Outdoor Activity

Salem's So Sweet Festival

Salem Massachusetts' retailers have some sweet surprises in store during the Salem's So Sweet Weekend Festival

Don't miss historic downtown Salem's sweetest event of the year. Salem Main Streets, the Salem Chamber of Commerce, Destination Salem, and local retailers, restaurants, and businesses invite you to attend the 18th annual Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival. A decadent tradition of delectable chocolate, sparkling ice sculptures, and Valentine’s Day shopping…don’t miss Salem’s sweetest event of the year!

When: 
Friday, February 9 - Sunday, February 11, 2024
Location: 
Downtown Salem
Salem
Festival
Candy
Ice Sculpture
Treats
Food
Cuisine
Art
Outdoor Activity

Owl Prowl Hike at Appleton Farms

Learn all about owls at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts for kids older than 12

Join us for a very special evening hike to see the owls who might be out and about in the dark winter woods and fields of Appleton Farms. This hike will take place along the trails of Appleton, known to have multiple species of owls. Before our hike, you’ll learn about wintertime nocturnal animals and what to listen for on your journey. Then, we’ll embark on a 45-60 minute hike as we follow some of Appleton Farms’ most beautiful trails to see what we can hear.

When: 
Thursday, January 25, 2024 5:30-7PM
Thursday, February 8, 2024 5:30-7PM
Location: 
Appleton Farms
Ipswich
Outdoor Activity
Demonstration
Live Animals
Hike
Walk

Teen Naturalist Club at IRWS: Spring/Summer Series

Join Mass Audubon for their Teen Naturalist Club at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield Massachusetts!

Explore a variety of local ecosystems, learn more about a wide range of natural history topics, and do real wildlife data collection and conservation projects in this exciting club for teens!

When: 
Saturday, March 9, 2024 2-4:30pm
Saturday, March 23, 2024 3-5:30pm
Saturday, April 13, 2024 7-9am
Saturday, May 18, 2024 1-5pm
Saturday, May 25, 2024 8-10:30am
Saturday, June 8, 2024 5-8pm
Location: 
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Topsfield
Volunteer
Training
Outdoor Activity
Science
Ecology
Environment
Mass Audubon

All Family Field Trip: Winter Mammal Tracking

Families will learn about identifying animal tracks at Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport Massachusetts!

What animal signs might you see in the winter woods? We'll talk about paw prints, scat, nipped twigs, feathers, and other signs of activity. You'll find out how to detect the size of an animal, the direction and speed of movement, and the age of a track, and we'll give you your own tracking pocket guide for your future adventures!

When: 
Thursday, January 25, 2024 10am-Noon
Location: 
Joppa Flats Education Center
Newburyport
Exploration
Outdoor Activity
Science
Discovery
Games
Mass Audubon

Superbowl of Birding 2024

The Superbowl of Birding 2024 is a unique competition conducted in Rockingham County, NH, and Essex County, Massachusetts

The Superbowl of Birding 2024 is a unique competition conducted in Rockingham County, NH, and Essex County, MA. During a 12-hour period, teams of birders of all ages and abilities seek out the greatest number of avian species and amass the most points based on the rarity of the birds recorded. Teams compete this year for prizes in 11 categories. Enjoy spectacular winter birding and find out just how good you and your team really are!

When: 
Saturday, January 27, 2024 5am-5pm
Location: 
Joppa Flats Education Center
Newburyport
Outdoor Activity
Birding
Contest
Competition

Fee-Free Day: Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Parker River

Fee-Free Day: Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Parker River NWR in Newburyport Massachusetts

In recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, all national wildlife refuges and other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands that normally charge an entrance fee offer free admission January 15, 2024. The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Newburyport Massachusetts is participtating, so come to the refuge and apend some time outside!

When: 
Monday, January 15, 2024 7am–7pm
Location: 
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Newburyport
Martin Luther King Day
Outdoor Activity

Owl Prowl at Appleton Farms

Learn all about owls at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts

Join Appleton Farms Educators for a special family focused evening with the owls. This interactive program will meet in the barn and kick off with an owl pellet dissection. After we discover what owls eat for dinner, we will head outside in search of Great-Horned, Eastern Screech, Barred, and Northern Saw-Whet Owls. After the walk, we will warm up with hot cocoa and read the story “Owl Moon” by Jane Yolen.

When: 
Saturday, January 13, 2024 4-6PM
Location: 
Appleton Farms
Ipswich
Outdoor Activity
Demonstration
Live Animals
Hike
Walk

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Pediatric Dentistry, Dentist, Braces, Pediatric Dentist, Braces, Orthodontist, Boston, Malden

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 →

Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

Take a hike along the Saugus River Estuary ande explore the Saugus Iron Works Park grounds in Massachusetts
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
♦ Read More →

StoryWalk Series at Maudslay
“Summer’s Flight, Pollen’s Delight,” by Flora C. Caputo storywalk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
“Summer’s Flight, Pollen’s Delight,” by Flora C. Caputo is the subject of this STORYWALK Series. Enjoy this preschool storywalk at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time outside in nature!
Where: Maudslay State Park
7:00 am to 8:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk
Maudslay in Bloom self guided walk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts.
Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts, offers a delightful self-guided walk that is perfect for families with children. The park's 480-acre expanse, once the Moseley Estate, is rich with historical charm and natural beauty. Families can embark on a self-guided tour through lush...
Where: Maudslay State Park
7:00 am to 7:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Music Together - Wednesday
Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
Where: St. John's Episcopal Church in Beverly Farms
9:30 am to 11:15 am
♦ Read More →

