Guidebook for Manchester-by-the-Sea

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Guidebook for Manchester-by-the-Sea

Parks & Nature

A beautiful beach and the sand really is phonic! Casual food is available. Park in town and walk.
42 moradores locais recomendam
Praia Cantante
Beach St
42 moradores locais recomendam
A beautiful beach and the sand really is phonic! Casual food is available. Park in town and walk.
We also boast Agassiz Rock, various conservation areas with hiking and walking trails, beaches in Manchester, Rockport, Gloucester, and Ipswich.
26 moradores locais recomendam
Ravenswood Park
Ravenswood Park
26 moradores locais recomendam
We also boast Agassiz Rock, various conservation areas with hiking and walking trails, beaches in Manchester, Rockport, Gloucester, and Ipswich.
Go to the headquarters and get a map of the many other properties they care for around the County.
Essex County Greenbelt Association
82 Eastern Ave
Go to the headquarters and get a map of the many other properties they care for around the County.
Lovely park along the Rocky Atlantic coast, reached by a trail surrounding a beautiful quarry (sorry--no swimming in the quarry and no lifeguard at the shore).
115 moradores locais recomendam
Parque Estadual Halibut Point
Gott Avenue
115 moradores locais recomendam
Lovely park along the Rocky Atlantic coast, reached by a trail surrounding a beautiful quarry (sorry--no swimming in the quarry and no lifeguard at the shore).
Crane's is often rated one of the top 10 beaches in the country and is lovely to visit at any time of year. It's a great beach for kids as it's shallow for quite a way out. In nesting season, there are stretches "reserved" for the Piping Plover.
124 moradores locais recomendam
Praia de Crane
124 moradores locais recomendam
Crane's is often rated one of the top 10 beaches in the country and is lovely to visit at any time of year. It's a great beach for kids as it's shallow for quite a way out. In nesting season, there are stretches "reserved" for the Piping Plover.
The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is a major attraction and has a terrific visitor's center just inside the gate. This beautiful barrier island is a birder's paradise--one of the most important migratory flyways on the eastern seaboard. Trails and boardwalks wind through scrub pine and oak, along the marsh, and through the dunes overlooking the beach. Outside the Refuge is a cottage community along the beach and river, leading up to the Merrimack. there are a couple of casual places to eat and an ice-cream stand is just off-island.
37 moradores locais recomendam
Plum Island
37 moradores locais recomendam
The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is a major attraction and has a terrific visitor's center just inside the gate. This beautiful barrier island is a birder's paradise--one of the most important migratory flyways on the eastern seaboard. Trails and boardwalks wind through scrub pine and oak, along the marsh, and through the dunes overlooking the beach. Outside the Refuge is a cottage community along the beach and river, leading up to the Merrimack. there are a couple of casual places to eat and an ice-cream stand is just off-island.
Small beach with prime swimming conditions, surrounded by dunes & marshes. Limited parking for local residents.
118 moradores locais recomendam
Praia de Good Harbor
118 moradores locais recomendam
Small beach with prime swimming conditions, surrounded by dunes & marshes. Limited parking for local residents.

Sightseeing

A lobster shack on the harbor is Motif #1 because it's been painted and photographed so often. When the original was destroyed in a storm, they rebuilt it.
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Motif #1
Bradley Wharf
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A lobster shack on the harbor is Motif #1 because it's been painted and photographed so often. When the original was destroyed in a storm, they rebuilt it.
Gloucester harbor is a historic -- codfishing, whaling -- and still attracts artists, sailors, and strollers. It's the site of St. Peter's Festival, the annual schooner race, and the famous statue of the Gloucester Fisherman on the Boulevard. While at the statue, read the names of fisherman lost at sea, including the crew from "The Perfect Storm."
10 moradores locais recomendam
Gloucester HarborWalk
9 Dale Avenue
10 moradores locais recomendam
Gloucester harbor is a historic -- codfishing, whaling -- and still attracts artists, sailors, and strollers. It's the site of St. Peter's Festival, the annual schooner race, and the famous statue of the Gloucester Fisherman on the Boulevard. While at the statue, read the names of fisherman lost at sea, including the crew from "The Perfect Storm."

