofcommerce.org. $20.

Essex River Cruises & Charters. Essex River Cruises & Charters organizes narrated cruises of nearby salt marshes and rivers, seasonally from May to October. Call ahead for schedules and reservations. 978/768-6981 or 800/748-3706. www.essexcruises.com.

Lowell National Historical Park. This park tracks the history of a gritty era when the power loom was the symbol of economic progress. It encompasses several blocks in the downtown area, including former-mills-turned-museums, a network of canals, and a helpful visitor center. Begin at the National Park Visitor Center where you can watch a multimedia presentation on the Industrial Age in Lowell. Beloved Beat poet and writer Jack Kerouac was born here; watch a lively film about his life. Several tours, including canal-boat trips and guided walking and trolley tours, depart from here. 978/970-5000. www.nps.gov/lowe.