Self-Guided

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
Location: 
Destination Salem Visitors Center
Downtown Salem
Salem
Tour
Walk
History
Art
Maritime
Trails & Sails 2025
Self-Guided
Public Art

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 nineteenth-century gardens, scenic meadows, and towering pine forests.

When: 
Daily Dawn to Dusk through the Season 2025
Location: 
Maudslay State Park
Newburyport
Hike
Walk
Exploration
Conservation
Discovery
Self-Guided

Story Walk | This Is the Nest Robin Built

Kids will enjoy this self-guided story based tour of the Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts! Photo by Bill O'Connor

Enjoy a story, fresh air and exercise at Halibut Point State Park during February Vacation! Join us on the grounds of the for a self-guided StoryWalk® featuring the children’s picture book This is the Nest Robin Built, by Denise Fleming. Follow the path to book pages posted along the route. A wonderful story awaits! For kids aged 4-7 with adult.

When: 
Daily February 15-23, 2025 8am-3pm
Location: 
Halibut Point State Park
Rockport
Tour
History
Hike
Walk
Storytelling
Self-Guided
DCR
February Vacation

Self-guided Tours at Hammond Castle Museum

Take a self-guided tour of Hammond Castle in Gloucester as part of Trails and Sails!

Hammond Castle Museum was built in the 1920s by inventor John Hays Hammond, Jr. as a home for his extensive collection of medieval artifacts and his research laboratory.Guests may explore the breathtaking building and grounds of Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester and take a SELF-GUIDED tour offering new insight into the inventor that was one of the North Shore’s most dynamic residents. Guests should plan 60 minutes to explore the Museum. We look forward to your visit!

When: 
Tuesday, September 17, 2024 10am-3pm
Location: 
Hammond Castle Museum
Gloucester
Tour
Museum
Trails & Sails 2024
Self-Guided

Ghoulish Gardens at Stevens-Coolidge

Come to the Stevens-Coolidge Place Ghoulish Gardens in North Andover Massachusetts!

Join The Trustees of Reservations at the Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens for Halloween fun! The gardens have transformed in to our Ghoulish Gardens! Take a walk through the meadow to read our Story Stroll brought to you by the Stevens Memorial Library. Then, hunt down the hidden pumpkins throughout the rest of the property to win a prize at the end.

When: 
Thursday-Monday, October, 2023 10am-6pm
Location: 
Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens
North Andover
Garden
Fall
Tour
Autumn
Trustees of Reservations
Walk
Halloween
Story Walk
Self-Guided
Scavenger Hunt

Hike & Seek: Tales of Trees

Come enjoy enjoy a self-guided outdoor activity adventure at the Trustees of Reservations Stevens-Coolidge Place.

The Trustees wants to bring you closer to the fantastical elements of the forest with this self-guided outdoor trail bundle for use on the Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens property. Avoid the bugs and the crowds and get outside this winter to discover the hidden life of trees!

When: 
Daily through March 13, 2022 9am-5pm
Location: 
Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens
North Andover
Trustees of Reservations
Outdoor Activity
Scavenger Hunt
Hike
Walk
Self-Guided

Manchester 375th Scavenger Hunt

The Manchester Essex Conservation Trust Scavenger is a healthy challenge for the entire family!

—During the month of September explore conservation lands, learn a bit about Manchester’s history, and have some fun! Accept the challenge to visit multiple locations at surrounding conservation areas, learn some history and celebrate the 375th Anniversary of the founding of Manchester by the Sea! It's a healthy way for your family to engage with the beautiful habitats you can find on the North Shore.

When: 
Daily through September 30, 2021
Manchester
Hike
Walk
Trail
Scavenger Hunt
Self-Guided

Meet Cassie at Cape Ann Museum!