Arts & Culture

A vibrant art colony with several galleries and restaurants on Gloucester's inner harbor. A must-see!
22 moradores locais recomendam
The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck
6 Wonson St
22 moradores locais recomendam
A vibrant art colony with several galleries and restaurants on Gloucester's inner harbor. A must-see!
Seasonal gallery for local artists, with work for sale and several shows throughout the season. They also offer workshops for artists.
North Shore Arts Association
11 Pirates Ln
Seasonal gallery for local artists, with work for sale and several shows throughout the season. They also offer workshops for artists.
Castle Hill is the fabulous summer mansion of the Crane's (think bathroom fixtures and there are dozens in the mansion). Well worth the tour and the grounds are beautiful. During the summer, there are weekly concerts. Stop by Russell Orchards on the way (open spring-fall)
43 moradores locais recomendam
Castle Hill na propriedade Crane
290 Argilla Rd
43 moradores locais recomendam
Castle Hill is the fabulous summer mansion of the Crane's (think bathroom fixtures and there are dozens in the mansion). Well worth the tour and the grounds are beautiful. During the summer, there are weekly concerts. Stop by Russell Orchards on the way (open spring-fall)
A property of Historic New England, Cogswell's Grant houses an amazing collection of Nina Fletcher Little's collection of American art and artifacts. The farm is still surrounded by acres of salt marsh and offers tours throughout the summer.
Cogswell's Grant
60 Spring St
A property of Historic New England, Cogswell's Grant houses an amazing collection of Nina Fletcher Little's collection of American art and artifacts. The farm is still surrounded by acres of salt marsh and offers tours throughout the summer.
Beauport was the summer home of one of America’s first interior designers, Henry Davis Sleeper. Perched on a rock ledge overlooking Gloucester Harbor, Beauport's 40 rooms houses Sleeper’s collection of curiosities, colored glass, folk art, china, and silhouette. The tour is well worth it.
23 moradores locais recomendam
Historic New England Beauport Sleeper--McCann House
75 Eastern Point Blvd
23 moradores locais recomendam
Beauport was the summer home of one of America’s first interior designers, Henry Davis Sleeper. Perched on a rock ledge overlooking Gloucester Harbor, Beauport's 40 rooms houses Sleeper’s collection of curiosities, colored glass, folk art, china, and silhouette. The tour is well worth it.
Small local museum with excellent collection of works by famous artists such as Fitz Henry Lane who painted in and around Cape Ann, famous for the light. The Museum also has exhibits of fishing and quarrying--two key industries.
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Cape Ann Museum
27 Pleasant St
69 moradores locais recomendam
Small local museum with excellent collection of works by famous artists such as Fitz Henry Lane who painted in and around Cape Ann, famous for the light. The Museum also has exhibits of fishing and quarrying--two key industries.
The Trask House has a collection of period furniture, artifacts, and fine art, including examples of the fine furniture made in here during the mid 19th c. Other memorabilia reflect the town’s maritime history and prominence as a summer destination for the wealthy during the Gilded Age. Young people will enjoy a visit to the “children’s room” with its fascinating Victorian doll house and collection of antique toys." (excerpted from the website)
Manchester Historical Museum
10 Union St
The Trask House has a collection of period furniture, artifacts, and fine art, including examples of the fine furniture made in here during the mid 19th c. Other memorabilia reflect the town’s maritime history and prominence as a summer destination for the wealthy during the Gilded Age. Young people will enjoy a visit to the “children’s room” with its fascinating Victorian doll house and collection of antique toys." (excerpted from the website)

