Tour

The Lady of Salem: Maritime Art

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

Location:

Destination Salem Visitors Center

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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

Location:

Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

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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

Location:

Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens

Trustees of Reservations

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Boat Tour to Misery Island

Journey on Essex Heritage’s landing craft Naumkeag to Great Misery Island in Salem Sound Massachusetts

Journey on Essex Heritage’s landing craft Naumkeag to Great Misery Island in Salem Sound. Along the way, hear stories about the rich history of the harbor and how the Misery Islands acquired their unique name. When you arrive, you’ll have 2 hours to explore the trails, open meadows, rocky shoreline, and hidden coves on the island. The Misery Islands are managed by The Trustees. Time allotted is about 3 hours round-trip (30-minute trip to and from the islands, and 2 hours on Great Misery Island). More information about the islands as well as a trail map can be found HERE

When:

Saturdays through September 13, 2025 11am or 12:30pm

Location:

Trustees of Reservations

Essex Heritage

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US Coast Guard Station Tours

Tour the Newburyport Coast Guard station as part of Newburyport Yankee Homecoming.

The Coast Guard Station in Newburyport stands as a testament to over 100 years of service to the opening of the Merrimack River and the coastal regions from the North Shore to Portsmouth, NH. Come honor the men and women who serve our City at the U.S. Coast Guard Station on the Merrimack River. The station will be open to the public on Thursday August 2^nd from 10:00am – 2:00pm giving tours and providing life saving techniques while discussing the hazards of the Merrimack River entrance.

When:

Thursday, July 31, 2025 10am-2pm

Location:

US Coast Guard - Newburyport

Newburyport

Tour

Newburyport Yankee Homecoming

Coast Guard

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Marine Society Outings on the Schooner FAME

Schooner Fame's Marine Society Outings are designed for children ages 8-14 out of Salem Massachusetts

Marine Society Outings are designed for children ages 8-14. Each outing is five hours on the water, 9:00-2:00, usually with a stop at the islands to swim off the boat (swimming is optional). Participants raise and trim the sails, learn knots, steer the boat, and play silly camp games. We accept 16 kids per session. Cost is $85. For Salem residents the cost is just $55, thanks to the Marine Society! In the event of bad weather, Outings may be postponed to the next day, or cancelled, in which case you will receive a refund.

When:

Wednesday, August 6, 2025 9am-2pm

Location:

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CraneOutdoors: Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure

Take a guided kayak paddle and hike to Choate Island with the Trustees of Reservations!

Join The Trustees of Reservations for a paddle and a hike – what better way to spend an afternoon? Kayaking the pristine, sheltered waters of the Essex River Basin offers one of the top on-the-water experiences to be had in Northeast. Add to that a hike on the area’s largest island and you have the makings of an epic adventure. This combined outdoor trip in the Crane Wildlife Refuge—home to myriad birds and mammals including egrets, herons, deer, and coyote—offers an opportunity to fully experience all this beautiful area has to offer.

When:

Sunday & Monday May 25 & 26, 2025

Saturdays, May 31 - August 30, 2025 1-4:30pm

Sundays, June 15 - August 31, 2025 1-4:30pm

No session: June 14, 21 & 28, July 13 & 27, August 16

Location:

Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate

Trustees of Reservations

Kayak

Boat

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Let's Go Outside!

Head to Parker River Wildlife Refuge for a full day of FREE family fun that's focused on outdoor activity!

Join park staff from the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge for a full day of FREE family fun that's focused on outdoor activity! Our annual celebration of summer returns! Join us for a free day of outdoor activities at the refuge. Learn to surf cast, meet tidepool critters up close, dissect an owl pellet, and even view the sun through a solar scope. This is an open streets event, meaning most of the refuge road is closed to walk, bike, and roll!

When:

Saturday, June 21, 2025 10am – 2pm

Location:

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

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Interpretation Station at Maudslay

Learn about the bloom cycles at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts

Join the park interpreter at this station to discover the many park perks at Maudslay! Each week a different feature and area will be highlighted. Check the board at each entrance to find the location of the Interpretation Station. For all ages.

When:

Saturdays through Summer 2025 2-4pm

Sundays through Summer 2025 9-11am

Location:

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Garden Tours at Stevens Coolidge Estate

Come enjoy the fantastic flower display in the gardens at the Trustees of Reservations Stevens-Coolidge Place in North Andover!

