Cruise

Fall Foliage Cider & Donut Cruises

Essex River Cruises hosts a narrated sightseeing tour that winds down the beautiful Essex River aboard Essex River Queen, a pontoon boat. We’ll cruise up close to Hog/Choate Island to get a view of the area's magnificent dark spruce forest. See the leaves change into brilliant hues of yellow and orange. Enjoy complimentary hot cider and donuts from Russell Orchard of Ipswich. Don’t miss this magnificent opportunity to view some of New England’s most spectacular fall foliage.

When:

Saturdays & Sundays through October 2025 1-3 pm

Monday, October 13, 2025 1-3pm

Location:

Essex River Cruises & Charters

Read more about Fall Foliage Cider & Donut Cruises

Santa at Sea Cruise

Sail with Santa aboard the Beauport Princess on the water of Gloucester Harbor in Massachusetts

Enjoy a holiday harbor cruise aboard Beauport Cruiselines with Santa! Take in the beautiful views of Gloucester Harbor, all while singing holiday carols with elves, enjoying hot cocoa and cookies, and listening to a reading of “The Night Before Christmas.” Plus, a visit from Santa himself! Tickets include hot cocoa, cookies, and a picture with Santa. A Cash bar will be available. Two 90 Minute cruises are offered.

When:

Sunday, December 15, 2024 11am or 2pm

Location:

Cruiseport Gloucester

Read more about Santa at Sea Cruise

Kids Sail Free on Schooner Adventure!

Schooner Adventure in Gloucester Massachusetts announces free sailing for kids in 2022!

Schooner Adventure in Gloucester Massachusetts offers free sailing for kids in 2024!* Sail into history on Gloucester's flagship vessel, a National Historic Landmark and icon of the American fisheries. Enjoy an engaging sail on historic Gloucester Harbor, America's oldest fishing port. Help the crew raise the sails, take a turn at the helm, learn about Adventure's legacy and restoration, or sit back and enjoy the iconic sites of Gloucester Harbor.

When:

Fridays July 5, 12 & 19, 2024 Times Vary - Check Calendar

Sundays through June 30 - July 21, 2024 Times Vary - Check Calendar

Location:

Read more about Kids Sail Free on Schooner Adventure!

On-the-River Cruise for Families

Explore the lower Merrimack River ecosystem with Lisa Hutchings from Joppa Flats Education Center and the crew of the Yankee Clipper

Join Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center on a On-the-River Science cruise aboard Newburyport Harbor Tours Inc.'s Yankee Clipper through the Merrimack River Estuary! Teacher Naturalist, Lisa Hutchings and the crew of the Yankee Clipper will guide a unique cruise where participants will do some birdwatching, examine marine plankton, and investigate tide pool touch tubs on every trip. Enjoy cruising and learning about this vital part of the area's natural history.

When:

Saturday, June 22, 2024 8:45-10:45am

Saturday, July 13, 2024 8:45-10:45am

Location:

Newburyport Harbor Tours

Read more about On-the-River Cruise for Families

Salt Marsh Boat Tour with Parker River NWR

Learn how Plum Island and the Great Marsh were formed and how important they are on this boat tour of the estuary.

Pristine beauty, wide open space, gorgeous views, and the chance to float up and down the peaceful, winding creeks of the world's second most productive ecosystem. Learn how Plum Island and the Great Marsh were formed and how important they are. Boat tours are offered through a private outfitter. More information can be found by visiting the Yankee Clipper Harbor Tours website or by sending an email to info@harbortours.com

When:

Saturday, June 8, 2024 11:30am-1:30pm

Thursday, June 21, 2024 10:30-12:30pm

Location:

Newburyport Harbor Tours

Read more about Salt Marsh Boat Tour with Parker River NWR

Haunted Harbor Cruise

Come learn about the haunted happenings of Salem Sound on this 1½ hour cruise.

Mahi Cruises & Charters invites you to a unique cruise in Salem Massachusetts! The fabled coastlines of Salem sound come alive with tales of haunted lighthouses, eerie islands, ruthless pirates, and living monsters who wreak havoc on passing ships to this very day! This spook-tacular 75-minute cruises screams Haunted Happenings Fun day or night…

When:

Thursdays-Sundays through October Times Vary

Mondays, October 9 & 30, 2023 Times Vary

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Times Vary

Location:

Mahi Cruises & Charters

Read more about Haunted Harbor Cruise

Lighthouse & Foliage Cruise

See North Shore Fall Foliage from the water on this lighthouse tour!

Mahi Cruises & Charters invites you to take in the changing colors of fall by boat on a cruise out of Salem Massachusetts Harbor. Passengers will visit out five historic lighthouses during this 14-mile harbor loop through Beverly, Manchester, Salem & Marblehead. This 1 hour 45 minute tour gets you up close to view the lighthouses from the water, and gives you a brand new perspective on the splendor of the North Shore's changing fall foliage.

