The legacy of Paul Revere, the American silversmith, industrialist and Founding Father, is forever exalted in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, where he, a member of the Sons of Liberty, courageously charged at midnight to alert the militia of approaching British forces.

His timely nightfall sprint was immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's opus Paul Revere's Ride, which led to the first gunfire at the Battles of Lexington and Concord that catalyzed the American Revolutionary War, the struggle that resulted in the country's liberation from Great Britain.

If you have ever encountered the phrase "Shot heard 'round the world," this is the legitimate origin. However today, it is more commonly associated with the assassination of Austria-Hungary presumptive heir to the throne Archduke Franz Ferdinand, one of the roots of World War I.

From these two suburban towns some 10 to 20 kilometers away from downtown Boston, here are our top five spots not to be missed:

Pay Respects: Battle of Lexington Monument

This groundbreaking memorial was built by the inhabitants of the hamlet to commemorate the sacrifices of its citizens, who were the first victims of British tyranny and oppression. An etched excerpt reads: "They nobly dar'd to be free!! The contest was long, bloody and affecting. Righteous Heaven approved the solemn appeal; Victory crowned their arms; and The Peace, Liberty and Independence of the United States of America, was their glorious reward."