What to Do on the North Shore

If you have some free time between celebrations, these are a few of our favorite places to eat, explore, and spend time along the North Shore.

Hamilton and Wenham

Honeycomb
Our favorite local bakery and café for pastries, coffee, matcha, breakfast, and sandwiches. A perfect first stop in Hamilton.

Appleton Farms and the Grass Rides
Walk the carriage paths through the woods and fields, or stop by the farm store for local produce, baked goods, and prepared foods.

Vin Fromage
A beautiful little shop in Wenham with wine, cheese, charcuterie, and gourmet provisions. Great for putting together snacks or a picnic.

Tendercrop Farm
A local farm stand with produce, prepared foods, sandwiches, salads, roast chickens, baked goods, and plenty of locally made products.

Gloucester

Good Harbor Beach and Wingaersheek Beach
Two of Gloucester’s best-known beaches. August is busy, and nonresident parking usually requires an advance reservation, so be sure to check the current parking information before heading out.

Downtown Gloucester
Spend a few hours walking along Main Street and the harbor, with plenty of shops, galleries, cafés, and waterfront views along the way.

Castaways Vintage Café
Part coffee shop, part vintage store, right in downtown Gloucester.

Pastaio Via Corta
A fresh pasta, cheese, Italian provisions, and natural wine shop on Main Street. Pick up everything you need for an easy dinner or picnic.

1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar at Beauport Hotel
A beautiful oceanfront setting for lunch, dinner, drinks, or Sunday brunch.

Mile Marker One
A casual waterfront restaurant and bar overlooking the marina. Great for seafood, drinks, and an afternoon by the harbor.

Whale Watching
Gloucester is one of the best places in New England to take a whale watch. Trips typically take several hours, so this is a good option for guests making a longer weekend of it.

Hammond Castle Museum
Explore a waterfront castle filled with historic architecture, artifacts, and ocean views. Check availability and ticket information before visiting.

Manchester-by-the-Sea

Singing Beach
A beautiful beach within walking distance of downtown Manchester. Parking for nonresidents is extremely limited, so plan ahead or consider taking the train into town and walking from the station.

Captain Dusty’s Ice Cream
A longtime local favorite with locations in Manchester and Beverly Farms. Grab a cone and walk around the harbor or nearby Masconomo Park.

Beverly and Beverly Farms

Take a Drive Along Hale Street
From downtown Beverly, make your way to Hale Street and follow Route 127 past Endicott College and West Beach, through Beverly Farms, and into Manchester-by-the-Sea. It is one of the prettiest drives in the area, with ocean views, old homes, and plenty of places to stop along the way.

Kid Dream Coffee
A small specialty coffee shop in downtown Beverly serving coffee from a rotating selection of roasters.

Nick’s Famous Roast Beef
A North Shore classic known for thinly sliced roast beef sandwiches. Order it three-way with cheese, mayo, and barbecue sauce for the full experience.

Grassy Roots
A casual sandwich shop using thoughtfully sourced ingredients, with plenty of salads, bowls, and vegetarian options too.

Flip the Bird
Really good fried chicken sandwiches, fries, and milkshakes. Come hungry.

Hale Street Tavern
A neighborhood spot in Beverly Farms known for comfort food, sushi, fresh oysters, and a lively bar.

Rockport

Bearskin Neck and Downtown Rockport
Rockport is one of our favorite places for an afternoon stroll. Walk through Bearskin Neck for local shops, art galleries, seafood, ice cream, harbor views, and the town’s famous red fishing shack, Motif No. 1.

Halibut Point State Park
An easy coastal walk with old granite quarries, rocky shoreline, and wide ocean views.

The Lobster Pool
A casual seafood shack overlooking Ipswich Bay. Come for the lobster rolls, fried seafood, and sunset views.

My Place by the Sea
Located at the end of Bearskin Neck, this is a beautiful spot for seafood and drinks overlooking the water.

The Ice Cream Store
Grab a cone while walking through Bearskin Neck and enjoy it overlooking Rockport’s Old Harbor.

Essex and Ipswich

Woodman’s of Essex
A North Shore institution serving fried clams, lobster rolls, chowder, and other New England seafood in a casual counter-service setting. Expect a line in August, but it moves quickly.

J.T. Farnham’s
An old-school clam shack overlooking the Essex salt marsh. A local favorite for fried clams, chowder, and lobster rolls.

DownRiver Ice Cream
Small-batch homemade ice cream with outdoor seating beside the river. The perfect stop after lunch or dinner in Essex.

Essex River Cruises
Take a relaxing cruise through the Essex River and surrounding salt marshes. Reservations are recommended.

Little Wolf Coffee
A specialty coffee roaster and café in Ipswich with excellent coffee and seasonal drinks.

Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
Tour the historic Great House, walk the grounds, or bring a picnic to enjoy overlooking the water. Check the schedule and ticket information before visiting.