Tour

Join The Trustees of Reservations and Essex River Basin Adventures (ERBA) for a guided kayak paddle of Crane Wildlife Refuge in Essex Bay. This introductory paddle teaches participants the basics of sea kayaking before setting out to explore what Yankee Magazine called "the best place to kayak in New England."

Enjoy a guided tour of Halibut Point State Park around the Babson Farm Quarry, unearthing the granite industry era followed by a traditional hand-tool stone splitting demonstration. Halibut Point itself is made of sheets of 440 million year-old granite that now cascade from rocky headlands to the abundant tidal pools below. The panorama encompasses views from Crane Beach in Ipswich to Mount Agamenticus in Maine and the Isles of Shoals off the coast of New Hampshire. This glorious natural landscape is breathtaking and inspiring.

Enjoy one stunning view after the next as we explore the Crane Wildlife Refuge, an island-studded patchwork of salt marsh and tidal creeks located in Essex Bay. During this guided tour, participants will traverse a series of island treasures, walking a spectacular network of carriageways and footpaths that link cobbled beaches and grassy fields with forested hillsides and historic buildings. This tour includes a short complimentary boat ride across the river and culminates with a summit top visit to the Crane Family burial ground on Choate Island. Please note: the full hike is a distance of approximately two miles and can be fairly strenuous.

Join Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center in a family ecology cruise aboard Newburyport Harbor Tours Inc.'s Yankee Clipper this Father's Day! Teacher Naturalist, Lisa Hutchings will provide her expert pair of eyes to help your family find all the exciting sights and sounds of Newburyport and Plum Island as you cruise along the Merrimack River.

The Great House at Castle Hill isn't just a big mansion for adults to explore. It was once the summer home (and playground) of the Crane children, Florence and Cornelius. On this special, 45-minute guided treasure hunt created especially for families with children ages 4 to 8, you can sharpen your sleuthing skills as we search for treasures, both large and small, throughout the Crane family mansion.

The Paine House (1694), a yellow clapboard saltbox, is a remarkable and rare example of First Period (1620-1725) architecture. Three generations of the Paine family made their home here, including Robert Paine, foreman of the Salem witch trial jury in 1692.

The Trustees of Reservations invites kids and their families to opening day of the Children's Garden at Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens in Beverly! Kids will help plant colorful, annual flowers and organic vegetables in our magical Children's Garden. Plant one or as many as you can! You will be beautifying the garden for the season while learning how to plant. Great for families. Limited spaces available. Please pre-register.

Walk through history at Ravenswood Park! Ravenswood has changed from a main thoroughfare to a forgotten backwoods, and now to our favorite local refuge over time. See the evidence in cellar holes, stonewalls, and carriage paths. Learn the stories of a colorful cast of characters who transformed it into a such special place. Pre-registration requested.

The The Trustees of Reservations invite you to celebrate Spring with family and friends at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich. During this FREE day of events and activities you can take a self-guided tour of the Great House, enjoy lawn games along the rolling Grand Allée, go on a family-friendly treasure hunt, join a may-pole dance, find out what SummerQuest camp is all about, and get the low down on becoming a Trustees volunteer! People are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch!

Enjoy a guided tour of Halibut Point State Park around the Babson Farm Quarry, unearthing the granite industry era followed by a traditional hand-tool stone splitting demonstration.  Halibut Point itself is made of sheets of 440 million year-old granite that now cascades from rocky headlands to the abundant tidal pools below. The panorama encompasses views from Crane Beach in Ipswich to Mount Agamenticus in Maine and the Isles of Shoals off the coast of New Hampshire. This glorious natural landscape is breathtaking and inspiring.