Favorite North Shore Stops

Photo: alans1948

The North Shore is a great place to get out and explore, and that means plenty of fun stops along the way. Here are just a few of our favorites:

Appleton Farms- Ipswich

Appleton Farms in Ipswich is one of the nation’s oldest continually working farms. Spread out across more than 1,000 acres, it’s a fun place to do some hiking on its walking trails, or take in the visitor’s center, which is actually the farm’s “Old House” and partially dates back to the 1600s. The farm is open every day of the week from sunrise to sunset for a small vehicle admission fee.

Rocky Neck Art Colony- Gloucester

From farming to the arts, Rocky Neck Art Colony in Gloucester is one of the nation’s oldest active art colonies. It’s been a popular spot for artists and visitors for more than a century. If you want to stroll through some local galleries, Rocky Neck Art Colony is a good place to start.

Good Harbor Beach- Gloucester

Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester is a fun place to watch the waves crashing into the rocks, or simply relax out on the sand. During low tide, you can sometimes walk to Salt Island. The public beach has restrooms and concessions, too. If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you can do some body surfing or boogie boarding at the beach.

Salisbury Beach State Reservation- Salisbury

Salisbury Beach State Reservation has two boat ramps on the Merrimack River and almost four miles of coastline. It’s a good spot for kayaking, boating, canoeing, or fishing. You’ll also likely see people out on the nature trail, walking the boardwalk, or enjoying a picnic.

Stone Tower-Lynn Woods

The old Stone Tower in Lynn Woods sits at the top of Burrill Hill and is the highest point in Lynn. Originally constructed as a fire observation tower in the 1930s, the tower is a great place to take in some sweeping views of the nearby waterfront and even the Boston skyline.