Plan your visit to
North of Boston
Massachusetts today!
Explore The North of Boston Region
North of Boston is home to the 34 cities and towns of Essex County. Located only minutes from Boston, this year-round destination offers 200 miles of coastline and sandy beaches, world class dining, rich history, unique hotels & inns, vibrant arts and culture and nationally recognized attractions. From the salty air of Newburyport to the witches of Salem, the seafood of Gloucester to the industrial city of Lawrence, there is something for everyone North of Boston!
Where There's More to the Story
Every corner of North of Boston tells a story, from beaches and lighthouses to historic streets and festivals. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a week, you’ll find countless stories to explore, or one worth writing yourself!
Your Perfect Destination
Miles of breathtaking coastline, sandy beaches, acclaimed restaurants, witches, pirates, literature, historic architecture, and a vibrant arts & culture scene combine to make North of Boston your perfect destination.
Sharon's Studio of Gloucester
Weddings & Events
When it’s time to make your love official, the North of Boston region is the place to say “I do.” From intimate micro-weddings to oceanfront weddings and lavish extravaganzas, we have everything you need to make your special day flawless and memorable. Check out our full list of wedding venues, resources, vendors, venues for engagements, showers, bachelor and bachelorette parties, wedding celebrations, honeymoons, and more.
Group Tours
Looking for an authentic New England experience for your group? North of Boston has it all just a short drive from Boston’s Logan International Airport. Miles of breathtaking coastline, sandy beaches, acclaimed restaurants, witches, pirates, literature, historic architecture, and a vibrant arts & culture scene combine to your perfect destination.
Meetings
The North of Boston region is the perfect destination for your next meeting or gathering. Be inspired at a range of full-service hotels centrally located or plan a gathering at a boutique inn or unique venue. When you are ready to relax, we have indoor and outdoor options for team-building or just for fun! Let us help you plan an unforgettable experience by submitting an RFP today.
Celebrating the American Revolution's 250th Anniversary
Our cities and towns are marking this historic milestone with a variety of immersive events and multimedia experiences.
Free Visitor Guide
Your North of Boston free guide features hotels, restaurants, attractions, events and more. Choose to explore our digital guide or get a hard copy guide mailed to you before your visit!
North of Boston Happenings
From whale watching to outdoor concerts, theater and film festivals to Halloween Haunted Happenings, hiking and fishing to farm suppers and Culture Splash, there’s year-round fun to be found North of Boston.
@VisitNorthOfBoston
@massaudubonipswichriver is kicking off their 75th anniversary celebration with two special events next week!
On Thursday, September 17th from 7 - 8:15pm, a talk traces 350 years of history on this land, from the first European settlers through the era of "gentleman farmer" Thomas Proctor, whose influence shaped landmarks like the Rockery and arboretum that visitors love today.
Then on Saturday, September 19th from 4 - 6pm, a twilight walk pairs the trail with poetry, as volunteer guides lead visitors past poets stationed throughout the landscape, each offering an original piece inspired by the sanctuary. The walk closes with a reception in the barn to celebrate 75 years of stewardship.
Learn more of @massaudubonipswichriver`s website.
Twenty five years of discovering Essex County starts this weekend!
Trails & Sails returns September 12th through 27th, giving you free access to historic homes, working waterfronts, wild trails, and hidden corners across more than 30 towns. If you`re drawn to a good story, a day on the water, a walk in the woods, or a piece of Revolutionary history, this year`s lineup is organized into four themes that make it easy to find your way in.
Walk the streets where Lawrence`s immigrant textile workers organized the 1912 Bread and Roses Strike, paddle historic Rockport Harbor on a self-guided kayak tour, wander nearly 300 protected acres on Peabody`s Bonfanti Nature Trail, or trace Colonel John Glover`s regiment through Marblehead on a Revolution 250 walking tour. And that`s just a start.
See the full lineup and download the free guidebook on @essexheritage`s website.
Live music 🎶 classic cars 🚗 and fireworks 🎇 over the water, all in one Haverhill afternoon!
On September 12th, Team Haverhill`s River Ruckus takes over Riverfront Park with a full day of entertainment, including a Kids Zone for the little ones, great local food, and a spectacular fireworks display lighting up the Merrimack River as the grand finale.
Image credit: Stacey Guptill Photography
Fall for the Arts North of Boston isn`t just about galleries and stages, it`s also found in small studios like this one. @rockportcandlecompany has spent ten years hand-pouring candles right on Bearskin Neck, turning scents inspired by salty sea breezes, foggy harbor mornings, and the surrounding coastline into a craft all their own.
