Tour

Family Hike at Castle Hill

Come to the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts for a hike with your kids!

The Trustees of Reservations invites you to get your little ones out of the house and build your family's outdoor confidence on a guided family hike! Meet up with your group of fellow explorers to learn a new nature tidbit and then hit the trails! We'll go at a comfortable pace for little legs and leave plenty of space for asking questions and stopping to observe something cool.

When:

January 20, 2020 10am-Noon

Sunday, February 2, 2020 10am-Noon

February 17, 2020 10am-Noon

Location:

Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

Trustees of Reservations

Martin Luther King Day

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Middle Street Walk at the Sargent House

The Sargent House Museum in Gloucester offers free admission during the Middle Street Walk

Come to the Sargent House to see Gloucester’s 18th century mansion in all its holiday splendor--and purchase exciting hand-made gifts. Free and open to the public. Music, tasty refreshments, and lots of fun at one of Gloucester’s most historic homes.

When:

Saturday, December 14, 2019 10am-4pm

Location:

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Winter Solstice Stroll at Halibut Point

Come celebrate the start of Winter with a solstice stroll at Halibut Point State Park

As the sun begins to set, join us for a stroll into the woodland trails of Halibut Point State Park on this darkest day of the year. We will wonder about changes happening, what animals are doing for winter, and we will share tales centuries old cultural traditions. Celebrate the seasonal changes as we warm up by the fire with S’mores! For all ages. Heavy rain cancels.

When:

Saturday, December 21, 2019 4-6pm

Location:

Halibut Point State Park

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Family Forest Festival

Join Mass Audubon to celebrate the forest with your family at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary.

Journey back in time with Mass Audubon and the Topsfield Historical Society on a child-friendly guided hike with hands-on games and activities to learn about the people and wildlife who have called these forests home. Try your hand at building a kid-sized log cabin, see and use real historical carpentry tools, and learn the names and stories of the towering trees and woodland wildlife all around us. Late fall is a wonderful time to take a hike with friends and family and give thanks for the resources and beauty that nature provides for us all. The hike is approximately 1 hour long, set at a leisurely pace with stops to explore. Fun forest activities, snacks, hot drinks, and a roaring fire in our cozy barn are ongoing throughout the program.

When:

Saturday, November 23, 2019 1-4pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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Autumn Feature Story Walk

Join DCR’s Autumn Feature StoryWalk® at Maudslay State Park Walk a trail and read the story One Small Place in a Tree, written by Barbara Brenner and illustrated by Tom Leonard. Come and participate in this self Guided StoryWalk for Pre-K kids with adults! Autumn is a perfect time to enjoy the magic of reading together outdoors!

When:

Daily, October 1st - October 20, 2019

Location:

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Cape Ann Artisans Studio Tour

Cape Ann Artisans are among the most established artists currently living and working in Gloucester and Rockport. Some studios are centrally located while many are tucked away among Cape Ann’s distinctive and diverse neighborhoods.

We invite the curious and adventuresome art-lovers to visit us off-season for a deep dive into our creative life on Cape Ann. The tour is free and self-guided.

When:

October 12–14 from 10 am to 5pm

Tour

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Walk Through Artichoke Woods at Maudslay

Join the park interpreter on a hike through the trails of Maudslay State Park in Newburyport!

Join the park interpreter for a hike thru the Artichoke Woods to see this resource rich location and special part of the park bordering on the Artichoke River.

When:

Monday, October 15, 2019 10-11:30am

Location:

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Choate Island Hike

Tour the Choate House on this guided exploration of Choate Island.

Choate Island is the crown jewel of the Crane Wildlife Refuge and is only accessible by boat. Enjoy one stunning view after the next on this rare chance to explore the cultural and natural history of the island. Walk a 1.5 mile network of carriageways and footpaths that lead past The Proctor Barn, White Cottage, and Choate House, all the way to the top of the island where the Crane Family burial ground looks out over Plum Island Sound. This tour includes a complimentary boat ride from the Crane Estate boat dock to Choate Island and back.

When:

Saturday, June 8, 2019 1:30-4:30pm

Saturday, June 22, 2019 12:30-3:30pm

Saturday, July 6, 2019 12-3pm

Sunday, July 28, 2019 12:30-3:30pm

Sunday, September 15, 2019 1:30-4:30pm

Saturday, September 28, 2019 12-3pm

Location:

Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate

Trustees of Reservations

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Fall Findings at Maudslay

Enjoy an exploration of fall with the park interpreter at Maudlsay State Park in Newburyport

Many changes occur as our world moves from Summer into Fall. Join the park interpreter for this fun program that focuses on finding the changes with nature in Autumn.

