Spring arrived March 20 on the North Shore of MA and we can hardly wait for what is in store! Here are all the ways my family will be celebrating the 2021 spring season on the North Shore, plus a list of upcoming events in North Shore towns where your family can get outside and enjoy the warmer weather:

Spring Fun on the North Shore

🌸 Appleton Farms- Ipswich/Hamilton

219 County Road
Ipswich, MA 01938
Telephone: 978.356.5728
Email: appletonfarms@thetrustees.org

Rolling grasslands, grazing livestock, stone walls, vegetable crops, and historic farm buildings comprise this 1,000-acre pastoral landscape, offering a rare glimpse into New England’s agricultural past. A gift of Colonel Francis R. Appleton, Jr., and his wife Joan, Appleton Farms is one of the oldest continuously operating farms in the country, established in 1638 and maintained by nine generations of the Appleton family.Start your visit at the white farmhouse affectionately called the “Old House,” and easily find your way to our many hiking and walking trails. Follow the paths to Sunset Hill, Wilson’s Field, Briar Hill, The Great Pasture, The Plains, and beyond. Six miles of footpaths, bridle paths, and farm roads (easy walking and great for jogging strollers), some of which are part of the Bay Circuit Trail, crisscross the farm. Visit our busy events schedule online to sign up for guided tours, pasture walks, birding hikes, farmstead story hours, and our many other programs for all ages.

🌸 Cape Ann Whale Watch

Spring is on its way! Opening day for Cape Ann Whale Watch for their 2021 season will be Saturday, April 17, departing at 1:30 pm! They will be abiding by all CDC and state guidelines to run as smoothly and safely as they did last year! Check out their amazing reviews on Trip Advisor to see all of the precautionary measures they took and will continue to take into this season!

🌸  Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary- Topsfield

 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield, MA 01983

 978-887-9264

Members: Free
Nonmembers: $6 Adults, $4 Seniors (65+), $4 Children (2-12)

Parking reservations* required Tuesdays–Sundays from 9 am–4:30 pm

Trails: Open Tuesdays–Sundays, dawn to dusk (closed Mondays, except holidays)

Ipswich River offers 12 miles of trails that invite you to explore the forests, meadows, wetlands, drumlin, and eskers. You can also travel down the namesake river, which meanders through the sanctuary, by canoe. Whether exploring by foot or paddle, you will marvel at the diversity of wildlife, especially bird species; the sanctuary is part of the Eastern Essex County Interior Forest Important Bird Area.

🌸 A Day out in Rockport MA

Spending a day in a quaint Cape Ann town is a must do this Spring! There is something about riding a bike on the coast that brings out the inner child in everyone.There are some incredible scenic vistas around Cape Ann and riding on two wheels is the perfect way to enjoy and connect with the scenery in an intimate way that just cannot be touched by motorized vehicles. Our next stop along the way is the rocky seashore. Rockport has some classic New England Beaches to explore. Some beaches in the area that we love include: Long Beach, Cape Hedge Beach and Front Beach. A day in rockport would not be complete without a visit to the famous Thacher Island. The island has an incredible history including shipwrecks and even serving as home of a mafia hitman turned informant. Be sure to take a trip to Rockport this spring or summer with the family.

🌸 A Day out in Salem MA

 Salem is a wonderful place to take the entire family. Specifically for the kids there is the Salem Kids Tour which opens for the season during April school vacation week, as the only tour of Salem especially designed for kids and families. A trip to Salem is never complete without  a visit to the Salem Witch Trials.  This spring, head to the Salem Witch Museum. Here you’ll learn the history of the Trials through a presentation based on original documents. The museum’s second exhibit offers context for making connections to the Trials and exploring their relevance to today. Tickets to the museum are sold online only, and may be purchased ahead of your visit at salemwitchmuseum.com. You will want to celebrate Easter in Salem. Consider booking a visit from the Easter Bunny with Salem Food Tours! The Easter Bunny is hopping around town for physically distanced meet and greets while dropping off locally made chocolates from Harbor Sweets, Kakawa Chocolate House and Ye Olde Pepper Companie. You won't be disappointed!

Check our calendar for Spring events on Massachusetts North Shore! 

North Shore Macaroni Kid Calendar

We will continue to update our Macaroni Kid North Shore Spring Guide with events as they are posted, so check back often!

Do you know of a family-friendly spring event taking place on the North Shore that isn't listed here? Please submit your event here to link your event to our calendar and we will add it to our list!