As a city, Boston has just about everything you could want—shopping, museums, nightlife, restaurants. But from time to time, we all need a change of scene away from the subway tunnels, skyscrapers and throngs of people around Fenway Park and Newbury Street. When that time comes, there’s no better cure than a trip to the North Shore, a cluster of communities lining the coast between Boston and New Hampshire. Visitors can take advantage of miles of stunning coastline, quaint fishing ports and seafood restaurants that rival Boston’s in quality (but minus the stuffy atmosphere), as well as enough historical attractions and activities to please both youngsters and adults alike.
SALEM
Thanks to the fabled Salem Witch Trials of 1692, Salem forever
sealed its identity as The Witch City. The events actually took
place in what is now the adjoining town of Danvers, but countless
books, plays and films have revisited the hysteria that erupted
and which led to the executions of 19 people.
Although a sad chapter in Colonial history, Salem has exploited the more popular, fictional images of witches and their potential kitsch value. Visitors can delight in what feels like a year-long Halloween party or delve into the mysteries of the occult at area shops. Just this spring, Salem residents were divided when cable network TV Land sought to erect a statue of Elizabeth Montgomery (Samantha from “Bewitched”) in a public square. Despite some controversy, permission was eventually granted, and the statue now stands in Lappin Park.
Fortunately, the city is also full of witch-related attractions that are historically accurate. The Salem Witch Museum pays homage to the city’s tragic past, exploring the myths and startling truths about the trials. There’s also the Witch Dungeon Museum (16 Lynde St., 978-741-3570), offering a live reenactment of a witch trial adapted from the 1692 historical transcripts.
THE SEAFARING
LIFE
The maritime history of
Salem plays the largest role in how the area looks today and is
an excellent antidote to Salem’s witch obsession. The Salem
Maritime National Historic Site (174 Derby St., 978-740-1660)
explores Salem’s legacy as a center of merchant shipping and how
the ocean helped shape the town’s destiny. Pickering Wharf (23
Congress St., 978-740-6990) remains a center of activity and home
to village shops and waterfront restaurants. Schooner cruises
depart from the marina throughout the day (978-526-7839),
including a 90-minute Children’s Pirate Cruise, departing on July
24 (978-729-7600), giving your youngster a chance to live the
life of a seafaring bandit, and acting as a companion activity to
a trip through the New England Pirate Museum (274 Derby St.,
978-741-2800).
HISTORIC SITES
The House of Seven Gables (54 Turner St.,
978-744-0991), made famous in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s homonymous
book, showcases 330 years of Salem’s history in its museum and
historic buildings. The Gables, Hawthorne’s boyhood home, is a
National Historic District, boasting a spectacular seaside garden
and is the oldest surviving 17th century wooden mansion in New
England. Throughout this month, the Gables is celebrating
Hawthorne’s 200th birthday with various special events.
Another historic home, the Stephen Phillips Trust House (34 Chestnut St., 978-744-0440), conducts daily tours that allow visitors a glimpse into the everyday lives of servants and masters in the early 1900s.
GLOUCESTER
Proudly known as America’s oldest seaport, fishing has been
Gloucester’s leading industry since 1623. Home to one of the last
surviving commercial fishing fleets in New England, this is a
working city first. Situated on Cape Ann, Gloucester also boasts
some of the North Shore’s prettiest beaches (see sidebar,
opposite page).
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GONE FISHIN’
Gloucester’s fishermen will gladly bring guests along
on deep-sea fishing excursions. There are countless companies
that provide such trips, including Anne Rowe Charters (located on
Seven Seas Wharf by Schooner Sails, 978-283-2046). The trips can
be pricey and depart early (from 5–7 a.m.), but offer up to six
hours of fishing for cod and haddock.
ACTING
UP
Though it is miles away from Boston’s Theatre
District, there are plenty of North Shore thespians treading the
boards in Gloucester. Beginning July 21, Gloucester Stage Company
(267 East Main St., 978-281-4433) presents artistic director
Israel Horovitz’s My Old Lady. Meanwhile, the popular tourist
attraction Hammond Castle (80 Hesperus Ave., 978-283-2080)—a
medieval-style castle built in the 1920s by inventor John Hays
Hammond, Jr.—hosts Renaissance enthusiasts from Boston and beyond
on July 23 & 24 for the Robin Hood Festival, an interactive
theater festival.
ROCKPORT
Rockport’s picturesque waterfront and numerous
galleries are the perfect setting for a retreat from the city.
The town can feel like a step back to simpler times, while at the
same time catering to the summer swell of out-of-towners.
ART
ESCAPE
Rockport has long been a favorite hangout of
photographers, painters, jewelry designers and sculptors, and
throughout Rockport, locally and nationally celebrated art is
displayed at more than two dozen galleries and art houses. The
Rockport Art Association (12 Main St., 978-546-6604) sponsors
special events, exhibitions and shows and is open daily
year-round.
OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES
Halibut Point State Park (Gott Avenue, 978-546-2997),
to the north of town, protects the natural beauty that surrounds
Rockport. It has a staffed visitor center and several walking
trails to enjoy the tidal pools, water-filled quarries and rocky
coastline.
IPSWICH
NATURE
LOVING
Located in the heart of
the North Shore, Ipswich boasts a diverse landscape that includes
the Ipswich River, which runs right through town and empties into
the ocean—perfect for a leisurely canoe trip. Ipswich has many
beautiful spots for hiking and bird watching. Willowdale State
Forest (Topsfield Road, 978-887-5931) and the Ipswich River
Wildlife Sanctuary (87 Perkins Row, Topsfield, 978-887-9264) both
offer great wilderness escapes for experienced and novice
outdoorsmen alike.
GOOD
EATS
Ipswich is famous for its shellfish and The Clam Box
(246 High St., 978-356-9707) has served up some of the best New
England has to offer for more than 60 years, propelling itself to
local landmark status. Another Ipswich mainstay, the 1640 Hart
House (51 Linebrook Rd., 978-356-1640), was built just 20 years
after the Pilgrims first landed, and features fine dining in a
quaint, Colonial atmosphere.
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