Hike

Owl Prowl at Stevens-Coolidge

Come to the owl Prowl at the Stevens Coolidge Estate in North Andover, meet an owl and learn to spot them

Enjoy an evening out with the owls. This guided hike will begin in the Stevens-Coolidge Place parking lot located across the street from the property. As the day falls deeper into the night and new animals emerge as others retire, we will walk together through the property in search of screech owls and great horned owls. Flashlights strongly encouraged. Owl Prowls will be held rain, snow or moonshine. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.

When: 
Sunday, January 14, 2018 7-9pm

Making Tracks: Learning to Read Wildlife Clues

Kid will look for tracks and other signs of animals at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

If you have ever seen tracks in the snow, sand, or soil and were curious about what made them, then this is the program for you!  Refuge staff will lead you through the basics of identifying common animals through the clues that they leave behind.  A brief introduction to animal tracks and other sign in the visitor center classroom will be followed by a trip to the refuge where we will look for tracks and attempt to determine their owner’s identity.  

When: 
Sunday, January 21, 2018 10-11:30PM

Feed the Birds Storytime

Children and their caregivers are invited to spend a morning at the Stevens-Coolidge Place to enjoy a story and craft time focused on birds

Children and their caregivers are invited to spend a morning at the Stevens-Coolidge Place to enjoy a story and craft time focused on birds. Bird watching is enjoyable any time of year, but can be particularly rewarding in the winter if you've hung a homemade snack for the birds in your yard. So, join us this Wednesday morning to explore the world of birds around you through stories and a hands-on activity.

When: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2018 9:30-10:30am
Location: 

In With The New Hike

Snowy owls are just one of the surpises that you might find on the trails of the Crane Wildlife Refuge in Winter!

Welcome the New Year with a brisk hike through the Crane Wildlife Refuge! We’ll begin with a small fire on the beach – bring a slip of paper with regrets from the past year, and we’ll send them up in smoke. Then we’ll cleanse our psyches with a trek through the starkly beautiful landscape of the dunes; trails winding along the sandy hills, blood pumping, the smell of the sea in the air – what a perfect way to to enter into 2018! At hike’s end we’ll warm up with hot cider.

When: 
Monday, January 1, 2018 10am-Noon

Sense of Wonder Walk: Nut's About Squirrels

Learn about Squirrels at Mass Audubon's Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield Massachusetts. Photo ©Bill O'Connor

Squirrels are among the most engaging animals of the forest, dashing across logs and leaping from tree to tree. Except for the flying squirrel, they are active during the day, and one of the few wild animals you can actually observe up close. We’ll play some squirrely games and then take a walk to look for these charming bushy-tailed mammals. Bring binoculars if you have them.

When: 
Sunday, December 3, 2017 1:30-3pm

Shine A Light: A Family Night Hike

Join the Trustees on a night hike with your Family at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts

On this Friday before Thanksgiving, in the dark of the new moon, we’ll walk with tea lights (no open flames!) to illuminate our passage through the trails and along the rolling hills at the Crane Estate. While we walk, we’ll talk about the first Thanksgiving, and how giving thanks can make us appreciate all the good and wonder in our lives. You’ll be amazed at how fortunate you are when you stop taking things for granted! Come with an attitude of gratitude! Pre-registration is suggested.

When: 
Friday, November 17, 2017 7-9PM

Sense of Wonder Walk: Let's Talk Turkey

Learn about turkeys at Mass Audubon's Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield Massachusetts

Did you know that the wild turkey was Ben Franklin’s nominee for our national bird? Once driven nearly to extinction in much of the United States, the wild turkey has returned. Come learn about this large bird that represents our first American holiday, Thanksgiving. We’ll make a turkey craft and take a walk to catch, with luck, a glimpse of this elusive bird.

When: 
Sunday, January 12, 2017 1:30-3pm

Haunted Hike

Walk through the Crane Wildlife Refuge Ipswich Massachusetts with the Trustees of Reservations on Halloween!

Join The Trustees of Reservations for a harrowing Halloween Hike through the haunted trails of the Crane Wildlife Refuge! All Hallow’s Eve is a night when the creatures of the woods roam the paths and the dunes, silent and scary. Bring someone you can hold on to – and be prepared to hike through soft sand up and down hills for approximately 1.5 miles! We’ll finish our adventure with witches brew and pumpkin bread around a campfire on the beach.

When: 
Tuesday, October 31, 2017 7-9pm

Autumn Ramble

The Cedar Point Trail at the Crane Estate winds through varied terrain to the be

Come explore the Crane Estate trails in this season between the chaos of summer and the quiet of winter. We’ll take note of the ways nature gets ready to rest – the preparations that plants and animals make to survive the snowfall that will arrive in a matter of weeks. Bring your sharp senses and your skills of observation! This is an outdoor adventure for the whole family! We’ll end our ramble with a campfire and hot chocolate.