Food Scene

Home of the fried clam and is a MUST for visitors who enjoy casual dining (seafood and burgers). Combine Woodman's with a day of antiquing in the many Essex shops and wrap it up with dinner at one of the other restaurants along the river.
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Woodman's of Essex
119 Main St
37 moradores locais recomendam
Home of the fried clam and is a MUST for visitors who enjoy casual dining (seafood and burgers). Combine Woodman's with a day of antiquing in the many Essex shops and wrap it up with dinner at one of the other restaurants along the river.
Popular small restaurant with a varied menu.
18 moradores locais recomendam
Cala's Restaurant
7 Beach St
18 moradores locais recomendam
Popular small restaurant with a varied menu.
A family-run restaurant with classic Mexican dish, great ambiance, and a bar which is always hopping.
15 moradores locais recomendam
Jalapeños
88 Main St
15 moradores locais recomendam
A family-run restaurant with classic Mexican dish, great ambiance, and a bar which is always hopping.
Popular for casual breakfast and lunch.
7 moradores locais recomendam
Allie's Beach Street Cafe
35 Beach St
7 moradores locais recomendam
Popular for casual breakfast and lunch.
Great for café breakfast. Also offer prepared dishes "to go" and sandwiches for the beach.
Essen
4 Summer St
Great for café breakfast. Also offer prepared dishes "to go" and sandwiches for the beach.
Great menu in main dining room, squeaky fresh sushi bar, live entertainment in the bar, good parking--all right on Gloucester's busy harbor.
50 moradores locais recomendam
Minglewood Harborside
25 Rogers St
50 moradores locais recomendam
Great menu in main dining room, squeaky fresh sushi bar, live entertainment in the bar, good parking--all right on Gloucester's busy harbor.
Casual, small, reasonably priced. Popular with locals (try their seafood platter--enough for 2!) and next door to Gloucester Cinema if you want to take in a movie before or after.
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Causeway Restaurant
78 Essex Ave
41 moradores locais recomendam
Casual, small, reasonably priced. Popular with locals (try their seafood platter--enough for 2!) and next door to Gloucester Cinema if you want to take in a movie before or after.
Always packed for breakfast and lunch but well worth the wait. The menu is not the obvious breakfast selections and it's a busy cheery place.
35 moradores locais recomendam
Sugar Magnolias
112 Main St
35 moradores locais recomendam
Always packed for breakfast and lunch but well worth the wait. The menu is not the obvious breakfast selections and it's a busy cheery place.
New, casual, contemporary look and menu.
Superfine Food
25 Union St
New, casual, contemporary look and menu.
Brand new. Small, intimate, new twists on old favorites (e.g. crispy port belly, salt and pepper scallops, coconut curry squash bisque). Short hours: Tues-Sat 4:30-10:00.
39 moradores locais recomendam
Black Cow Tap & Grill
40 Merrimac St
39 moradores locais recomendam
Brand new. Small, intimate, new twists on old favorites (e.g. crispy port belly, salt and pepper scallops, coconut curry squash bisque). Short hours: Tues-Sat 4:30-10:00.
Extensive menu with something for every taste: popular pub with daily specials, plus an attractive dining room. Everything is reasonably priced and there is entertainment--check online. On nice days, come early and grab a table on the deck overlooking the lagoon.
7 Central St
7 Central Street
Extensive menu with something for every taste: popular pub with daily specials, plus an attractive dining room. Everything is reasonably priced and there is entertainment--check online. On nice days, come early and grab a table on the deck overlooking the lagoon.

Shopping

Well worth the visit--the Neck extends along the harbor and is a charming street with loads of small shops and galleries, food ranging from lobster in the rough to hotdogs and ice-cream to casual restaurants. It's in the heart of Lockport's downtown shopping area as well as town beaches.
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Bearskin Neck
Bearskin Neck
31 moradores locais recomendam
Well worth the visit--the Neck extends along the harbor and is a charming street with loads of small shops and galleries, food ranging from lobster in the rough to hotdogs and ice-cream to casual restaurants. It's in the heart of Lockport's downtown shopping area as well as town beaches.
Fabulous jewelry designed by Mahri, as well as unique clothing, gifts, and decorative items.
Mahri
11 Beach St
Fabulous jewelry designed by Mahri, as well as unique clothing, gifts, and decorative items.
Antiques, art and artifacts--Alan's shop stands out among the dozens of other Essex antiques shops. But browse them all--a perfect way to spend a rainy Sunday (and many do just that).
APH Waller & Son
140 Main St
Antiques, art and artifacts--Alan's shop stands out among the dozens of other Essex antiques shops. But browse them all--a perfect way to spend a rainy Sunday (and many do just that).
Best consignment in the area with household furnishings, decorative items, collectibles, as well as clothing and accessories. I almost always find an affordable item I can't resist.
7 moradores locais recomendam
The Stock Exchange
3 Beach St
7 moradores locais recomendam
Best consignment in the area with household furnishings, decorative items, collectibles, as well as clothing and accessories. I almost always find an affordable item I can't resist.

Essentials

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Crosby's Marketplace
62 Central St
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Nor'east Cleaners
15 Summer St
Allens Health Mart Pharmacy
40 Beach St
CVS
19 Dodge St

Entertainment & Activities

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Parque Salem Willows
165 Fort Ave
85 moradores locais recomendam
Vintage baseball with 19th century rules played next to a cornfield; other entertainment might include draft horse plow day, sheep shearing, blacksmithing demos, child-focussed entertainment, farm animals, as well as the historic house. Beer, hotdogs, and sweets available.
Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm
5 Little’s Ln
Vintage baseball with 19th century rules played next to a cornfield; other entertainment might include draft horse plow day, sheep shearing, blacksmithing demos, child-focussed entertainment, farm animals, as well as the historic house. Beer, hotdogs, and sweets available.
What can I say? A beautiful beach, boardwalk with arcades and pinball, shopping, and yummy "junk" food followed by gambling at the Casino, live concerts on the weekend, and fireworks several times a week add up to fun-filled days and nights.
168 moradores locais recomendam
Praia de Hampton
Ocean Boulevard
168 moradores locais recomendam
What can I say? A beautiful beach, boardwalk with arcades and pinball, shopping, and yummy "junk" food followed by gambling at the Casino, live concerts on the weekend, and fireworks several times a week add up to fun-filled days and nights.