Browse for antiques
There's plenty of opportunities to browse for antiques all around New England. We're just scratching the surface with our list but it's a start. Feel free to pass on your suggestions if you come across a great place. We think consignment stores are fun too!
Visit Concord and Lexington
Concord, the place where the American Revolution began. The perfect drive in the fall when the leaves are changing
•Wilson farms (local New England farm, pumpkins, apples, pies, food, flowers, great in the fall, 10 Pleasant Street, Lexington, 781 862 3900) • have lunch and/or dinner (suggestions: The Colonial Inn in Concord) Check out our fun stores...
A hobby for some.... A whole day walking around Boston checking out our shops can be loads of fun. Boston is such a great walking city that you get to enjoy the beautiful city as you visit small and large stores, quirky and fun stores. You are bound to find something that you can bring home from your trip to Boston, or to your home in Boston.
Red Sox gear, go to the food shops in the North End, pick up some low priced fashion at Marshall´s, or go to a market. Drive to Marblehead and Salem
Adorable Marblehead with its beautiful harbor and quaint houses, and Salem with its history of witches.
• Visit Marblehead, MA and stroll around its old town, see the boats in the harbor and have a nice lunch at one of the nice restaurants by the water such as the landing or the barnacle • Visit Salem, MA and learn more about the witch-trials that occured here in the late 1600´s. If you are visiting during halloween, then Salem is the place to visit. There´s more to Salem than witches though; for example the Peabody-Essex Museum (PEM) that have interesting exhibits, and a great museum store.... Visit the Berkshires
Best is to check out their website for things to see. it´s quite a drive so go early or stay overnight. It is a beautiful area with several museums, nice restaurants, traditional inns, and much more. If you go in the summer, try to get tickets to Tanglewood which is supposed to be fantastic.
• Tanglewood in Lenox, MA. The perfect summer outing. Boston Pops in the open air with picnic on the lawn. • Hancock Shaker Village Visit the village and participate in various activities, take tours, visit the gardens and the animals. located in the heart of the Berkshires there is much to do in the area. • Norman Rockwell Museum have lunch and/or dinner (find a listing of restaurants here) Pick your own apples
Fall is a popular time for New Englanders to go apple or pumpkin picking. There are plenty of farms all around New England that offer everything from apple and pumpkin picking to hayrides and corn mazes. Fun for everyone!
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Seasonal
Best in summer
Go on a whale watch
There are several option for whale watching. Generally offered during summer months until late fall, it is a unique experience. There are whale watching trips leaving from Boston and from many other places around New England. Best is to search online but here are some options:
• New England Aquarium • Boston Harbor Cruises Drive to Cape Ann, Rockport and Gloucester
Spend the day in Rockport, strolling around this cute seaside town. Best in the summer! There are restaurants, stores and beaches. Make sure you walk out to Bearskin Neck, maybe bring your lunch or an ice cream and sit on the rocks and watch the ocean with all the sail boats. Then visit Gloucester and maybe Manchester-by-the-Sea which has a cute beach (no parking).
You can take the train to Manchester-by-the-Sea. Head to Boston Harbor Islands
Just outside of Boston you will find Boston Harbor Islands. It is very easy to catch a ferry and spend the day on the islands (unless you know someone with a boat... have them take you!). You can go and just hang out, bring a picnic, a book or a kite. Or visit Georges Island where you will find an interesting historic fort you can visit (kids love it there). Or you can take a guided tour of Little Brewster Island (with Boston Light, oldest light station in the country).
Visit Ipswich and Essex
The north shore with cute towns, lobster, beaches, and antiques • Have lobster at Woodman´s in Essex (lobster in the rough, come as you are, directly from the beach, in shorts, this is NOT a fancy place. You pick out your lobster outside, get it on a paper plate with lemon and melted butter. Pick up your bib and head inside for a beverage, and then enjoy your lobster. They have other foods too but basically it is a sea food. They are famous for their fried clams.)
• Check out the antique stores in Essex, there must be about 30 or so in all price ranges. We enjoyed Howard's, 136 Main Street (a wide range of things including garden items; lots to look at). A fun store to visit is Joshua's Corner Antiques, 4 Southern Ave - it's a mix of antiques and fun, cool stuff in a beautiful building. Very nice store-owner too! • On the way there, you can stop at the nice farm stand on Route 22 on the way to Essex from rt 128 with fresh veggies, lots of flowers, fruits, berries, and more. •Crane Beach (a long popular beach, go for a walk if not summer, or bring your towel and go for a swim in the summer. It´s quite popular, you pay for parking and it happens that the enormous parking lot fills up so get there early) Visit Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard
if you have some extra time (preferably in the summer) a visit to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard can't be beat. Both islands are charming, quaint and have plenty of activities from beaches, shopping, restaurants and activities ranging from swimming, golfing and bike rides around the islands. Martha's vineyard is the larger of the two.
Getting there: you can either take the ferry or you can fly (faster but pricier) from Boston or Hyannis |
