Attractions

BAY CIRCUIT TRAIL

The Bay Circuit Trail and Greenway is a connecting system of trails from the South Shore to Plum Island, including dozens of miles in Ipswich.

BOONE PARK

Daniel Boone Park is at the top of Spring St. in Ipswich MA. Turn left into the park entrance and park at the designated parking area.

CRANE BEACH

Crane Beach on the Crane Estate Enjoy the Northeast’s most spectacular beach and follow trails and boardwalks through a landscape of sand dunes and salt marsh.

CRANE CASTLE

Castle Hill is the centerpiece of the spectacular 2,100 acre Crane Estate- one of the region’s most scenic, historically important, and ecologically diverse landscapes owned and managed by The Trustees of Reservations. The Inn at Castle Hill was voted Best Estate Stay by Yankee Magazine.

CRANE WILDLIFE REFUGE

Along with Castle Hill and Crane Beach, the Crane Wildlife Refuge was once part of the vast early 20th century summer estate of Chicago industrialist Richard T. Crane, Jr. The Refuge is a patchwork of coastal and island habitats that includes a portion of Castle Neck and seven islands in the Essex River Estuary.

CYCLING

Bicycle rides in and around Ipswich: Dozens of scenic on-road destinations as well as mountain biking.

ESSEX COUNTY GREENBELT

Greenbelt, Essex County’s Land Trust, is the most effective champion of land conservation, working to conserve the farmland, wildlife habitat and scenic landscapes throughout the region.

DOW & BULL BROOK TRAIL SYSTEM

The Dow and Bull Brook Reservoirs trails extend from White Farms Ice Cream to the Mile Lane playing fields and loops around two reserrvoirs, connecting to the Bay Circuit Trail.

ESSEX COUNTY TRAIL ASSOCIATION

The Essex County Trail Association ECTA exists to protect access to the trails and open lands throughout Hamilton, Wenham, Ipswich, Topsfield, Essex and West Newbury.

ESSEX NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA

Essex Heritage is a non-profit organization helping save the unique Essex County’s historic, cultural, and natural places that were crucial in shaping our nation, designated as a National Heritage Area by an act of Congress in 1996.

IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION

Ipswich River Watershed Association works to protect the Ipswich River and its watershed. Canoes and kayaks may be used by members at their headquarters at 143 County Rd. in Ipswich.

FRIED CLAMS

Ipswich is the home of the fried clam, available at the Clam Box, the Choate Pub, Ipswich Clambake, The Clam House and other local restaurants. The unique quality of our coastal mud gives them their flavor!

IPSWICH ARTS

Ipswich Arts: Ongoing art shows at the Hall-Haskell House.

GREAT NECK CONSERVATION AREA

Great Neck Conservation Area includes 67-acre Clark Pond with an elevated platform overlooking Clark Pond for wildlife observation. Access to the parcel is at the Clark Pond overlook.

GREENWOOD FARM

Greenwood Farm and the Paine House Located on a peninsula on the Ipswich River Estuary, Greenwood Farm vomprises pastures, meadow, woodlands, salt marsh, and three tidal islands: Diamond Stage, Widow’s, and Homestead.

THE IPSWICH VISITOR CENTER

Hall-Haskell House – Ipswich Visitor Center: Located in the center of Ipswich, the Hall Haskell House is officially designated an Essex National Heritage Area Visitor Center.

THE HAMLIN RESERVATION

The Hamlin Reservation on Argilla Road has gently rolling fields and marsh meadows, home to bobolinks and small mammals, and a small salt marsh island.

THE IPSWICH MUSEUM

Heard House, Ipswich Museum: John Heard (1744-1834) was a prominent Ipswich resident. A merchant, he had large dealings in the West Indies and China. The Museum, located on South Main across from the South Green offers tours of the Heard House and the First Period Whipple House.

JULIA BIRD RESERVATION

The Julia Bird Reservation on Waldingfield Road is adjacent to Appleton Farms, part of an extensive network of protected open space along the Ipswich River throughout Ipswich, Hamilton, Wenham and Topsfield.

LINEBROOK WOODS CONSERVATION AREA

Linebrook Woods Conservation Area is accessible from Linebrook Road. Its 78-acres feature wooded uplands and wetlands with trails that connect to Willowdale State Forest to the south and the Dow/Bull Brook Reservoir area to the north.

NEW ENGLAND BIOLABS TRAILS

New England Biolabs on County Rd. across from Appleton Farms provides walking trails open to the public.

NICHOLS FIELD

Nichols Field is located at 60 Labor in Vain Road, a 15-acre parcel of open fields and woods adjacent to the Ipswich River, with mowed trails, salt marsh and river views.

NORTH SHORE CYCLISTS

North Shore Cyclists (NSC) is a recreational bike club from the North Shore area of Massachusetts. They lead recurring and weekend rides along with cookouts and weekend excursions.

OPEN SPACES

In addition to dozens of square miles of state forest and coastal wetlands, the Town of Ipswich has established Open Space properties throughout the community

RUSSELL ORCHARDS

Russell Orchards Farm and Winery on Argilla Road is a familiar and beloved family farm with 120 acres of fruit trees, berries, vegetables, fields, animal barns.

STRAWBERRY HILL

The Strawberry Hill trail begins on Jeffreys Neck Road and features an easy walk across a meadow to a salt marsh island.

TOURS OF IPSWICH

Historic Walking Tours of Ipswich: Dowload a self-guided tour or schedule a tour with Gordon Harris, the Ipswich Town Historian and publisher of the Historic Ipswich website.

TURKEY HILL CONSERVATION AREA

This 22-acre property consists entirely of mature upland deciduous forest and includes the summit of Turkey Hill, the highest undeveloped point in Ipswich. A small parking area is at the entrance at Pineswamp Road. A 30‐foot wide trail easement leads from there approximately 1000 feet to the Turkey Hill Conservation Area.

THE WHIPPLE HOUSE

The Whipple House at the Ipswich Museum on the South Green was constructed in 1677 is one of the finest examples of “first period” American architecture (1625-1725).

WILLOWDALE STATE FOREST

Willowdale State Forest, accessible on Linebrook Road and Topsfield Road offers hiking and mountain biking opportunities on 40 miles of trails, and fishing and boating on 100 acre Hood Pond.