Meet Cassie the Sea Serpent at Cape Ann Museum during April Vacation Week

Take a break from the screen and come visit the Cape Ann Museum with your kids during April Vacation Week - Meet Cassie at the Cape ann Museum! Reserve a timed entrance for you and your family to follow the Museum's new family-friendly guide, Cassie the Sea Serpent, through the galleries. Inspired by the Cape Ann Sea Serpent, which was seen by hundreds in Gloucester Harbor between 1817-1819, Cassie poses questions and activities for students of all ages to engage with the collection. During April Vacation Week, all visitors will receive a free copy of Cassie’s Scavenger Hunt with activities and crayons included.

When: 
Thursday - Sunday, April 22 - 25, 2021 10am-3pm
Location: 
Cape Ann Museum
Gloucester
Museum
Self-Guided
Tour
Art

Autumn Feature Story Walk

Join DCR’s Autumn Feature StoryWalk® at Maudslay State Park, featuring One Small Place in a Tree, written by Barbara Brenner and illustrated by Tom Leonard

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!

When: 
Daily, October 1st - October 20, 2019
Location: 
Maudslay State Park
Newburyport
Outdoor Activity
Story
Self-Guided
Tour
Walk
Hike
Sports Camps, Speciality Camps, Day Camps in Danvers 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!
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 →

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

Pingree School in Hmailton Massachusetts hosts their annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture exhibit each Fall. Sculpture: Phoenix by Robin Tost.
Pingree School hosts the 16th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, Massachusetts .
Where: Pingree School
8:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Crescent Farm Corn Maze
Crescent Farm corn maze in Haverhill Massachusetts
Imagine the biggest puzzle you’ve ever seen. Now imagine a day in the sunshine with your friends or family. Now add an adventure that takes teamwork and memory skills. All these things and more can be found at Crescent Farms Corn Maze. Crescent Farm Corn Maze trails cut into 9 acres of corn. Inside...
Where: Crescent Farm
9:00 am to 9:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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....
Where: Downtown Salem
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Sing & Dance with the Music Man
Sing & Dance with the Music Man Brian Doser in Hamilton visit Massachusetts
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
♦ Read More →

Topsfield Fair
Topsfield Fair is one of the longest running annual fairs in the United States
The Topsfield Fair is a perennial favorite for us.  We're not the biggest fans of the midway, although it is always worth a walkthrough and a ride or two.  We love fruits and vegetables, and are always on the lookout for the winning 'biggest pumpkin'.  Another favorite is checking out the pigs and...
Where: Topsfield Fairgrounds
10:00 am to 10:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Tuesday, October 14

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 →

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 →

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

Pingree School in Hmailton Massachusetts hosts their annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture exhibit each Fall. Sculpture: Phoenix by Robin Tost.
Pingree School hosts the 16th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, Massachusetts .
Where: Pingree School
8:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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....
Where: Downtown Salem
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Crescent Farm Corn Maze
Crescent Farm corn maze in Haverhill Massachusetts
Imagine the biggest puzzle you’ve ever seen. Now imagine a day in the sunshine with your friends or family. Now add an adventure that takes teamwork and memory skills. All these things and more can be found at Crescent Farms Corn Maze. Crescent Farm Corn Maze trails cut into 9 acres of corn. Inside...
Where: Crescent Farm
9:00 am to 9:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Gloucester Gratis Days at Hammond Castle
Bring your kids to the Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts during April Vacation
In keeping with John Hays Hammond, Jr's original vision for his seaside castle-home to serve as a museum offering the Gloucester community access to ancient works of architectural art, Hammond Castle Museum will offer Gloucester residents free, self-guided tours each Tuesday throughout the regular...
Where: Hammond Castle Museum
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Wednesday, October 15

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 →

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 →

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

Pingree School in Hmailton Massachusetts hosts their annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture exhibit each Fall. Sculpture: Phoenix by Robin Tost.
Pingree School hosts the 16th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, Massachusetts .
Where: Pingree School
8:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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....
Where: Downtown Salem
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
♦ Read More →
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