Self-Guided

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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Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

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:

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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

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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

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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

Trustees of Reservations

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Trick or Treat Trail at Stevens-Coolidge

Come to the Stevens-Coolidge Place for trick or treating in North Andover Massachusetts!

Take a stroll through the Ghoulish Gardens and show off your costume before Halloween! We will have multiple stops throughout the property to trick-or-treat, including:

When:

Sunday, October 29, 2023 11am-2pm

Location:

Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens

Trustees of Reservations

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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

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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 375^th 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

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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:

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Autumn Feature Story Walk

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:

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Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts offers farm-based Summer Programs for kids ages 5-15

Today's Events
Upcoming Events

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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Christmas at Castle Hill | A Nod to Nature

Visiting Castle Hill at Christmas is a time-honored tradition. Don’t miss this year’s event celebrating the beauty of the natural world. You’ll see birds, flowers, snowflakes, and more as you view 18 spaces decorated for the holidays.

Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

10:00 am to 8:00 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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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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Winter Solstice Lantern Celebration

Celebrate the shortest day of the year and welcome the lengthening days ahead with a candlelit evening walk on the trails of the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. The evening will begin by making your own mason jar lantern in our cozy, heated barn while sanctuary naturalists share the science of...

Where: Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

4:00 pm to 6:00 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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Saturday, December 20

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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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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Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Where: Downtown Salem

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

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Christmas at Castle Hill | A Nod to Nature

Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

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

Where: Salem Trolley

2:00 pm to 9:30 pm

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Low-Sensory Play at North Shore Children's Museum

Join us for a low-sensory play session. For some children, visiting places like NSCM can be over-stimulating. This special play session will have reduced noise, crowds, and stimulation. While medical diagnosis is not required, we encourage that these limited tickets be used for families with a...

Where: North Shore Children's Museum

2:00 pm to 4:00 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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