Massachusetts - North of Boston/Merrimack Valley

Ten Great Things to Do in North of Boston/Salem/Cape Ann Massachusetts

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Living History of the Mills

The social and industrial history of Lawrence and its mill communities is on display at Lawrence Heritage State Park on Jackson Street. This restored boarding house is filled with interactive exhibits of the stories of Lawrence, including the 1912 Bread and Roses Strike. Take a walk along the esplanade of a 19th century canal leading to a park within the walls of a former mill building.

Motherlode for Stocking Stuffers

The old-style 5 & 10 cent store (also called the Five-&-Dime) where you could find anything – much of it in hand-labeled bins – is alive and beloved at 106 Commonwealth Avenue in West Concord at the West Concord Five & Ten. You name it; they’ve got it: hardware, stationary, toys, baby supplies, kitchen ware, puzzles, board games, crafts, stuffed animals, greeting cards, oil lamp supplies, hooks, picture hangers, velcro, ribbon, zippers, shoe laces, mirrors, locks, batteries, keys, even the plastic doo-hickey at the bottom of the window shade (!!!). People well into the 70s come in and say the store hasn’t changed since they were kids. Scoop up a pile of nickels and dimes and get over there.

Outdoor Fun in All Weathers

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Hopkinton State Park and Reservoir on Route 185 / Cedar Street in the towns of Hopkinton and Ashland, offer year-round recreational activities, including boating, hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. There are miles of marked trails, open field space, and a concrete boat ramp for non-motorized vessels. Phone: 508-435-4303

Door-to-Door Antiques

With about three dozen antique shops, the lovely coastal community of Essex is a haven for people who have a yen to find things old, beautiful, and unique. Expert and novice antique-lovers are equally welcome. Most shops are in walking distance of each other and open daily. In particular, aim for Route 133 through town and Route 97 a scenic byway.

Easel Optional

Visit the beautiful seaside village of Rockport and Motif #1, a red fishing shack nearly covered with fishing buoys at Bearskin Neck in Rockport. The shack is one of the most painted and photographed scenes in the United States because of its beauty, composition, and lighting. Bring your appreciation; camera or paintbrushes are optional.

Essex Shipbuilding Museum Shows History of This Ancient Art

A visit to the Essex Shipbuilding Museum is a wonderful way to become immersed in the ship-building history and culture of northern New England. The museum tells the extraordinary story of a small New England village that built more two-masted wooden fishing schooners than any other place in the world. Exhibits and archives of the Essex Shipbuilding Museum are housed in the old Essex Central School House which was built in 1835. Features include antique shipbuilding tools, photographs, documents, and exhibits portraying the shipbuilding industry. Tours include video presentations and hands-on activities. A gift shop offers ship plans, maritime books, and other nautical memorabilia. Phone: 978-768-7541.

Go Find the Green in the Winter Months

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Here’s is a fast and accessible treatment for the winter blahs: a visit to the Lyman Estate Greenhouses on Lyman Street in Waltham. The historic greenhouses provide a flowery paradise year-round. In particular, the century-old Camellia collection brightens midwinter days with exquisite red, pink, and white flowers. Each generation of the Lyman family added its touch through the addition of the Camellia greenhouse in 1820, the orchid greenhouse in 1840, and the area now enclosing the greenhouse shop in 1930. The orchid house is home to thousands of beautiful orchids from all over the world. This is also the place to gift-shop for the gardener in your life. The gift shop sells historical gardening books, brass sundials, sachets, orchid accessories, pottery, rustic twig furniture, and more. Open Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., year round. Phone: 781-891-4882 ext. 244.

Hidden Art Gems

Start at Abbot Hall in downtown Marblehead to see the original painting of “The Spirit of 76”, then take in J.O.J. Frost’s Folk Art at the “Marblehead Museum & Historical Society. Maritime masters can be found at Salem’s Kensington-Stobart Gallery in the Hawthorne Hotel. The changing exhibitions at Montserrat College of Art feature up-and-comers.

