Walk

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

Read more about The Lady of Salem: Maritime Art

Discover the Highest Point on the Essex Seacoast!

Take a Trails & Sails hike to the top of Powow Hill in Amesbury Massachusetts!

Come join Amesbury Trails for a guided hikeup Powow Hill, at the summit of the highest peak on the Essex County Seacoast! This narrated hike will include the historical background of the area and descriptions of the features and landscapes encountered along the hike. Enjoy exploring a variety of biomes as we climb from the edge of Lake Gardner, through wetlands, hardwood and pine forest to reach the highest point on the Essex Seacoast – Powow Hill! Views of three states and the Isles of Shoals await us as we visit Batchelder Park on the summit, established 100 years ago!

When:

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 10-11:30am

Location:

Read more about Discover the Highest Point on the Essex Seacoast!

Half Marathon by the Sea

Named for the host community of Manchester-by-the-Sea, the race provides scenic views. Race through the historic and charming downtown and past the pristine fresh water lakes in nearby Hamilton, MA.

When:

Sunday, September 14, 2025 9:45am

Location:

Manchester Essex Regional High School

Read more about Half Marathon by the Sea

Happy as a Clam 5k & Kid Fun Run

The Happy as a Clam Road Race invites children and families to race in Essex

The 15th Happy as a Clam 5k Race, Walk and Fun Dashes - powered by Great Marsh Brew Co, our exclusive Flagship Sponsor - is Friday, September 15, 2023! This event is open to anyone who wants to support a community school and all the wonderful enrichment programs the students hope to enjoy throughout the year. The 5K route meanders through the beautiful back roads of Essex. The Kids' Fun Dashes are always a hit, with even the littlest ones smiling from start to finish. Come out, lace up, and pound the pavement for the students of EES. It's sure to be another fun race this year!

When:

Friday, September 12, 2025 5pm

Location:

Essex Elementary School

Read more about Happy as a Clam 5k & Kid Fun Run

Long Hill Garden Tours

Tour the Gardens at the Trustees of Reservations Long Hill Gardens in Beverly, Massachusetts!

The Trustees of Reservations invite you to join our expert guides for a tour around Long Hill’s stunning Sedgwick Gardens and learn more about the special plants. Visit Long Hill’s breathtaking gardens and stately historic house for a guided tour. Enjoy the rich history of this grand country estate, home of the Sedgwick family, as you learn about the elegant lifestyle of wealthy Bostonians on the North Shore, and the artisans who created it. The tour takes you through the Federal-style house and the spectacular gardens, with terraces, statues, fountains, and pagodas, each section filled with unique perennial flowers from around the world. Highlights of the tour include a room filled with stunning 19th century Chinese wallpaper, the evolution of the stunning Sedgwick gardens, and the hidden connection between the house and an old Southern antebellum mansion.

When:

Saturdays & Sundays, April 12 - September 21, 2025 11am-Noon

No Tours: April 20, May 10 & July 26

Location:

Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens

Trustees of Reservations

Read more about Long Hill Garden Tours

StoryWalk Series at Maudslay

“Magnificent Monarchs” by Linda Glaser Storywalk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts

Enjoy this pre-school StoryWalk® at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time in nature! “Magnificent Monarchs” by Linda Glaser is featured in this StoryWalk Series. Younger kids will love this gentle, richly illustrated children’s nonfiction book aimed at preschool–third grade readers. It explores the life cycle, physical traits, and behaviors of the monarch butterfly in clear, simple language accompanied by vibrant, full-color drawings

When:

Daily during park hours through September 2, 2025

Location:

Read more about StoryWalk Series at Maudslay

Beverly Commons Walking Tour

Learn about the area once called the "witches' woods" while enjoying forrested greenery in Beverly Massachusetts.

Beverly Commons, once part of a colonial-era common land, was known as Sheep Pasture. This area holds great stories of the past. Join us for a walk into history as we explore this wooded area and discover the stories hidden inside including that of an early 20th century immigrant settlement and the tale of Witches Woods. We will also discuss the general uses of common land in the city including that of pasturing and military training grounds. Tour is 2 miles.

When:

Saturday, August 9, 2025 2-3:30pm

Location:

Beverly Commons Conservation Area

Read more about Beverly Commons Walking Tour

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:

Read more about Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

CraneOutdoors: Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure

Take a guided kayak paddle and hike to Choate Island with the Trustees of Reservations!

Join The Trustees of Reservations for a paddle and a hike – what better way to spend an afternoon? Kayaking the pristine, sheltered waters of the Essex River Basin offers one of the top on-the-water experiences to be had in Northeast. Add to that a hike on the area’s largest island and you have the makings of an epic adventure. This combined outdoor trip in the Crane Wildlife Refuge—home to myriad birds and mammals including egrets, herons, deer, and coyote—offers an opportunity to fully experience all this beautiful area has to offer.

When:

Sunday & Monday May 25 & 26, 2025

Saturdays, May 31 - August 30, 2025 1-4:30pm

Sundays, June 15 - August 31, 2025 1-4:30pm

No session: June 14, 21 & 28, July 13 & 27, August 16

Location:

Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate

Trustees of Reservations

Kayak

Boat

Read more about CraneOutdoors: Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure

Firefly Foray

Come Explore Maudslay State Park on a Firefly Expedition in Newburyport Massachusetts!

You’ve always wanted to know about those flashing insects who come out at night. Here’s your chance! Learn about the life of a firefly, then go on a walk to observe firefly behavior and see them close up. Bring a net or jar to catch (and release) fireflies.

When:

Fridays, June 20 & 27, 2025 8:30-9:30pm

Saturdays, July 21 & 28, 2025 8:30-9:30pm

Location:

Read more about Firefly Foray

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 →

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 →

Sunday, November 23

Family & Friends CPR Course

It is only a matter of a few short minutes before it is too late to save a life … learning what to do provides you precious minutes and gives someone a chance to survive. The Family & Friends CPR Course teaches the lifesaving skills of child CPR with breaths, child AED use, infant CPR, and m

Where: Beverly Hospital

10:00 am to 12:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Essex Turkey Trot 5K Race & Fun Walk

The Essex Lion's Club hosts the annual turkey trot in beautiful Essex Massachusetts!

Where: Downtown Essex

10:00 am to 1:00 pm

♦ Read More →

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

♦ Read More →

Swampscott Thanksgiving Farmer's Market

The outdoor markets are done for the season but we will have one last indoor Thanksgiving Market on Sunday, November 19th at Swampscott High School Cafe. Stock up with fresh produce for your Thanksgiving table and get your Christmas shopping started early with our crafters!

Where: Swampscott High School

10:00 am to 1:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Sea Festival of Trees | Sundays

The Seacoast’s most magical holiday tradition is back! The 13th Annual SeaFestival of Trees opens Saturday, November 22 at the Blue Ocean Event Center in Salisbury, transforming the oceanfront venue into a sparkling winter wonderland of more than 145 themed trees, a giant sand sculpture, Santa’s...

Where: Blue Ocean Music Hall

11:00 am to 5:00 pm

♦ Read More →

DIY Holiday Centerpieces | Camp Kent

Join us at Camp Kent for a DIY holiday centerpiece event! We will be collecting materials from our gardens and the forest, as we prepare for the festivities to come. Each family will receive a beautiful glass jar, as well as a chopped and stained, wooden disk to accent the arrangement. There will...

Where: Camp Kent Envrionmental Center

12:00 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 →