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North Shore Trails

Enjoy a hike on one of the many trails on the North Shore of Boston Massachusetts!

The North Shore has many miles of trails over all kinds of terrain.  Hike in the forest, through moraine boulder feilds, over dunes, and through varied habitats that offer many different kinds of flora and fauna. It's not just about hiking either - many trails are accessible to cross country skiers, showshoe enthusiast and mountain bikers too. Check out our complete list of places hike, run and walk on the North Shore, and discover the unique beauty of this wonderful part of Massachusetts!

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Dane Street Beach

  • Limited on street parking.
  • Dogs on leashes allowed from 6-7:30 AM and 7:30-10 PM between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
  • Bathhouse is open when a lifeguard is on duty beginning in late June from 10 AM to 5 PM.
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Nahant Beach Reservation

Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation is a protected coastal reservation covering 67 acres of beach and recreational areas in the town of Nahant, Massachusetts, managed by the Mass DCR. The reservation is open year-round, but summer is the time to visit and escape the heat. Enjoy swimming in the ocean, launch your boat, or sunbathe on the beach. Be aware of daily parking fees before you visit.

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Public Waterfront Access

Salisbury Beach State Reservation

Salisbury Beach is one of the state's most popular ocean beaches, stretching 3.8 miles along the Atlantic Ocean. This 521-acre park offers swimming, boating, fishing, and camping, and is very popular with trailer campers. Facilities include a 484-site campground with renovated bathhouses, an extensive day-use parking lot, three new comfort stations for the beach- going public with boardwalks over the dunes, and a new playground and pavilion area.

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North Shore Museums

Dragons on display at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem Massachusetts

There a many great musuems on the North Shore due to the area's history, cultural diversity, maritime heritage and roots in colonial America. There are plenty to visit, and if you include museums in the greater Boston area, there are almost too many to visit. Check out our list of museums.  You'll find that the North Shore and surrounding areas cover a wide variety of interest through their museums - everything from art to colonial settlements to textiles to science and robotics!

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Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts offers farm-based Summer Programs for kids ages 5-15

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point
Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
Where: Halibut Point State Park
7:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Barnyard Story Hour at Appleton Farms
Kids can meet the barnyard animals and hear a story at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts.
Barnyard stories really come alive when you get to see the main characters in real life! Bring the kids down to Appleton Farms for our farm-fresh version of story time. Explore the farmstead, visit our learning garden, see our cows and rabbits, and find a spot to play under a shady tree in our...
Where: Appleton Farms
10:30 am to 11:30 am
♦ Read More →

Saturday, January 31

CraneExplorer: Family Full Moon Hike in the Dunes
Walk through the Crane Wildlife Refuge in Ipswich Massachusetts with the Trustees under the full moon.
There is almost nothing more peaceful than a evening walk at the Crane Estate, and we would like to invite your family to join us for a unique hiking experience. With the full moon rising over the Atlantic, we’ll start with a sunset stroll along Crane Beach admiring this spectacle before heading...
Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
♦ Read More →

Sunday, February 1

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point
Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
Where: Halibut Point State Park
7:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Watching the Coastal Edge at Halibut Point

Tour the WWII era observation tower at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts.
Meet at the Halibut Point State Park visitors center to learn about the role Halibut Point has played in America’s military history. One day after the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, U.S.
Where: Halibut Point State Park
11:00 am to 12:30 pm
♦ Read More →

CraneOutdoors: Family Winter Wildlife Walk
Come explore the dunes on Castle Neck and Crane Beach in Ipswich Massachusetts to learn about winter wildlife.
A CraneOutdoors Family Winter Wildlife Walk will take you on a stroll through the Crane Beach dunes while learning about the plants and animals that call this special place home. You may be familiar with Crane Beach, but have you ever visited the dune trails? The dunes of Castle Neck are a much...
Where: Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate
1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
♦ Read More →

Sunday STEAM Club at North Shore Children's Museum
Visit Peabody MA, NorthShore, North Shore Children's Museum
Join in on Sundays at 2:30 for STEAM Club for ages 5-11. Each week participants will explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math with our NSCM staff! Every STEAM club session will see your kids participating in hands-on activities while exploring a new topic. Space is limited, please...
Where: North Shore Children's Museum
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Snow Moon Winter Celebration
Come to Spencer-Pierce-Little Farm to celebrate February's Snow Moon in Newbury Massachusetts!
Come to Spencer Peirce Little Farm to celebrate the season under the stillness of February's full Snow Moon! Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm opens its gates for a winter celebration that honors the beauty of the land
Where: Spencer Peirce Little Farm
3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

CraneExplorer: Family Full Moon Hike in the Dunes
Walk through the Crane Wildlife Refuge in Ipswich Massachusetts with the Trustees under the full moon.
There is almost nothing more peaceful than a evening walk at the Crane Estate, and we would like to invite your family to join us for a unique hiking experience. With the full moon rising over the Atlantic, we’ll start with a sunset stroll along Crane Beach admiring this spectacle before heading...
Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
♦ Read More →

Monday, February 2

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point
Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
Where: Halibut Point State Park
7:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Tuesday, February 3

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point
Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
Where: Halibut Point State Park
7:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Barnyard Story Hour at Appleton Farms
Kids can meet the barnyard animals and hear a story at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts.
Barnyard stories really come alive when you get to see the main characters in real life! Bring the kids down to Appleton Farms for our farm-fresh version of story time. Explore the farmstead, visit our learning garden, see our cows and rabbits, and find a spot to play under a shady tree in our...
Where: Appleton Farms
10:30 am to 11:30 am
♦ Read More →
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