When:

Fridays, September 6, 13 & 27, 2019 2-3pm

Saturday, September 7, 2019 2-3pm

Location:

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Marine Science Experience

Tour Salem State's Cat Cove Marine Lab for Trails and Sails! FREE!

Come tour the Cat Cove Marine Laboratory as part of Trails & Sails! The Cat Cove Marine Laboratory is operated by Salem State University to promote the sustainable use of aquatic resources on the North Shore and elsewhere. Massachusetts’ North Shore is historically, culturally and economically linked with the ocean. More recently, the ecological importance of coastal waters has been recognized. Salem State University and its Cat Cove Marine Laboratory acknowledge the traditional, biological and social importance of our coastal waters. Methods to preserve, manage and utilize this treasured resource are developed and disseminated at the Laboratory. Participants in Trails & Sails will tour the Laboratory, learn about its relevance and gain insight into how some of their tax dollars are being spent. The visit is interactive, be prepared to feed fish, shellfish and to handle creepy crawlers!

When:

Friday, September 20, 2019 5-6:30pm

Location:

Cat Cove Marine Laboratory

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Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!

Where: Halibut Point State Park

7:00 am to 6:00 pm

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Home & Food Truck Show | Topsfield

April 20th & 21st. FREE admission and FREE parking. All INDOORS & Enjoy the Food Trucks outside. Speak to leading home industry professionals to plan your spring home projects.

Where: Topsfield Fairgrounds

10:00 am to 6:59 pm

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Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.

Where: Boston Common and Boston Public Garden

10:00 am to 3:59 pm

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Sing & Dance with the Music Man

Come join the fun at Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham Monday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10am for 30 - 45 minutes of great music with Brian Doser! Sing and dance with the Music Man during a family concert, featuring familiar and original tunes, performed by local dad and musician,...

Where: Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham

10:00 am to 10:45 am

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The NEF Open

Golfers of all abilities come out for a best ball scramble in support of public education at the Annual NEF Open Golf Tournament. Dinner, auction and raffle follow a great day on the links. The Annual NEF Open will be at Wentworth By The Sea Country Club in Rye, NH. Ticket price includes box lunch...

1:00 pm to 8:00 pm

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Sunday, June 2

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!

Where: Halibut Point State Park

7:00 am to 6:00 pm

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Newburyport Farmers' Market

The Newburyport Farmers Summer Market celebrates local fresh produce every Sunday morning rain or shine! Start your Sunday browsing fresh North Shore local produce, meats, cheeses, and seafood in an open air market atmosphere! Food and beverage vendors offer fresh hot coffee, breakfast treats and...

Where: Tannery Marketplace

9:00 am to 1:00 pm

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Crane Outdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River

One of the best was to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate is a vast barrier...

Where: Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

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Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Where: Boston Common and Boston Public Garden

10:00 am to 3:59 pm

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Home & Food Truck Show | Topsfield

April 20th & 21st. FREE admission and FREE parking. All INDOORS & Enjoy the Food Trucks outside. Speak to leading home industry professionals to plan your spring home projects.

Where: Topsfield Fairgrounds

10:00 am to 6:59 pm

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Long Hill Garden Tours

The Trustees of Reservations invite you to join our expert guides for a tour around Long Hill’s stunning Sedgwick Gardens and learn more about the special plants it’s most known for. In addition to learning about what plants are in bloom as well as the rare and unique species in our collection, you...

Where: Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens

11:00 am to 12:00 pm

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CraneOutdoors: Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure

Join The Trustees of Reservations for a paddle and a hike – what better way to spend an afternoon? Circumnavigating an island is one of the great rewards of kayaking and reaching the summit of a hill that offers a great view is one of the payoffs of a good hike. This adventure in the Crane...

Where: Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate

1:00 pm to 4:30 pm

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Dreams and Dances Concert

Celebrating the creativity and expression in all of us with a family-friendly, multimedia performance by Arpeggione Ensemble. "Dreams and Dances” will take listeners of all ages on a journey through enchanted forests and countryside with music and dance. Arpeggione’s musicians will be performing...

Where: Waring School

4:00 pm

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