You’re planning a
vacation or even just a day trip to Boston’s historic North Shore--the scenic
region from Boston up the coast to Marblehead, Gloucester, and Newburyport. You
have young children--say, ages two to ten. You know that they will have limited
patience in a big art museum, but you want to take them somewhere that’s
enriching. What to do? Diva Toolbox can suggest some perfect destinations on
the North Shore for families with kids.
WENHAM MUSEUM—Located on
Route 1A in the affluent suburb of Wenham, the Wenham Museum was made for kids.
This family-friendly museum has an intimate appearance but is packed with
exhibits that have both kid and parent appeal. On the main level are exhibits
revealing aspects of early family life on the North Shore, such as the local
ice industry, the history of pirates, or the involvement of North Shore people
in the Civil War. You can also see the superb doll collection, with many rare
and historic dolls gathered from around the world. If your kids want more
action, head downstairs to see the amazing model train layouts. A variety of
layouts in different sizes, or gauges, are always operating, and there’s even a
television camera mounted on one of the engines for a real engineer’s-eye view
of the track ahead.
HAMMOND CASTLE
MUSEUM—Drive to historic Gloucester and visit an authentic medieval castle
built overlooking Gloucester harbor! Dr. John Hays Hammond, Jr. built his
spooky castle between the years 1926 and 1929 to serve both as his home and as
showplace for his collection of Roman, medieval, and renaissance art and
artifacts. Hammond was one of America's premier inventors, and the castle also
housed the Hammond Research Corporation, from which Dr. Hammond produced over 400
patents and the ideas for over 800 inventions. Visitors may explore the castle
on a self-guided tour including the great hall, the indoor courtyard and pool,
renaissance dining room, guest bedrooms, the inventions exhibit room, the
library, the war room, the kitchens, the Natalie Hays Hammond exhibit room, the
tower galleries, as well as several smaller rooms and passage ways including a
secret passageway.
SALEM WITCH
MUSEUM—Located in downtown Salem, the Salem Witch Museum brings visitors back
to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Visitors are given a dramatic history lesson
using stage sets with life-size figures, lighting and a narration. May be scary
for really young children (they discourage bringing kids under six), but older
kids will be thrilled.
NORTH SHORE MUSIC
THEATRE—Just off Route 128 in Beverly, the year-round North Shore Music Theatre
(NSMT) creates some of the most vibrant classic, contemporary, and new musical
theater in the country—and many productions are geared specifically for kids. As
one of the largest non-profit professional theaters in New England, NSMT
annually produces a six-musical subscription series, an original musical
production of A Christmas Carol or another holiday treat, and an
acclaimed concert series. NSMT offers the Theater for Young Audiences program,
an in-school touring program, and year-round classes for children. The theatre
is arena-style, which means that the audience sits all around the stage, and
you’re never far from the action. It’s fully air-conditioned, the lobby offers
delicious food, and there’s plenty of free parking.
RUSSELL ORCHARD
FARM—Located in Ipswich, this family-friendly farm offers barnyard animals for
the kids to gawk at, plus a huge variety of fresh produce and gourmet treats
including their famous apple cider donuts. See the most grotesquely overweight
pig, kids feeding ducks, and absorb lots of barnyard atmosphere. Open
seasonally.
When you’re planning a
trip to Boston’s North Shore, don’t be afraid to bring the kids—there’s plenty
to see and do!
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