Tour

Marbleheaders in the American Revolution

Glovers Regiment in Marblehead Massachusetts is just one stop on this Trails & Sails tour.

Pick up a program book and experience Revolutionary War-era Marblehead at various sites in the Historic District. Meet the wife of war hero, James Mugford; explore Fort Sewall with Glover’s Regiment; meet diarist Ashley Bowen portrayed by Donald Friary and experience an Anglican service at St. Michael’s church; participate in a recreated town meeting and decide whether or not to support the Patriot cause at the Old Town House; visit the Powder House; see the Spirit of ’76 painting; tour the Jeremiah Lee Mansion; and learn about the town’s Tory population at the “King” Hooper Mansion; among other opportunities. Learn more here!

When: 
Saturday, September 20, 2025 11am-4pm
Sunday, September 21, 2025 11am-4pm

Northern Strand Community Path Ride

Ride the Northern Strand Path as a group starting in Lynn Massachusetts! Part of Trails & Sails

This low-stress ride will be led by Dave Read of the Border to Boston Trail Coalition. We’ll start in the Market Basket parking lot next to the trail in Lynn, go over the Saugus River and past the Rumney Marsh in Revere. Meet next to the trail at the Market Basket in Lynn. There will be two options: one to Malden line (12 miles round trip) and a bit longer to the Everett line (16 miles round trip). This is a paved trail. Part of Trails & Sails.

When: 
Sunday, September 14, 2025 10am-Noon

Historic Port of Ipswich Tour

Ipswich Museum hosts a Trails and Sails Historic Tour of the Town of Ipswich Massachusetts as a port.

Join local history buff, Scott Jewell, on a walk around the town of Ipswich and learn about the fascinating history of its former bustling port. Once a hub of maritime trade and commerce, the fate of the port was intricately tied to the rise and fall of the town’s 18th century economy, and the fortunes (and misfortunes) of many of its residents. Part of Trails & Sails.

When: 
Saturday, September 20, 2025 1-3pm

Overlooking the Essex River Tour

Tour Cogswell's Grant Coastal Farm in Essex Massachusetts as part of Trails & Sails

On this walking tour, explore the landscape history at Cogswell’s Grant in Essex, Massachusetts, from the presence of indigenous people through the colonial period to the present. Walk through hayfields down to the salt marsh and the Essex River, discover the rich history of the people and families who lived and farmed here, and learn how coastal farming has evolved over the centuries. Part of Trails & Sails. Reservations Required

When: 
Saturday, September 27, 2025 11am-12:30pm

Hospital Point Lighthouse Open House

Take a tour of this historic Beverly landmark thats usually closed to the public as part of Trials and Sails!

One of Beverly's most familiar landmarks, this lighthouse commands a spectacular view of Salem Sound, and 3 other lighthouses. An enduring monument to Beverly's nautical heritage, it is one of 5 Massachusetts lighthouses that still retains its original Fresnel lens.

When: 
Sunday, September 14, 2025 10AM-4PM
Saturday, September 27, 2025 10AM-4PM

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a self guided walking tour with Essex Heritage

This self-guided walking tour is designed to help explain the true history behind the Salem Witch Trials. After more than three centuries of storytelling through countless books, movies, and television shows, the line between historical fact and dramatic fiction has become increasingly blurred. Since much of Salem has changed drastically since 1692, very little remains with direct ties to these historical events. However, this tour will use the Heritage Trail as a guide and will point out original locations, help debunk persistent legends, and reveal the true history that has been obscured over the centuries. 

When: 
Daily, 9-5
Location: 

Farm Days Festival

Farm Days is a family event held at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts

Join us for our Annual Fall Celebration at Appleton – Farm Days! Spend the afternoon exploring the farm, listening to music, enjoying great food & beer, hiking our trails, entertaining the kids and more. Please Note: Tickets are per vehicle, not per person, and include access to the farm and all of the events and activities listed below. Food, drink, and hayrides are purchased separately.

When: 
Saturday, September 13, 2025 12-5PM
Sunday, September 14, 2025 12-5PM
Location: 

The Lady of Salem: Maritime Art

Learn about the history of Salem Massachusetts through this unique public art installation self-guided tour!

Discover Salem’s Golden Age of Sail as you uncover clues! Celebrate America’s Maritime History! The Ladies of Salem will have you looking up at whimsical and beautifully designed figureheads gracing lampposts downtown. “What is a figurehead ?” you may ask? It’s a large carved wooden decorative three dimensional representation of a person, animal or mythical creature located at the bow (forward part) of a sailing ship. They were thought to bring good luck as the “eyes” of the ship. Each “Lady” has a unique story to tell. Just head to Destination Salem Visitors Center on Derby Street to pick up the scavenger hunt, and use QR codes to find the lady locations!