When: 
Sunday, November 12, 2017 1-3PM

Youth Excursions: Night Hike at Rough Meadows

Walk through the Rough Meadows in Rowley with Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Educators lit only by the full moon

Join Kirsten Lindquist on a nocturnal hike through Rough Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary in Rowley as "All Hallow's Eve" approaches on this kids-only adventure! We'll peek at the stars, learn about nocturnal animal adaptations, and see what kind of wildlife we can uncover. We'll cap off the evening with s'mores roasted over the firepit at Joppa Flats Education Center.

When: 
Friday, October 27, 2017 6-8:45 pm

Pages

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

Todd Farm Market

Come to Todd Farm on Sunday - A classic New England Fleas Market in Rowley Massachusetts!
From early Spring to late Fall, Todd Farm is a great Sunday destination for families!  Head to the farm and explore the outdoor award-winning Market featuring up to 240 vendors from all over New England and New York!
5:00 am to 3:00 pm

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!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

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.
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

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...
8:00 am to 10:00 pm

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 .
8:00 am to 6:00 pm

GNOCA 5K Run/Walk

GNOCA's 5K Run/Walk in Honor of Jackie Poor & Paula Holm is a 5k Run or Family Friendly Stroll through Scenic Newburyport starting & ending at Michael's Harborside. Tee Shirts will be given to the First 100 Registrants. All participating runners will be assigned numbers and timed. Great...
8:30 am to 1:00 pm

Rowley Farmers Market

Rowley Farmers Market - a seasonal open-air market every Sunday July-September on Rowley Common
The Rowley Farmers Market is an open air market held on Sundays on the Rowley Town Common.  There's always a great selection of fresh local produce, food stuffs and locally hand-made goods. Come pick up some great locally grown food, freshly baked bread by Faith Anne's Unique bread, specialty teas...
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

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....
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Newburyport Farmers' Market

Newburyport Farmers find organic locally grown produce, meat, dairy Newburyport
The Newburyport Farmers Summer Market celebrates local fresh produce every Sunday morning rain or shine!  Start your Sunday browsing fresh North Shore local produce, meats, cheeses, and seafood in an open air market atmosphere! Food and beverage vendors offer fresh hot coffee, breakfast treats and...
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

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...
9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Step Inside the Historic Custom House

Take in the views of this prominent building where Nathaniel Hawthorne once worked and the U.S. Custom Service operated. This Custom House was built in 1819 and housed offices for the officers of the U.S. Customs Service, as well as an attached warehouse, the Public Stores, used for the storage of...
9:30 am to 4:30 pm

Marini Farm Corn Maze

The 2025 Marini Farm Corn Maze in Ipswich Massachusetts is themed for The Wizard of Oz
Come to Marini Farm for a fun journey through our corn maze! The Maze Park, corn maze, farm stand, bakery and other attractions provide a great destination for kids birthday parties, school trips, corporate team building, scout outings, and family activities. Marini Farm is located in beautiful...
10:00 am to 10:00 pm

Ride the Rail Trail to New Hampshire

Bike the Rail Trail from the Merrimack river in Salisbury Massachusetts to the New Hampshire border.
Join us on a scenic bike ride starting at the Graf Rink lot on Low St. in Newburyport. We’ll go along the Clipper City Trail and it’s impressive trail art. We will then go over the Merrimac River to Salisbury, past salt marshes as we make our way to the NH border. Along the way, David Read will...
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Haunted Happenings Marketplace

The Haunted Happenings Marketplace runs Thursdays-Sundays during October in Salem Massachusetts
The Haunted Happenings Merchant Marketplace is coming this October! Get ready for a one-of-a-kind shopping extravaganza throughout Historic (and some say haunted) Downtown Salem!
10:00 am to 6:00 pm

North Andover Farmers' Market

North Andover Farmers Market every Sunday Through October 2, 2022
The North Andover Farmers Market is the perfect destination for anyone living in the Merrimack Valley or the North Shore to shop and enjoy locally-sourced products. The market will take place in the center of town at the intersection of First Street and Main Street. The market has become known for...
10:00 am to 1:00 pm

CoastSweep: Stage Fort Park

Damaged and lost fishing gear is a major source of coastal trash, like this lobster pot washed onto the shore by a storm. CoastSweep Cleanup Gloucester Massachusetts
As part of COASTSWEEP Beach Cleanup, volunteers are encouraged to come to Stage Fort Park to help in the statewide effort to keep our coastline clean along the
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

