North of Boston and the Merrimack Valley: History, Nature and Culture in Massachusetts

The outdoorsy will find plenty to love in the area North of Boston, from the Atlantic Ocean to bountiful farmlands. In the spring, summer and fall, be sure to visit family-owned farms to enjoy a range of seasonal activities. Cider Hill Farm in the village of Amesbury boasts a calendar of events as plentiful as their produce, offering everything from yoga classes to live music, while Smolak Farms in the community of North Andover entertains with beekeeping, animal tending and garden-focused tours for the whole family. In fall, area orchards open for a quintessential Massachusetts activity: Apple picking. Plan to carry a bucket as you pluck crisp, flavorful apples directly from the tree.

Pack your camera and hop aboard a whale watching cruise from the charming coastal city of Gloucester: With luck, you’ll spot fin, minke and humpback whales playing in the harbor. If you’d rather observe nature by land, venture to Halibut Point State Park & Reservation in Rockport. Hiking trails lead to serene granite beaches, whose tidal pools are the ideal place to spot Massachusetts marine creatures from sea snails to starfish.

Colorful cities and small towns North of Boston celebrate their fascinating history throughout the year, giving visitors the chance to partake in captivating cultural events. One of the most prolific of these communities is Salem, the famous location of the Salem Witch Trials of the 1690s. Dive into this bewitching history on the Salem Trolley, a narrated tour of notable stops in town including the Salem Witch Museum and the House of the Seven Gables (made famous in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel of the same name). Make time for a visit to the Punto Art Museum to enjoy an enchanting open-air gallery of colorful murals and street art.

Right outside Ipswich is the 165-acre Crane Estate once owned by philanthropist and industrialist Richard Teller Crane, Jr. Tour the Great House, explore the lush Crane Beach and Crane Wildlife Refuge and enjoy community programming such as live music on Castle Hill, then turn in for the night at the onsite Inn at Castle Hill. Back in town, the Ipswich Museum showcases classic works by New England artists and artifacts from the area’s history. More local color awaits in communities like Lynnfield, home of lively, walkable shopping center MarketStreet; Gloucester, where you’ll find an exciting art scene and fine dining at waterfront restaurants on Cape Ann; Essex, where the Shipbuilding Museum explores the maritime history of the region; and Rockport, home of the state-of-the-art Shalin Liu Performance Center. The Essex Coastal Scenic Byway links many of these enchanting communities, offering sightseers a convenient and fun way to see some of the region’s most vibrant views.

The roots of the USA run deep in the hallowed land of the Merrimack Valley. The American Revolutionary War – the military conflict that led to the founding of the USA – began in this region. Visit the neighboring towns of Lexington and Concord, where history comes to life on the Liberty Ride Trolley Tour. Guides dressed in period attire provide commentary during a scenic trolley ride through notable spots and historic battlegrounds. On your journey, you’ll stop at Lexington Green, site of the first battle of the Revolution; Minute Man National Historical Park, where park rangers offer informative presentations on early revolutionary militias; and the Old North Bridge, where the “shot heard around the world” that sparked the American Revolution was fired in 1775. Stop by Buckman Tavern in Lexington to explore a colonial-era inn and former militia outpost that now houses a museum. Many area museums and organizations will offer special public programming leading up to the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2026. You can take part in this historical event at educational lectures, battle reenactments, Colonial-style fairs and more.

Though Revolutionary War history runs deep in the Merrimack Valley, it’s far from the end of the story when it comes to important historic and cultural sites. Literary history abounds in Concord, a town that authors Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa May Alcott all once called home. The Concord Museum features notable items owned by Thoreau and Emerson, and Walden Pond State Reservation – the pastoral locale where Thoreau penned his essay collection “Walden” – is open to the public, as is a replica of the cabin where Thoreau lived and worked from 1845 to 1947. Tours are available at the Ralph Waldo Emerson House and at Orchard House, where Louisa May Alcott wrote the novel “Little Women.” Fans of Alcott’s work can follow the Little Women Film Map to see the local spots where the 2019 movie adaptation was filmed. Other notable literary and artistic attractions in the region include the Addison Gallery of American Art in Andover, a free art museum spotlighting American artists, and the Lowell National Historical Park, whose displays feature information on the Industrial Revolution in New England as well as the life of writer Jack Kerouac, a Lowell native.

Fly into Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and rent a car to explore the area – the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway is a great place to start.