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden
Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
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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We Walk the Woods!
Walk the trails in a group at Harold Parker State Forest Every Wednesday at 10am
Walk the trails with a group at Harold Parker State Forest every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. – Meeting location varies weekly. Email trek.reef@mass.gov for location.
Where: Harold Parker State Forest
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Bubbles & Books at the Castle
Kids will enjoy a story time and lots of bubble fun at the for Hammond Castle in Gloucester Massachsuetts
Come to Hammond Castle in Gloucester Massachusetts every Wednesday morning in July & August for Bubbles and Books on our seaside lawn. Fairytales do come true at castles by the sea! Doors open at 10 am. Stories start at 10:15 am.
Where: Hammond Castle
10:00 am
♦ Read More →

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.
Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
11:00 am
♦ Read More →

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour
Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
Essex Hertiage invites you to learn the true causes and events behind the Salem Witch Trials in our documentary film, then discover the myths during our walking tour. The Salem Witch Trials happened over 300 years ago, and it has been dramatized in books, documentaries, movies, and even TV shows....
Where: Downtown Salem
11:45 am to 3:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Saugus Iron Works Tours
Free Ranger guided tours at Saugus Iron Works Colonial Industrial Site in Massachusetts
Join the National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a tour of the colonial industrial site. On select days, you may be able to stick around and witness pop-up molten iron pour, blacksmithing, waterwheel demonstrations, and take part in hands-on river stewardship activities.
Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
2:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Stargazing at Mendel Observatory
Mendel Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night
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
♦ Read More →

FREE Family Flicks at the Beach!

Enjoy a movie with freinds and families under the stars at DCR's Salisbury Beach Reservation!
Pack up a blanket, lawn chair and picnic for FREE movies under the stars at DCR’s Salisbury Beach on Saturdays. All movies begin at dusk. All events subject to weather conditions. Please call park number above for update.
Where: Salisbury Beach State Reservation
8:15 pm
♦ Read More →

Sunday, August 18

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour
Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
Essex Hertiage invites you to learn the true causes and events behind the Salem Witch Trials in our documentary film, then discover the myths during our walking tour. The Salem Witch Trials happened over 300 years ago, and it has been dramatized in books, documentaries, movies, and even TV shows....
Where: Downtown Salem
11:45 am to 3:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Drop-in Open House at the Nature Center
Drop-in Open House at the Bradley Palmer State Park Nature Center in Hamilton Ipswich Massachusetts
Explore the Nature Center at your leisure. The Park Interpreter will be on hand to demonstrate and answer questions. Come see and touch animal furs, replica skulls, animal models, and other natural history materials. For little artists, coloring pages and washable markers will be on hand.
Where: Bradley Palmer State Park
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Essex Heritage Boat Tours to Bakers Island Lighthouse - Salem
Boat and Light Station Tour Bakers Island Tour out of Salem Massachusetts
Climb aboard Naumkeag, Essex Heritage’s landing craft for a trip to Bakers Island Light Station. Enjoy a 30-minute cruise from Salem past rugged coastline, harbor islands, and five lighthouses to Bakers Island. The light station is a 10-acre property that has been in use aiding in maritime...
Where: Salem Ferry Terminal
1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
♦ Read More →

Saugus Iron Works Tours
Free Ranger guided tours at Saugus Iron Works Colonial Industrial Site in Massachusetts
Join the National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a tour of the colonial industrial site. On select days, you may be able to stick around and witness pop-up molten iron pour, blacksmithing, waterwheel demonstrations, and take part in hands-on river stewardship activities.
Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
2:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Sundays in Patton Park
North Shore Free Concerts for North Shore Families at Patton Park in Hamilton Massachusetts
Come enjoy community and music each Sunday in Patton Park! Dust off your lawn chairs and bring your picnic down to the park on Sunday evenings. We have a fantastic line up of bands this summer ---presented by Institution for Savings Bank and sponsored by The Community House, Town of Hamilton, HW...
Where: Patton Park
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Summer Concert Series at Stage Fort Park
Compaq Big Band is just one of the perfromers in the Summer Concert Series at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester Massachusetts!
Come enjoy a Summer evening sea-side concert at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester Massachusetts! The Cape Ann Community Band under the direction of David Benjamin, plays their annual summer concerts Sundays at the at the Antonio Gentile Bandstand, Stage Fort Park, Hough Avenue, Gloucester MA.
Where: Stage Fort Park
6:30 pm
♦ Read More →

Monday, August 19

StoryWalk Series at Maudslay
“Summer’s Flight, Pollen’s Delight,” by Flora C. Caputo storywalk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
“Summer’s Flight, Pollen’s Delight,” by Flora C. Caputo is the subject of this STORYWALK Series. Enjoy this preschool storywalk at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time outside in nature!
Where: Maudslay State Park
7:00 am to 8:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

Take a hike along the Saugus River Estuary ande explore the Saugus Iron Works Park grounds in Massachusetts
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
♦ Read More →

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk
Maudslay in Bloom self guided walk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts.
Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts, offers a delightful self-guided walk that is perfect for families with children. The park's 480-acre expanse, once the Moseley Estate, is rich with historical charm and natural beauty. Families can embark on a self-guided tour through lush...
Where: Maudslay State Park
7:00 am to 7:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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 →
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