Enter a world of early 20th-century country elegance and contemporary garden design all in bloom at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens. These expansive manicured gardens boast both plentiful European-inspired flower beds as designed in the 1920s, as well as newly installed gardens featuring current-day trends and varieties. Discover the intricate 300-year-old history of this Trustees property through a guided tour with a knowledgeable Trustees guide.

When:

Sundays, June 15 and July 27, 2025 at Noon

Location:

Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens

North Andover

Trustees of Reservations

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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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Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

Learn about the natural world in Saugus while ecploring the park ground ast the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Massachusetts.

Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

7:00 am to 7:00 pm

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Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

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....

Where: Downtown Salem

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

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Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

Travel back in time to a castle filled with lush, opulent textures inspired by the great medieval and Renaissance castles of Europe. Wander through rooms adorned with White Birch and Christmas trees, sparkling fairy lights, hydrangea-lace garlands, and elegant bows, each space transformed with its...

Where: Hammond Castle Museum

10:00 am to 8:00 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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Take a Trolley Ride with Scrooge!

Join Scrooge on the Salem Trolley as you ride through Salem Massachusetts in this rolling production performed by the Griffen Theater . Now entering into it's 39th Season, this humorous & whimsical interactive performance reanimates Dickens’ timeless seasonal holiday classic. Experience...

Where: Salem Trolley

2:00 pm to 9:30 pm

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Stargazing at Mendel Observatory

The Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night (weather permitting) starting at dusk or 7:30 pm, whichever is later. When special astronomical events of interest occur (total lunar eclipses, etc.) the Obs

Where: Mendel Observatory at Merrimack College

7:00 pm

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Saturday, December 13

Middle Street Walk Gingerbread Contest 2025

Everybody is invited to enter the Gingerbread Contest for the Middle Street Walk in Gloucester this year! Groups and individuals are encouraged to get creative and come up with entries that can take any shape. All entries will be judged prior to the start of the Middle Street at 10am.

Where: Sawyer Free Library

10:00 am to 3:00 pm

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Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

Where: Hammond Castle Museum

10:00 am to 8:00 pm

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Discover Saturdays at Cape Ann Museum

Enjoy a FREE guided activity (ages 4+) in the gallery. Learn about Cape Ann’s Granite Industry, try a fun art making activity, and join in gallery tour designed for kids and their caregivers, led by a CAM Educator. Afterwards grab a scavenger hunt to explore the property and enjoy the lawn.

Where: Cape Ann Museum Green

10:00 am to 12:00 pm

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CraneExplorer: Coastal Holiday Crafts

This holiday season, give a gift from the sea! Beach treasures make beautiful holiday ornaments, jewelry, and keepsakes. Join this workshop to take a beach walk to collect coastal treasures and then make some coastal crafts with our educators. Bring your own shells and beach treasures and we will...

Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

10:00 am to 3:00 pm

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Santa's Workshop

Newburyport is a favorite local town to shop - especially during the holidays. Bring the family to Newburyport to visit Santa in his traditional workshop, share your wish list, and snap a photo with Mr. Claus!

Where: Santa's Workshop

11:00 am to 2:00 pm

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Ipswich Jingle Bell Walk

Get ready for a day full of holiday magic and cheer! Join us at the Ipswich Town Wharf to welcome Santa as he makes his grand entrance. Sing along to festive carols with Buddy the Elf while we wait for the big moment! You can even buy your own jingle bells to ring as we follow Santa and Buddy on a...

Where: Downtown Ipswich, Where: South Village Green Ipswich

11:00 am to 1:00 pm

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Take a Trolley Ride with Scrooge!

Where: Salem Trolley

2:00 pm to 9:30 pm

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The Nutcracker Panto - Matinee

The tree is lit up and the stockings are hung and Clara’s Christmas is perfect…except for her Uncle Drosselmeyer sitting up on that clock and the sudden rat infestation…sounds like panto time!Edward Speck and Joshua Shack return to direct another cracking holiday panto, this time seizing on...

Where: Firehouse Center for the Arts

3:00 pm

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The Nutcracker Panto

Theater in the Open is happy to be back at the Firehouse for our production of A Nutcracker Panto, written by Edward F. Speck and adapted from the classic holiday ballet. Presented in the traditional British panto style, this holiday send-up is a family friendly romp through Clara’s adventure with...

Where: Firehouse Center for the Arts

7:00 pm

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Sunday, December 14

ECGA Mutt Strut

An adventurous outing for you and your pup! Tompson Street has a little of everything: wooded trails, bridges across the swamp, rocky outcroppings…! The dogs and humans have a blast!

Where: Thompson Street Reservation

1:00 am to 3:00 pm

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Saturday, December 13

Sunday, December 14