Beach

Chandler Hovey Park

Chandler Hovey Park, also known as Lighthouse Point, is located at the end of Follett Street, off Ocean Avenue on Marblehead Neck. The 3.74 acre park overlooks the mouth of the harbor and the shorelines of Beverly and Manchester-By-The-Sea and offers pavilions, benches. picnic tables, restrooms, swimming and parking. Originally owned by the U.S. government, it was purchased in 1948 by Marblehead resident Chandler Hovey, who donated it to the town.

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Park
Beach
Picnic Area

North Shore Playgrounds

Sometimes when you're on the go, and things are getting hectic, it's great to be able to pull over and let the kids decompress at a playground.  We have compiled a list of alot (but not all) of the playgrounds on the North Shore.  We like to visit the different ones on our routes around Essex county, and compare them.  If we see one we haven't been to, we'll stop and give it a try. Have a look, explore and discover the North Shore through a playground tour!

Locations
Beaches
Beach

North Shore Trails

Enjoy a hike on one of the many trails on the North Shore of Boston Massachusetts!

The North Shore has many miles of trails over all kinds of terrain.  Hike in the forest, through moraine boulder feilds, over dunes, and through varied habitats that offer many different kinds of flora and fauna. It's not just about hiking either - many trails are accessible to cross country skiers, showshoe enthusiast and mountain bikers too. Check out our complete list of places hike, run and walk on the North Shore, and discover the unique beauty of this wonderful part of Massachusetts!

Locations
Beaches
Beach

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Carousel at Salisbury Beach MA. Parties, Family Reunions, Weddings, Showers, Birthday Parties

