North of Boston

Kids' Free Week: Self-Guided Tours
2026-02-18 09:00 - 15:30, 2026-02-19 09:00 - 15:30, 2026-02-20 09:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Hammond Castle Museum, 80 Hesperus Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
Discover, Explore, and Learn at Hammond Castle Museum this February School Vacation Week!
Let your child’s imagination soar and join us as we welcome school-age children to explore the home and innovative legacy of one of America’s most prolific inventors, John Hays Hammond Jr. Dive into the world of science, technology, and creativity with self-guided tours that allow visitors to move through the Museum’s galleries at their own pace.
Please note: There are no tour admissions on the morning of Friday, February 20th, as we will be hosting an Arms & Armor program presented by our Curatorial Director, John Leysath.
Little ones can embark on an animal-themed adventure designed to keep them engaged throughout the Museum. Older kids will love engaging with our digital panel featuring original games inspired by Hammond and his contemporaries’ groundbreaking innovations, such as ‘Frequency Hoppers’, which brings history and science to life in a fun and interactive way. Let them experiment with sound in the whispering gallery, marvel at Hammond’s inventive spirit, and explore the Museum’s unique passages and rooms showcasing a blend of science, history, and art.
As a repeated Reader’s Choice Best of North Shore winner by Northshore Magazine and a TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice award recipient for the last four consecutive years, you can trust that your visit will be an unforgettable experience. As a STEAM organization (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics), we also celebrate our role as a historic house museum and lapidarium, emphasizing works of stone and marble in ways that set us apart. This fusion of disciplines makes Hammond Castle Museum a true New England treasure.
Accessibility Note: Please be aware that at nearly a century old, the Hammond Castle Museum is not handicapped accessible due to many difficult and winding stairs on the campus and within the Museum.

Family Explorer: Winter Birds and Wildlife at Appleton Farms
2026-02-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Appleton Farms, 219 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, United States
What birds and other wildlife frequent the Appleton Farms fields, woodlands, and wetlands in the winter? This hike will start with some interactive games and demonstrations to get learners familiar with our resident winter birds and wildlife, and to introduce techniques for bird observation and animal tracking. We will then head out on the trails to practice these skills!
The Family Explorer hiking series will get you and your young explorers outside and moving at Trustees properties across the Northeast Region. These family-friendly hikes cover less ground to accommodate smaller strides and have more frequent stops to look, listen, and learn from our Outdoor Guides. Some hikes will start with a story, hands-on demonstration, or explorers’ challenge to spark curiosity before hitting the trail.
Sign up for one, or get a discount if you sign up for three or more in the series. Contact Craneoutdoors@thetrustees.org for discount code.

Family Explorer: Winter on the Lake at Moraine Farm
2026-02-19 13:00 - 15:00 | Moraine Farm, 735 Cabot St, Beverly, 01915, United States
Hike along the shores of beautiful Wenham Lake on a glacial moraine and learn how this ridge formed thousands of years ago, as glaciers melted, scattering about rocks and sand to form the landscape we see today. Learn also about the importance of Wenham Lake as a water source, both today, and in years past when ice from the lake was shipped to England for Queen Victoria! This hike will start with an interactive timeline game, and then head out on the trails to observe how human and natural activities have shaped the landscape over time.
The Family Explorer hiking series will get you and your young explorers outside and moving at Trustees properties across the Northeast Region. These family-friendly hikes cover less ground to accommodate smaller strides and have more frequent stops to look, listen, and learn from our Outdoor Guides. Some hikes will start with a story, hands-on demonstration, or explorers’ challenge to spark curiosity before hitting the trail.
Sign up for one, or get a discount if you sign up for three or more in the series. Contact Craneoutdoors@thetrustees.org for discount code.

Family Explorer: Winter Tracking in the Dunes at Crane Beach
2026-02-20 10:00 - 12:00 | The Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, United States
An outdoor adventure for the whole family! We’ll take a dune walk, investigating the trail for footprints, scat, burrows, and other signs left behind by travelers that passed through before us, and piece together the evidence that will help us see who lives in this habitat. Bring your sharp senses and your skills of observation!
The Family Explorer hiking series will get you and your young explorers outside and moving at Trustees properties across the Northeast Region. These family-friendly hikes cover less ground to accommodate smaller strides and have more frequent stops to look, listen, and learn from our Outdoor Guides. Some hikes will start with a story, hands-on demonstration, or explorers’ challenge to spark curiosity before hitting the trail.
Sign up for one, or get a discount if you sign up for three or more in the series. Contact Craneoutdoors@thetrustees.org for discount code.