216 Years of Wooden Boat History

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Lowell’s Boat Shop in Amesbury, now in its 216th year of operation, is a National Historical Landmark and working museum dedicated to preserving the art of wooden boat building. Lowell’s continues to build dories and skiffs in the time-honored tradition of seven generations of the Lowell family. Within these buildings, remnants of past work -- ancient ship’s knees, support beams, and two centuries of accumulated paint -- speak volumes of the rich history of the wooden boat industry. The oldest buildings are Greek Revival structures built in the 1860s. Branded into the wood of one cross-beam are annual production figures from 1897 through 1919, showing that an astonishing 2,029 boats were built here by hand in 1911 alone. This remarkable boat shop stands as an icon of New England ingenuity and integrity. Visitors are welcome Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. Phone: 978-834-0050

American Textile History Museum Reopens
With Textiles of the Past and the Future

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After more than a year of major renovations, the American Textile History Museum on Dutton Street in Lowell reopened in May 2009 with an entirely new and interactive experience for people of all ages. The museum tells America’s story through the art, history, and science of textiles. In the museum’s new exhibit – Textile Revolution: An Exploration through Space and Time - visitors will explore the fascinating world of textiles in a fun, hands on environment where they will spin, weave, recycle, and design their way through textile history. Beginning at a replica of a Savannah, Georgia-style warehouse, visitors will explore the textile story chronologically from the pre-industrial era to the important role textiles play in revolutionizing our lives through current scientific applications. American Textile History Museum holds one of the world’s largest and most important publicly held collections of tools, spinning wheels, hand looms, and early production machines. The Museum's textile collections include more than five million pieces of textile prints, fabric samples, rolled textiles coverlets, and costumes. Open year-round. Phone: 978-441-0400.

Artist Colony Is Alive and Vibrant
In This Corner of Gloucester

Rocky Neck Art Colony in Gloucester is the oldest working art colony in the country, and has been luring artists to its picturesque shores for more than 150 years. Today the area is still home to many working artists and to galleries showing paintings in all media, as well as batik, photography, jewelry, prints, sculpture, ceramics, and fine gifts. A convenient walking tour of Rocky Neck, along East Main Street, includes information about three dozen galleries and studios on the Neck. In addition to viewing the arts, visitors may take part in special events or dine at restaurants that feature fine food and fabulous views. A new book about the artists and history of the region, titled Rocky Neck Art Colony 1850-1950, by Judith Curtis, is available

Arts and Crafts Rabbit Still Charms Us

The Arts and Crafts decorative art movement flourished in this country from about 1880 to 1920, but one of its signature designs – and a particularly loveable one, at that – is the Dedham Rabbit produced by the Dedham Pottery Company. Reproductions of the famed Rabbit and other Dedham Pottery – highly prized by collectors and museums -- can be found at The Potting Shed on Bradford Street in Concord.

Beaches Are Beautiful in the Brisker Months

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Here’s a useful tip: Providing you are bundled warmly, fall and winter are excellent times for visiting the beautiful beaches of New England. Crowds are gone; colors of sky and sea dazzle the eye; strolling is fun; and the birds and harbor seals are out and frisky. Salisbury Beach State Reservation on Beach Road in Salisbury is a 521-acre park that stretches 3.8 miles along the Atlantic. In the fall and winter, harbor seals often sun themselves on the jetty. The town of Salisbury has many fun activities to offer for kids of all ages; with a large amusement park and video arcades. For the hearty, off-season camping is available from mid-October to late November for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night stays. Phone: 978 462-4481.

Beacons on Duty

The lighthouses of Cape Ann still serve as safety beacons for sailors, but in the present time they have become a joy and fascination for landside visitors, too. In Cape Ann alone, there are six lighthouses: “Annisquam Light, “Straitsmouth, “the Twin Lights of Thacher Island , “Ten Pound Island Light, and “Eastern Point Light

Bounty from the Sea Trade
on Display at Phillips House

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Located on picturesque Chestnut Street in Salem, the Phillips House , a this Federal-style mansion, contains a family collection that spans five generations. Enjoy artifacts from near and far, hear the stories of the Phillips family, and experience more than 200 years of history in the New England tradition. The house contains an authentic collection of five generations of family furnishings. Representative of the Phillips's extensive travels and interests, the collection includes artifacts as diverse as Fiji throwing clubs and African woodcarvings, as well as fine examples of early American furniture, Persian carpets, and an extensive collection of export porcelain. Hours: June through October, Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; November through May, Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Phone: 978-744-0440.

Revolution Is Born

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On April 19, 1775, the American Revolution began at Lexington and Concord with a clash of arms known to history as "the shot heard round the world." At Minute Man National Historical Park on North Great Road in Lincoln, the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and witness the American revolutionary spirit through the writings of the Concord authors. The park grounds are open sunrises to sunset and gates close at sunset. Visitor centers and Hartwell Tavern are open through November 1. Phone: 978-369-6993

Sculpture Under the Sky

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Located in the home of Julian de Cordova, a turn-of-the-century merchant, world traveler, and art collector, the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park on Sandy Pond Road in Lincoln focuses on contemporary and modern art by regional and national artists. On the grounds is a magnificent 35-acre site sculpture park with nearly 80 modern and contemporary works by nationally recognized sculptors. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays. Phone: 781-259-8355