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.
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.
Family Friendly … Hands On …. Educational. Come to the Amesbury Carriage Museum featuring displays demonstrating machine power, photographic slide show of industrial Amesbury, and ½ hour millyard tours at 12 noon and 2:00 PM. Free and open to the public. Drop by for some fun and refreshments!
A treasure hunt around the quarry at Halibut Point State Park with clues and word unscrambles to find the treasure box! Recommended for ages 8 and up. Clues available anytime at bulletin board. Quarrying History Self-Guide tour brochure available anytime for visitors of all ages.
At sundown this Halloween weekend, Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary will be transformed into a magical forest with creatures that can talk! Take a guided walk along our Halloween trail, home to some interesting creatures that come out just for Halloween. Learn firsthand about the creatures of the night and some history and myths that surround this spooky holiday.
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!
Plum Island Airport RC Club's JetOberfest is almost here! Come on out and join us once again at the Plum Island Airport for 4 days of Nonstop RC Jet action (Turbine and Ducted Fan Jets, no props or rotors for this event please). Pilots from all over the Northeast and Canada will make their way to our little slice of heaven to WOW the crowds with some amazing machines.
Hammond Castle Presents Halls of Darkness: Fears & Phobias! Spend a spooktacular evening at Hammond Castle Museum. Are you afraid of the dark, spiders, or clowns? Does your heart skip a beat when you're SCARED? Join us and face your fears within our walls!Visit the most unique and surreal haunted attraction in Massachusetts, just a few minutes north of the Haunted Happenings of Salem. For over 25 years, no Halloween season has been complete without a haunted tour through this real medieval castle!
Join us for a cruise in Essex Bay aboard our pontoon boat the Osprey! We’ll view the seldom seen backside of the Crane Wildlife Refuge and take a turn around Choate Island to view the open fields, wooded hillside and historic structures from the water while hearing stories and learning fun facts about the area from longtime steward, Donny Paquin. This event requires pre-registration online or at the Castle Hill front desk.
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.
