*Please call ahead or visit websites to double check hours and fees before visiting these locations.
Download a PDF version of this list here: Things to Do on the North Shore
Playgrounds:
- Boy Scout Park, Boxford
- Cashman Park, Newburyport
- Dane Street Beach playground, Beverly
- Devereux Beach playground, Marblehead
- Dix Park, Beverly
- Eagle’s Nest @ Essex Elementary School, Essex
- Endicott Park, Danvers
- Grove Street Park, Topsfield
- Linwood Street playground, Ipswich
- Lynch Park, Beverly
- Masconomo Park, Manchester
- Patton Park, Hamilton
- Pirate Ship Park at Pavilion Beach, Ipswich
- Science Park at West Parish Elementary, Gloucester
- Stage Fort Park, Gloucester
- Steward School Playground, Topsfield
- Tea House Park, Wenham
Beaches:
- Crane Beach, Ipswich
- Dane Street Beach, Beverly
- Good Harbor, Gloucester
- Long Beach, Rockport
- Pavilion Beach, Ipswich
- Plum Island, Newburyport
- Singing Beach, Manchester
- Wingaersheek, Gloucester
Farms:
- Appleton Farms, Ipswich
- Brooksby Farm, Peabody
- Connors Farm, Danvers
- Endicott Park, Danvers
- Green Meadows Farm, Hamilton
- Marini Farm, Ipswich
- Russell Orchards, Ipswich
- Spencer Pierce Farm, Amesbury
- Smolak Farms, North Andover
- Tendercrop Farm, Newbury
Walks:
- Agassiz Rock Loop, Manchester
- Appleton Farms Grass Rides, Ipswich
- Boardwalk Trail in Parker River Refuge, Newburyport
- Bradley Palmer State Park, Topsfield
- Cox Reservation, Essex
- Chebacco Lake, Hamilton
- Coolidge Reservation, Magnolia
- Danvers Rail Trail, Wenham
- Dunes walk at Crane Beach, Ipswich
- Halibut Park State Park, Rockport
- Ipswich Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield
- Joppa Flats Education Center (Mass Audubon), Newburyport
- Moraine Farm, Beverly
- Ravenswood, Gloucester
- Strawberry Hill, Ipswich
- Warren-Weld Woodland, Essex
- Wenham Canal Path, Wenham
- Wenham Lake Hiking Trails, Wenham
Indoor Activities:
- Artcie, Hamilton
- Beanstalk Adventure Ropes Course, Reading
- Birth to Three Family Center, Ipswich
- Boston Bounce, Peabody
- Brian Doser “The Music Man” at HW Community House, Hamilton
- Children’s Piazza, Beverly
- Chuck E Cheese, Danvers
- Clay Dreaming, Beverly
- Harmony Natural Learning Center, Newbury
- Imagination Station at HW Rec. Dept, Hamilton
- Iron Rail Gymnastics, Wenham
- Laser Quest, Danvers
- MetroRock, Newburyport
- Monkey Joe’s, Danvers
- Monster Mini Golf, Danvers
- Northshore Children’s Museum, Salem
- North Shore YMCA: Beverly, Ipswich, Salem
- Peabody Essex Museum, Salem
- Pirate Museum, Salem
- Plaster Fun Time, Salem
- Sky Zone, Danvers
- Story time at HW Library:
- Baby Bookworms
- Pajama Storytime
- Wenham Museum, Wenham
- VinKari Safari, Woburn
Outings:
- Children’s Museum, Boston
- Children’s Museum, Dover, NH
- Coco Keys Water Park, Danvers
- DeCordova Sculpture Park & Museum, Lincoln
- Discovery Museum, Acton
- Drumlin Farm, Lincoln
- Franklin Park Zoo, Boston
- Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge
- Maritime Heritage Center, Gloucester
- Mini Golf at White Farms, Ipswich
- Minor League Baseball: Lowell, MA, Portland, ME, Manchester, NH
- North Shore Music Theatre, Beverly
- Roger Williams Zoo, Providence, RI
- Salem Willows, Salem
- Science Museum, Boston
- Stone Zoo, Stoneham
- Storyland, Glen, NH
- Todd Farm Flea Market, Rowley
- York Zoo & Amusement Park York, ME
Kid-Friendly Restaurants & Ice Cream:
- Bertucci’s, North Beverly
- Cherry Farm Creamery, Danvers
- Depot Diner, Beverly
- Down River Ice Cream, Ipswich
- The Farm, Essex
- Half Baked, Beverly Farms
- Hale Street Tavern, Beverly Farms
- Jule’s Kitchen & White Farm Ice Cream, Ipswich
- Prides Pizza & Captain Dusty’s, Beverly Farms
Other Favorites:
- Bear Skin Neck, Rockport
- Kayak and canoe with Foote Brothers Canoe, Ipswich
- Look for frogs in Patton Park pond, Hamilton
- Swimming/fishing at Pleasant Pond, Wenham
- Train to Ipswich or Newburyport
- Wading pool and/or bike ride at Bradley Palmer, Topsfield
- Wolf Hollow on 133, Ipswich
Useful online resources:
- HW Community House
- Early Childhood Partners of Hamilton/Wenham and Manchester
- North Shore Kid
- Macaroni Kid (Northshore, MA)
- Hamilton Wenham Patch
- Hamilton Wenham Library Children’s Room
- Hamilton Wenham Recreation