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.
11:00 am

COASTSWEEP Cleanup | Short Beach Nahant

CoastSweep shoreline beach cleanup at Short Beach in Nahant, Massachusetts!
As part of COASTSWEEP Beach Cleanup, volunteers are encouraged to come to Short Beach, Nahant (located opposite the corner of Nahant Road and Castle Road) to help in the statewide effort to keep our coastline clean along the shore in Lynn and Nahant Massachusetts. Special two hour permits will be...
11:00 am

Vintage BaseBall at Spencer-Peirce Little Farm

Come see how baseball used to be played at Spencer Pierce Little Farm. Photo: Matthew Muise Photography
It’s Base Ball, 1864 style at Spencer Peirce Little Farm! These fun, historically accurate games feature underhand pitching and no gloves are allowed. A ball bounced once and caught is an out! Snacks, baseballs, and cards are available for purchase. Come and see for yourself how this game was...
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Brocklebank Museum Open House

Explore the Brocklebank Museum in Georgetown Massachusetts as part of Trails and Sails!
Visit the Brocklebank Museum, built in the late 1600s, with ties to the abolitionist movement and the famous Beecher family. tep back in time to the birth of our Nation. The Revolutionary War era in Essex County. Stop by and visit the Georgetown Historical Society in our tavern room at the...
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Step Aboard the Friendship of Salem

Permission to come aboard the Friendship of Salem is granted at Derby Wharf in Salem Massachusetts!
Explore the FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM, a replica tall ship based on a 1796 Salem vessel at Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
1:30 pm to 4:30 pm

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.
2:00 pm

Nice n' Easy Hike at Maudslay State Park

Take a nice n' easy stroll at Muadslay State Park with your family in Newburyport Massachusetts!
Take a nice n' easy stroll at Bradley Palmer State Park with your family! Join the park interpreter for a basic recreational hike to explore the diverse landscape on a variety of trails through different areas of the park. For all ages.
2:00 pm

Sunday STEAM Club at North Shore Children's Museum

Visit Peabody MA, NorthShore, North Shore Children's Museum
Join in on Sundays at 2:30 for STEAM Club for ages 5-11. Each week participants will explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math with our NSCM staff! Every STEAM club session will see your kids participating in hands-on activities while exploring a new topic. Space is limited, please...
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm

Paddle Around Historic Rockport Harbor

Paddle around Rockport Massachusetts Harbor for FREE as part of Trails and Sails
Come join North Shore Adventures and Outdoor Center for some fun on the water! No experience necessary. Depart from our private beach in one of our safe, stable kayaks or paddle boards and paddle around the historic Rockport Harbor for 30 mins. See lobster boats, Motif #1, the Rockport Break water...
10:30 pm

Trails & Sails

Explore the North Shore with over 150 Free Events in Essex National Heritage Area's Trails & Sails celebration in Massachusetts.
Essex National Heritage Area sites will offer over 150 free family fun events from September 14-29, 2024 for the annual celebration of TRAILS & SAILS. Discover special places in your backyard and be guided through unique landscapes on land and sea, explore historic properties, and take in...
7:00 am to 10:00 pm

Wednesday, October 8

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.
11:00 am

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.
2:00 pm

The Backyard Growcery

Join Backyard Growers at Burnham's Field in Gloucester Massachusetts for a weekly Farmer's Market
Stop by Gloucester’s new weekly farmers market, the Backyard Growcery, managed by Backyard Growers. The Backyard Growcery is located at Burnham's Field, an urban park near Gloucester’s thriving waterfront, and features small-scale North Shore farmers, bakers, a seafood vendor, an artisanal pizza...
2:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Topsfield HomeGrown Market

Come to Topsfield Massachusetts Common for a homegrown market on the Wednesdays through July
The mission of the HomeGrown Market is to provide the Topsfield community with a series of family-friendly events that emphasize supporting local and offer the opportunity for Topsfield and surrounding North Shore farmers, gardeners, artisans, creators, performers, musicians, nonprofits, young...
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Halloween on the Hill

The Trustees host a celebration of Autumn and Halloween at Long Hill Sedgewick Gardens in Beverly Massachusetts
The Trustees of Reservations invite you to tour the gardens at Long Hill Gardens in Beverly, Massachusetts to celebrate Autumn and Halloween! Long Hill is excited to bring back our annual Halloween on the Hill event! Come explore our beautiful property as we transform the Long Hill gardens into a...
5:00 pm to 8:30 pm

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
7:00 pm

Thursday, October 9

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.
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

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!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

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 .
8:00 am to 6:00 pm

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....
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Subscribe to Hike