The best camping near Minute Man National Historical Park

The first battle of the American Revolution comes to life as you explore what it meant to be a Minuteman. These American militia fighters defended Boston and the surrounding countryside from British forces. They could be ready to fight in a minute, hence their nickname.

This historic site preserves the site of Lexington and Concord along with the Old North Bridge that links both towns. It was here on April 19, 1775, that Minutemen clashed with Redcoats. Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson called the skirmish the "Shot Heard Round the World" because the fighting started the American Revolution. There was no going back after both sides fired shots at each other.

A 5-mile battlefield trail, on either side of the bridge, takes you through Colonial-era buildings that were important to the Battle of Lexington and Concord. You can retrace the steps the British took as they marched along cobblestone streets. Stop a Hartwell Tavern, a restored 18th-century building, to hear Park Rangers in period costume talk about the battle.

Grab a wooden musket (fake and not loaded, of course) along with a triangle hat and get in the spirit of things by marching to the bridge. Take aim at your "enemy" across the bridge to experience what happened as a new day dawned in the United States. Events happen year-round. There's no shortage of activity here if you love Colonial history.

Summer is the best time to visit when it comes to camping near Boston. However, the old-growth trees sing in the fall if you want to check out some beautiful foliage.