Breakfast with Santa
Kids will enjoy breakfast with Santa at the Hamilton Wenham Community House
The Community House is bringing back this holiday favorite! Come and enjoy breakfast or brunch, visit Santa, and get your picture taken. Children under age 2 are FREE! Sensory-friendly options are available. This is a “A Charlie Brown Christmas” themed event!
Where: Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham
7:30 am to 1:30 pm
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Middle Street Walk 2023
The lighting of the Lobster Trap Tree is part of Middle Street Walk's finale in Gloucester Massachusetts.
The Annual Middle Street Walk is a great way to experience Gloucester's Historic District while having Holiday fun with the family. An updated schedule of this years walk will be available for download on December 1, 2023 at this link.
Where: Downtown Gloucester
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
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Winter Waterfowl Bird Watching
Join Salem Sound Coastwatch for a for a birding session at Winter Island in Salem Massachusetts
Join Salem Sound Coastwatch for this opportunity to view and learn about the many interesting waterfowl, ducks, and geese that winter over in Salem Sound’s coastal waters. Experienced birders will set up spotting scopes, help you identify the birds, and answer questions.
Where: Winter Island Maritime Park
9:00 am to 10:00 am
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Santa at Salem Common
Come visit Santa at Salem Common in Massachusetts for a free photoshoot with your phone or camera!
Santa will be visiting the Salem Common Gazebo on Saturday, December 9th from 9:00am -12:00pm.  This event will give families the opportunity to have their picture taken with Santa and pre-bagged treats will be available for the kids.
Where: Salem Common
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
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Second Saturday at Lynn Museum
Lynn Museum in Massachusetts offers free admission on the second Saturday of each month.
Join the Lynn Museum and Historical Society for FREE family fun. Join us the second Saturday of each month from 10 am – 2 pm for free admission to the Museum! View our latest exhibitions, grab a take-home art kit for the family, enjoy special activities, and purchase one-of-a-kind Lynn merchandise...
Where: Lynn Museum and Historical Society
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
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CraneOutdoors: Family Snowy Owl Prowl
Join the Trustees of Reservations at the Crane Wildlife Refuge in Ipswich Massachusetts in search of the Snowy Owl!
Wide-open coastal sites are the location of choice for wintering Snowy Owls; common perches are dunes and salt hay staddles. In winters past, these owls have been frequent visitors to the Crane Wildlife Refuge.
Where: Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
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Deck the Docks at Maritime Gloucester
Deck the Docks at on the Gloucester Massachusetts Waterfront and join the holiday cheer!
Come to Maritime Gloucester for fun holiday happenings on the waterfront in Gloucester Massachusetts!
Where: Maritime Gloucester
10:00 am to 7:00 pm
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Middle Street Walk Gingerbread Contest 2023
Middle Street Walk Gingerbread Contest entries can take any shape.
Everybody is invited to enter the Gingerbread Contest for the Middle Street Walk in Gloucester this year! Groups and individuals are encouraged to get creative and come up with entries that can take any shape.  All entries will be judged during the Middle Street walk with winners being announced at...
Where: Gloucester City Hall
10:00 am to 3:00 pm
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Holiday Makers Market in Salisbury
Holiday Makers Market at Salisbury Massachusetts Elementary School.
Holiday Love. Shop Smart. Shop Small. Join us and dozens of artisans, crafters, growers, and culinary artists extraordinaire to get your holiday shopping done! Handcrafted. Homegrown. Scratchmade.
Where: Salisbury Elementary School
10:00 am to 3:00 pm
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Appleton Wreath Making Workshop
Come to Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts to make your own Holiday Wreath!
Decorate your door with a gorgeous holiday wreath created from a variety of evergreen boughs foraged from our historic farm property.  Join us December 9th or 10th in the barn where we will guide you in designing and decorating your wreath with a variety of natural materials such as berries, pine...
Where: Appleton Farms
10:00 am to 3:30 pm
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Newburyport Holiday House Tour
Newburyport Holiday House Tour hosted by the Newburyport PTO Kitchen Tour
Enjoy touring private residences and unique spaces throughout Greater Newburyport, all decorated in holiday style both inside and out. All proceeds benefit the Anna Jaques Hospital Aid Association and is sponsored by Gibson Sotheby’s. Tickets are $30 in advance/$35 day of.
Where: Downtown Newburyport
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
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Christmas at Castle Hill
The Trustees' Castle Hill Christmas by the Sea is a weekend of festivities hosted by the Trustees of Reservations at Castle Hill in Ipswich Massachusetts
Visiting Castle Hill at Christmas is a time-honored tradition. Don’t miss this year’s Travels with the Cranes. Each room in our 1920s mansion is decorated for the holidays drawing inspiration from Crane travels around the world, including Paris, Japan, Egypt, and New York.
Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
10:00 am to 8:00 pm
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Saturday Family Farm Chores at Appleton Farms
Join The Trustees of Reservations at Appleton Farms for our special, hands-on Family Farm Chores program held on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays
Every day is full of a list of barnyard chores we need to get down to make sure our farmyard friends are happy and healthy! Let’s get to work.
Where: Appleton Farms
10:00 am to 4:30 pm
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Second Saturdays at Cape Ann Museum
Second Saturdays mean free admission for local Families at Cape Ann Museum!
The Museum is free all day for Cape Ann residents* on the second Saturday of every month in 2021! The second Saturday of every month is free for Cape Ann families. Pre-registration and timed tickets are required.
Where: Cape Ann Museum
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
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Animal Adaptations - Changing Temps, Changing Seasons
Animal adaptations - Kids will learn about how animals survive the winter months
Join a refuge ranger to explore how wildlife and plants adapt to changing winter conditions. If snow is present, we will look for tracks! Dress warmly.
Where: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
10:00 am to 11:00 am
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Otters, Beavers, and Muskrats, Oh My!
Join us as we look for elusive river mammals at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo: American Beaver ©Scott Santino
Wetlands are home to many fascinating creatures, including some unique mammals. While visiting the numerous wetlands on the sanctuary, we will explore active and abandoned beaver lodges, scan the marshes for signs of muskrats, and search for signs of otter activity. With a little luck, we may see...
Where: Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
10:00 am to 11:30 am
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Ipswich Jingle Bell Walk
Join friends and family for a day of holiday festivities and cheer! Sing carols with Buddy the Elf while waiting for Santa’s arrival.
Greet Santa as he arrives at Town Wharf on East Street, at the north end end of Water Street, in Ipswich!  Come sing carols with Buddy the Elf as we await Santa’s arrival.  Jingle Bells will be available for purchase.  Jingle your bells and follow our honored guest and Buddy the Elf on a festive “...
Where: Downtown Ipswich, Where: South Village Green Ipswich
11:00 am to 1:30 pm
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Santa's Workshop
Santa's Workshop in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Visit Newburyport MA during the holidays
Newburyport is a favorite local town to shop - especially during the holidays. The fantastic lights downtown, the tree in Market Square, all the beautifully decorated window boxes and of course, Santa's Workshop, where the kids can whisper their wishes to Santa.
Where: Santa's Workshop
11:00 am to 2:00 pm
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Christmas Tea at the Phillips House
Celebrate the season with a Holiday Tea at the Phillips House in Salem Massachusetts
Celebrate the season with the return of Christmas Tea at Phillips House! Enjoy a festive tea with tea sandwiches and sweet treats in beautiful Samuel McIntire-designed rooms.
Where: Phillips House
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
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Holidays on the Hill
The Trustees host a celebration of Winter and the Holiday Season 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 the Holidays! The first three weekends of December, join us for our annual Holidays on the Hill event! This festive celebration with music and cheer is sure to get the whole...
Where: Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
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Appleton Farms Winter Market
The Trustees of Reservations host the Appleton Farms Winter Farmer's Market in Ipswich Massachusetts
Join us in celebration of the holiday season at a special farmers market, featuring curated gift ideas, organic winter vegetables, & fresh baked goods from our own Farm Store along with a selection of other local edibles & gifts from area artisans, crafters, and producers of fine foods....
Where: Appleton Farms
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
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Gingerbread Contest at Wenham Museum
Wenham Museum Gingerbread Contest is free to enter and open to all!
Everyone's invited to enter Wenham Museum’s gingerbread contest! Individuals, families, groups, teams–all are encouraged to create a Gingerbread House for this friendly community competition.
Where: Wenham Museum
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
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Salisbury Beach Carousel - Saturday Hours
Carousel at Salisbury Beach MA. Parties, Family Reunions, Weddings, Showers, Birthday Parties
Salisbury Beach Carousel Hours: Friday: 4 pm to 8 pm Saturday: 12 pm to 8 pm Sunday: 12 pm to 6 pm Hours of operation are to change.
Where: Salisbury Beach Carousel
12:00 pm to 8:00 pm
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The Nutcracker by Greater Salem Ballet
The Greater Salem Ballet performs the Nutcracker at Lynn Auditorium featuring more than 100 children and adults from the North Shore!
Join Greater Salem Ballet Company for their annual performances of 'The Nutcracker' at the at Lynn Memorial Auditorium at Lynn City Hall!  Follow Clara on her magical journey.
Where: Lynn Auditorium
12:00 pm to 7:00 pm
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Native Seed Sowing at Long Hill
Seed Sowing Woirkshop at The Trustess of Reservations' Long Hill Gardens in Beverly Massachusetts
Sold Out! Join Erin Hammes, Plant Records and Production Horticulturist at Native Plant Trust, for this native seed sowing workshop. Learn about our native seeds and then get your hands in the soil to sow some seeds that you can take home.
Where: Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens
2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
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Danvers Library Holiday Open House
Join the Friends of the Peabody Instute Library for their Holiday Open House in Danvers Massachusetts!
Friends of the Peabody Institute Library - Danvers will be hosting their annual Holiday Open House from 2pm to 4pm on the ground floor of the library.
Where: Peabody Institute Library - Danvers
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
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Salisbury Beach Carousel | Kris Kringle @ The Carousel
Carousel at Salisbury Beach Massachusetts hosts a fun afternoon for kids with Santa!
KRIS KRINGLE IS COMING TO THE SALISBURY BEACH CAROUSEL Families are Invited to Join Santa for Pictures and More at the Historic Coastal Carousel. Since opening on June 30, 2023 the Salisbury Beach Carousel has welcomed close to 25,000 riders, most of them children, and Kris Kringle, AKA Santa, has...
Where: Salisbury Beach Carousel
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
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Cinderella in December | A TitO Panto
Come enjoy a Cinderella Panto performed by Theater in the Open at the Firehouse Center for the Arts!
Edward Speck and Joshua Shack bring back a favorite TITO Holiday Panto. We’ve updated our version of this classic fairy tale, added a holiday spin, plenty of adorable mice and even a few playful clowns to lead audiences on an enchanted adventure. It’s everything that you loved the first time you...
Where: Firehouse Center for the Arts
3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
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Free Holiday Concert in Hamilton
Hamilton Wenham Community House hosts a free holiday concert sponsored by the Musary
The Musary brings Charlie Brown's Christmas to The Community House! The Aidan Scrimgeour Trio brings a live performance of Vince Guaraldi's holiday masterpiece to The Community House.
Where: Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham
3:00 pm
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Take a Trolley Ride with Scrooge!