The History of Medieval Arms & Armor and Self-Guided Tours
2026-02-20 10:30 - 11:30 | Hammond Castle Museum, 80 Hesperus Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
10:30 am – 11:30 am: Presentation followed by the opportunity to enjoy a Self-Guided Tour of the Museum.
Join Curatorial Director John Leysath for a presentation on the history and engineering of medieval European armaments. On display will be a selection of replica helmets, armor pieces, and weaponry from the medieval to Renaissance periods, including several objects from the collection that have not been on public view in years.
This hour-long presentation will explore the evolution of armor and weapons throughout the Middle Ages, as well as the science behind their construction and use. It will include a discussion of the career paths of knights and blacksmiths and a demonstration of how their equipment was cleaned and maintained. A short question-and-answer session will conclude the presentation.
Admission includes a self-guided tour of the Museum following the program. Arms and Armor is ideal for ages 10 and up.

Kids Photo Op at Witch Pix
2026-04-18 10:30 - 16:30, 2026-04-19 10:30 - 16:30, 2026-04-20 10:30 - 16:30, 2026-04-23 10:30 - 16:30, 2026-04-24 10:30 - 16:30, 2026-04-25 10:30 - 16:30, 2026-04-26 10:30 - 16:30, 2026-04-27 10:30 - 16:30 and 8 more dates | Witch Pix, 172 Essex St, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
A kid-only witchy portrait session offering four fun styles for a quick, imaginative Salem experience. For a limited time, young visitors can enjoy a brief witchy portrait designed for vacation fun in Salem. Children pick one of four signature styles—Graveyard Magic, Crystal Ball Witchery, 1692 Glamour, or Earth Witch—and step into character with simple costume pieces. The session blends creativity, history, and play, producing a small gallery of expressive images.

Kids Free Week at Hammond Castle Museum
2026-04-20 09:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-21 09:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-22 09:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-23 09:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-24 09:00 - 15:30 | Hammond Castle Museum, 80 Hesperus Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
Hammond Castle Museum is happy to welcome school age children for free during April school vacation week. From April 20-24, all children ages from 0-12 are invited to take a self-guided tour for free with the purchase of an additional adult or senior ticket.
In addition to a self-guided tour, guests will also be able to view our fourth annual Eric Pape fine art exhibition, featuring a significant collection of pen and ink illustrations by Eric Pape (1870 to 1938). Many of these works were recovered from Pape’s locked studio decades after his death and have not been publicly exhibited for over a century. Included are illustrations originally created for The Arabian Nights, Tales of Wonder and Magnificence, Fairy Tales and Stories by Hans Christian Andersen, Victor Hugo’s Notre Dame de Paris, Rip Van Winkle, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Shakespeare and The Heart of a Child by Gertrude Slaughter.
Advance Reservations strongly encouraged. Museum Member savings apply.
Experience Hammond Castle Museum at your own pace with our flexible arrival times for Self Guided Tours! Your tickets grant you entry anytime within the Morning or Afternoon times, based on your selection, ensuring you can arrive stress-free and enjoy your visit to the fullest.
Morning Session: 9:00 am – 11:45 am
Afternoon Session: 11:45 am – 2:30 pm
Please note: last entrance to the Museum is at 2:45 pm sharp. The Museum & Grounds close promptly at 3:30 pm. We recommend planning at least 60 minutes to explore the grounds and interior galleries of the Museum. The Museum is not handicapped accessible as it features numerous stairs.

A Sailor’s Life: Food & Medicine
2026-04-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Salem Armory Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Step into the world of 18th-century sailors and discover how crews survived long voyages at sea. In this hands-on program, kids will learn what sailors ate, how they kept food from spoiling, and what they did when someone got sick at sea.
Become part of a “crew,” choose supplies for your ship, try salting green beans, and even help mix a remedy for scurvy. Led by educator Dan Marshall, this interactive program brings history to life through fun activities and demonstrations.
This FREE program is best for kids ages 7+, but all young explorers are welcome! Space is limited, so please only register the children who will be joining so we can make sure we have enough materials.

Elephants and Sweet Treats: A Storytime of Salem Firsts!
2026-04-23 14:00 - 15:00 | Salem Armory Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Did you know that Salem had the first elephant to ever set foot in America? It’s true!
Join us and the Salem Public Library at the Salem Armory Visitor Center for a storytime of Salem firsts – we’ll be reading books, playing games, making a craft, and enjoying a sweet treat at the end. This event is free and geared towards kids ages 3+, but open to all.