When: 
June-October 2025

Saugus Iron Works House Tours

Free Ranger guided tours of the Saugus Iron Works House in Massachusetts

Join National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a 30-minute tour of The Iron Works House. Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site preserves and interprets the first sustained, integrated iron works in British Colonial America, which operated on the Saugus River from 1646 to 1670. Explore the place where European iron makers brought their special skills to a young Massachusetts colony. Saugus Iron Works is a twelve-acre National Historic Site that includes working waterwheels, forges, mills, a historic 17th century home, and a lush river basin.

When: 
Wednesday-Sunday, June 4-October 31, 2025 11am

Long Hill Garden Tours

Tour the Gardens at the Trustees of Reservations Long Hill Gardens in Beverly, Massachusetts!

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. Visit Long Hill’s breathtaking gardens and stately historic house for a guided tour. Enjoy the rich history of this grand country estate, home of the Sedgwick family, as you learn about the elegant lifestyle of wealthy Bostonians on the North Shore, and the artisans who created it. The tour takes you through the Federal-style house and the spectacular gardens, with terraces, statues, fountains, and pagodas, each section filled with unique perennial flowers from around the world. Highlights of the tour include a room filled with stunning 19th century Chinese wallpaper, the evolution of the stunning Sedgwick gardens, and the hidden connection between the house and an old Southern antebellum mansion.

When: 
Saturdays & Sundays, April 12 - September 21, 2025 11am-Noon
No Tours: April 20, May 10 & July 26

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Art Academy Summer Program at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly MA

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!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Explore! North Shore: Winter Hike at Moraine Farm

The Explore! North Shore hiking series will get you outside and moving at Moraine Farm in Beverly Massachusetts
The Explore! North Shore hiking series will get you outside and moving at some lesser explored Trustees properties across the Northeast Region, at the right time of year to see these special places shine. These beginner hikes will not be too strenuous, and will offer frequent stops for learning and...
10:00 am to 12:30 pm

Gloucester's So Salty 2026

Celebrate Gloucester Massachusetts recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions in the heart of downtown.
Celebrate the fish city’s recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions and businesses during the 5th Annual Gloucester’s So Salty festival sponsored by the Cape Ann Museum in partnership with Discover Gloucester! This annual event brings over 2,000 people to the downtown area each...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

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.
11:00 am to 12:30 pm

Raptor Roundup: Meet Live Birds of Prey at IRWS

Raptor Roundup: Meet Live Birds of Prey at Mass Audubon's Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Get a close look at some live local birds of prey while keeping warm in our barn! Learn each bird's unique story, discover why raptors play such a vital role in our environment, and explore their amazing adaptations, like keen eyesight and powerful talons, that help them survive in the wild....
11:00 am to 12:30 pm

Amesbury Winter Market

Amesbury Winter Market Daze at Barewolf Brewing January 11-February 8, 2026
Amesbury Market Daze is your friendly local community marketplace. We take pride in curating a marketplace that showcases local art and food from talented local artisans, chefs, farmers, creators and curators of surrounding Amesbury, Massachusetts. Join us throughout the year to curate and foster a...
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

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...
1:00 pm to 3:30 pm

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...
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm

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!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

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!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

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...
10:30 am to 11:30 am

Wednesday, February 4

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!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Mini Movers at North Shore Children's Museum

Things to do for children in Peabody MA
Mini Movers is an engaging dance and movement class for young children at the North Shore Children's Museum. Led by experienced instructors, the program introduces young children to the world of dance in a safe and nurturing environment.
10:00 am to 11:00 am

Thursday, February 5

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!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Friday, February 6

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!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Salem's So Sweet Festival

Salem Massachusetts' retailers have some sweet surprises in store during the Salem's So Sweet Weekend Festival
Salem Main Streets and the Salem Chamber of Commerce invite you to come enjoy the annual Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival – a decadent tradition of delectable chocolate, sparkling ice sculptures, and Valentine’s Day shopping! Now in its 24th year, Salem’s So Sweet has become...
9:00 am to 10:00 pm

Winter Family Field Trip: Raptor Road Trip

Families are invited to Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport Massachusetts to learn about eagles and their behaviors. Photo: Bill O'Connor
With radios in hand, we will carpool to Bald Eagle viewing spots along the Merrimack River and walk short distances to spot eagles with our binoculars and birding scopes. We will be watch for fishing, and courtship displays. Stay warm and active with small group activities that feature raptor sound...
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Kidleidoscope at Breakheart Reservation

Kidleidoscope is a program designed for preschoolers at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus Massachusetts
Come join our park interpreter for a story time and nature walk! Complete a small craft and explore the woods! Walks are gently paced and approximately 1 mile, though not accessible for strollers. Appropriate for families with children 3-5 years old. Meet at the Visitor Center.
10:30 am to 11:30 am
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