Salem Trolley Christmas Carol, Fun Holiday Events north of Boston, Trolley Ride with Scrooge
Join Scrooge on the Salem Trolley as you ride through Salem Massachusetts in this rolling production performed by the Griffen Theater . Now entering into its 34th Season, this humorous & whimsical interactive performance reanimates Dickens’ timeless seasonal holiday classic. Experience Charles...
Where: Salem Trolley
3:15 pm to 9:30 pm
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Trustees Winterlights at Stevens Coolidge Place
The Trustees of Reservations Winterlights at the Stevents-Coolidge Place North Andover North Andover.
Winterlights is back! Join the Trustees for a magical outdoor experience at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, and see the gardens aglow with your favorite light installations as well as marveling at new components. Bring the whole family for a fun and safe outdoor experience. Winterlights runs...
Where: Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens
4:30 pm to 8:00 pm
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NCS Winter Concert - A Celebration of Unity
Newburyport Choral Society Winter Concert featuring the feature the Greater Newburyport Children's Chorus
Under the direction of Music Director Dr. Minji Kim, the Newburyport Choral Society welcomes you to experience a selection will perform a selection of delightful holiday music from various cultures and countries around the world. The choral program includes a Spanish lullaby, a Moroccan Chanukah...
Where: Belleville Congregational Church
7:30 pm
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Read to a Dog at SPL
Kids are invited to Salem Public Library to read to Hendrix a trained therapy dog!
Have a new or struggling reader who needs to build confidence and practice reading aloud? Come read to Hendrix, the trained therapy dog, a sweet a non-judgemental listener! Bring your own book to read, or choose one of ours. After registration, kids will be assigned a 15 minute slot between 10 and...
Where: Salem Public Library
10:00 pm to 11:00 pm
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Sunday, December 10