When:

Fridays-Sundays through October 10:30am-Noon

Thursdays through October 12:30-2pm

Mondays, October 9 & 30, 2023 12:30-2pm

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 12:30-2pm

Location:

Mahi Cruises & Charters

Read more about Lighthouse & Foliage Cruise

Winter Birding Boat Trip

Learn about sea birds With 7 Seas Whale Watch out of Gloucester, Massachusetts!

Cape Ann is known worldwide for its exciting concentrations of winter seabirds. Thousands of birders visit the rugged coast of Cape Ann and scan the adjacent waters hoping to spot some of the unusual and highly sought-after seabirds that spend the winter months just offshore. The best way to get to see these birds and experience them up close is to visit them in their natural habitat- on the ocean!

When:

Saturday, March 25, 2023 8am-1pm

Location:

Seven Seas Whale Watch

Read more about Winter Birding Boat Trip

Fathers Day on Beauport Princess!

Take dad on a cruise on Gloucester Harbor aboard Beauport Princess!

Take a tour aboard the beautiful Beauport Princess Cruiseline on Gloucester Harbor ith Dad this Father's Day! Create a memory of a lifetime for your Dad by surprising him with tickets to our Father's Day Lunch Cruise. Enjoy Gloucester Harbor while dining on a delicious feast, all while being entertained by our DJ! After your meal, walk the decks and have a seat in our top deck lounge and enjoy the views. Your Dad will love it!

When:

Sunday, June 20, 2021 6-9pm

Location:

Cruiseport Gloucester

Read more about Fathers Day on Beauport Princess!

Shorebird Science Cruise

Cranes are just one of the types of shore birds that you'll see on this cruise

Lisa Hutchings Teacher-Naturalist from Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center and the crew of Newburyport Harbor Tours Inc.'s Yankee Clipper invite you and your family for an exciting exploration of the lower Merrimack River ecosystem.

When:

Saturday, August 17, 2019 8:45 am-10:45 am

Location:

Newburyport Harbor Tours

Read more about Shorebird Science Cruise

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

♦ Read More →

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

♦ Read More →

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

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

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 →

Marblehead Farmers' Market

The Marblehead Farmer's Market boasts 15+ local farms, and booths with an educational spin nutrition, vendors and farms selling homemade prepared goods and craft vendors that are switched up in a rotation basis week to week. Additionally there are entertainers and exhibits by environmentally...

Where: Marblehead Farmers' Market

9:00 am to 12:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Music and Movement at North Shore Children's Museum

Music and Movement with Marybeth Maes is an engaging music and movement class for young children at the North Shore Children's Museum. Marybeth brings her guitar and instruments for the children to use while they sing, dance, and play.

Where: North Shore Children's Museum

10:00 am to 11:00 am

♦ Read More →

Kimball Farm Corn Maze

At the Kimball Farm Corn Maze all are welcome to come and enjoy the challenge of finding your way through the winding corn field maze. Our originally designed CORN MAZE is full of Crazy angles and is sure to be a fun challenge. Have no fear, there will be clues along the way. Be daring and try...

Where: Kimball Farm Corn Maze

10:00 am to 9:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Harvest Market at Appleton Farms

Join us in a celebration of the Harvest season at our annual Harvest Market! Our Harvest Market features a bounty of Appleton’s organic produce accompanied by other local edibles & gifts from area artisans, crafters, and producers of fine foods. The Appleton culinary team will also have sweet...

Where: Appleton Farms

12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Fall Foliage Cider & Donut Cruises

Essex River Cruises hosts a narrated sightseeing tour that winds down the beautiful Essex River aboard Essex River Queen, a pontoon boat.

Where: Essex River Cruises & Charters

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Sunday, November 2

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

♦ Read More →

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

♦ Read More →

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

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 →

Newburyport Farmers' Market

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...

Where: Tannery Marketplace

9:00 am to 1:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Where: Downtown Salem

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Kimball Farm Corn Maze

Where: Kimball Farm Corn Maze

10:00 am to 9:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Fall Foliage Cider & Donut Cruises

Essex River Cruises hosts a narrated sightseeing tour that winds down the beautiful Essex River aboard Essex River Queen, a pontoon boat.

Where: Essex River Cruises & Charters

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

♦ Read More →

CraneOutdoors: Castle Neck Hike in the Dunes

While just about everybody on the North Shore has probably been to Crane Beach, the dunes of Castle Neck are a much less explored world unto themselves. Offering one of the most accessible dune ecosystems north of Cape Cod, Castle Neck has over six miles of trails, traversing the dunes, maritime...

Where: Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate

1:00 pm to 3:30 pm

♦ Read More →

Sunday STEAM Club at 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...

Where: North Shore Children's Museum

2:30 pm to 4:00 pm

♦ Read More →