It`s the kind of artisan discovery that makes Rockport`s Cultural District worth wandering through this season. Stop by the DIY Candle Bar and pour one yourself!
Labor Day weekend closes out with sails at full mast in Gloucester Harbor.
Today`s the final day of the Gloucester Schooner Festival, Maritime Gloucester`s celebration of the age of sail, featuring historic schooners racing and showing off dockside. It`s a fitting capstone to summer and a tradition thousands look forward to every year.
Catch it before it wraps up!
📸 Image credit: Addison Choate
Looking for a colorful way to experience North of Boston this season? Make your way to the Cutting Garden at Cider Hill Farm!
And through September, visitors can wander through a vibrant field filled with more than 25 varieties of flowers, including dahlias, zinnias, sunflowers, snapdragons, cosmos and strawflowers. Choose your favorites and create your own one-of-a-kind farmhouse bouquet to take home.
It is a quintessential North of Boston experience: time outdoors, a beautiful working farm, and the chance to enjoy the region’s agricultural heritage in a hands-on way.
Gather your family or friends, bring your camera, and make a day of it.
Have you visited Cider Hill’s Cutting Garden? Tell us what flowers made it into your bouquet. @ciderhill_farm
Credit: Jill LeGrow
What will you fall for this fall 🍁?
A hidden mural 🎨
A legendary 🌊 sea story
A museum you`d never knew you`d ❤️
Or the freshest catch 🦞 on your plate.
📍 North of Boston there`s always more to discover.
Explore eight distinctive cultural districts, find magic and maritime, murals and museums, festivals and flavor.
Come curious leave inspired.
Fall for something unexpected North of Boston.
Funded in part by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism @visitma
🔗 Learn more now at NorthofBoston.org
In 1912, Lawrence mill workers walked off the job and changed labor history forever.
Every Labor Day, the Bread & Roses Festival brings that legacy back to life with music, theater, dance, and art filling the city`s streets.
It`s a celebration built to honor the social justice roots of the famous strike while connecting them to Lawrence`s diverse cultures today, drawing visitors from the city and beyond.
Plan your visit on @breadrosesfest`s website.
Image credit: @breadrosesfest
Autumn doesn`t rush in North of Boston. It eases in, somewhere between summer`s last warm afternoons and the season`s full arrival, and this stretch of coast, home to Salem, Gloucester, Newburyport, and more, is the place to catch it.
Through September, harbor light turns golden, orchards grow fragrant with ripe fruit, and a fresh coastal breeze makes it easy to stay out just a little longer.
Start planning your fall adventures at the link in our bio.
September is bringing one of Gloucester Harbor`s biggest sailing weekends of the year. The 42nd Annual Schooner Festival returns September 3–6, bringing visiting schooners, harbor races, special sails, and spectacular nighttime celebrations to Cape Ann.
Get out on the water aboard the Schooner Lannon for:
Thursday, September 3: Afternoon Public Sail and Harbor Schooner Race
Friday, September 4: Greet the Fleet and Sunset Sail
Saturday, September 5: Five Public Day Sails, plus the can`t-miss Parade of Lights & Fireworks Sail
Saturday night is especially spectacular as the schooners light up the harbor before fireworks illuminate the sky. It`s a quintessential Gloucester experience and one of the most memorable ways to see the festival.
Reserve your spot aboard the Lannon on @schoonerlannon_`s website and experience the Schooner Festival from the best seat in the harbor.
Image credit: @schoonerlannon_
A failed rocker turned substitute teacher is about to bring down the house!
School of Rock: The Musical rocks the stage at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in downtown Newburyport now through September 6. This high energy Broadway hit follows Dewey Finn as he transforms his students into a battle of the bands powerhouse, featuring a talented adult cast alongside local kids who play their instruments live on stage every performance. Expect 14 new Andrew Lloyd Webber songs plus fan favorites like Stick It to the Man.
Showtimes run Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 2pm and 7pm, and Sundays at 2pm, with tickets starting at $30.
Get your tickets on @firehousecenter`s website.
Image credit: Firehouse Center for the Arts
Gloucester Harbor turns into a forest of masts this Labor Day weekend! ⚓️
The 42nd Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival brings historic tall ships back for parades, sails, deck tours, and the Mayor`s Cup Races, a tradition that`s captivated crowds for over 40 years. Hosted by @maritimegloucester, it`s your chance to get up close to these magnificent vessels and be part of one of the North Shore`s most iconic maritime celebrations.
Plan your weekend on @maritimegloucester `s website.