ECGA Mutt Strut
Hike Thompson Street Reservation in Gloucester Massachusetts with your dog and the ECGA!
Join Annie Mahoney and some furry friends on a Mutt Strut in Gloucester Massachusetts! This hike will cover about 2 miles of rocky and potentially muddy terrain-- and the dogs love it! Don't forget your leash and your little baggies!
Where: Thompson Street Reservation
1:00 am to 3:00 pm
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Sunday Family Farm Chores at Appleton Farms
Join The Trustees of Reservations at Appleton Farms for our special, hands-on Family Farm Chores program held on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays
Every day is full of a list of barnyard chores we need to get down to make sure our farmyard friends are happy and healthy! Let’s get to work.
Where: Appleton Farms
9:00 am to 10:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Christmas at Castle Hill
The Trustees' Castle Hill Christmas by the Sea is a weekend of festivities hosted by the Trustees of Reservations at Castle Hill in Ipswich Massachusetts
Visiting Castle Hill at Christmas is a time-honored tradition. Don’t miss this year’s Travels with the Cranes. Each room in our 1920s mansion is decorated for the holidays drawing inspiration from Crane travels around the world, including Paris, Japan, Egypt, and New York.
Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
10:00 am to 8:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Appleton Wreath Making Workshop
Come to Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts to make your own Holiday Wreath!
Decorate your door with a gorgeous holiday wreath created from a variety of evergreen boughs foraged from our historic farm property.  Join us December 9th or 10th in the barn where we will guide you in designing and decorating your wreath with a variety of natural materials such as berries, pine...
Where: Appleton Farms
10:00 am to 3:30 pm
♦ Read More →

Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle
A holiday themed tour of Hammond Castle in Gloucester Massachusetts
Come to Hammond Castle for the 5th annual Deck The Halls holiday celebration. Hammond Castle Museum will be dressed for the holidays inside and out. Delight in the enchanting ambiance of Christmas and White Birch trees, meticulously arranged garlands, festive wreaths, and the warm embrace of...
Where: Hammond Castle
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

CraneOutdoors: Family Snowy Owl Prowl
Join the Trustees of Reservations at the Crane Wildlife Refuge in Ipswich Massachusetts in search of the Snowy Owl!
Wide-open coastal sites are the location of choice for wintering Snowy Owls; common perches are dunes and salt hay staddles. In winters past, these owls have been frequent visitors to the Crane Wildlife Refuge.
Where: Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
♦ Read More →

CraneExplorer: Coastal Holiday Crafts
Make holiday gifts with beach treasures from the Crane Wildlife Refuge in Ipswich Massachusetts
This holiday season, give a gift from the sea! Beach treasures make beautiful holiday ornaments, jewelry, and keepsakes. Join this workshop to take a beach walk to collect coastal treasures and then make some coastal crafts with our educators. Bring your own shells and beach treasures and we will...
Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
10:00 am to 12:30 pm
♦ Read More →

Santa's Workshop
Santa's Workshop in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Visit Newburyport MA during the holidays
Newburyport is a favorite local town to shop - especially during the holidays. The fantastic lights downtown, the tree in Market Square, all the beautifully decorated window boxes and of course, Santa's Workshop, where the kids can whisper their wishes to Santa.
Where: Santa's Workshop
11:00 am to 2:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Watching the Coastal Edge at Halibut Point

Tour the WWII era observation tower at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts.
Meet at the Halibut Point State Park visitors center to learn about the role Halibut Point has played in America’s military history. One day after the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, U.S. enhanced defenses with coastal patrols and built a network of watch towers at ocean edges. One tower, completed in...
Where: Halibut Point State Park
11:00 am to 12:30 pm
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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...
Where: Cruiseport Gloucester
11:00 am to 3:30 pm
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