

Worth Stopping By: If you have time after visiting the Island, stop by the neighboring town of Newburyport, a quintessential coastal town. It's located on the Plum Island Turnpike, the only road that connects Plum Island to the mainland, so you can’t miss it. Try out the traditional roll or opt for one of their speciality rolls, like the Spicy or Avocado. Once you’ve finished exploring, make sure to stop by Bob’s Lobster and indulge in a lobster roll. Local Eats: There are no snack shacks or restaurants located on the reservation, so you will definitely want to pack up lunch and treats for the day so as not to lose your coveted parking spot. There are only about 50 parking spots and they enforce a strict one in/one out policy, so by 10am, a line of cars are waiting to get in. It’s a solid 20 minute drive from the guard shack to the farthest point on the reservation where this beach is located.
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Pro Tip: You need to get to this beach really early to be assured of a parking spot. Before or after your visit, pop into the Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, where they have all-weather tide pooling activities, with a touch tank and activities led by naturalists. With breathtaking views of Cranes Beach across the water, the pools here are home to crabs, sand dollars, starfish and periwwinkles. The water is warmer and calmer than the rest of the island, and at low tide, reveals tide pools for little ones to play in. This beach, located on the southern tip of Plum Island, is often referred to as the Mother’s Beach. This museum is a house made of newspaper, literally: the structure and even some of the furniture inside are made of actual paper. Worth Stopping By: By far the most unique thing to do in the area is the Paper House Museum. Or, opt for its sister location, Roy Moore Fish Shack Restaurant, if you’d prefer more of a sit-down experience. If you’re up for a wait, grab a spot in line at the famous Ray Moore Lobster Co, a small BYOB shack specializing in boiled lobsters.

Local Eats: A quick ten minute drive to the waterfront downtown will give you endless options of fresh and delicious seafood. On a clear day you can spot Mount Agamenticus in Maine and the Isle of Shoals off the coast of New Hampshire. Pro Tip: The State Park’s visitor center is a 60 foot World War II fire-control tower that visitors can climb to the top. You won’t need to worry about tide schedules for this destination, since the tide pools are always present. While there is no actual beach and a firm no swim policy, you will want to dress to get wet! Pack a lunch to have on the rocks or hike back up to the visitor center to enjoy the picnic area. Photo by Todd Van Hoosear/ CC BY 2.0Īt this state park, an old rock quarry that shut down in the 1900s, you and your children can hike an easy trail down to the water: a rocky oasis of crystal clear tidal pools filled with snails, hermit crabs and sea stars. Halibut Point State Park used to be a rock quarry.
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Take a self guided tour this medieval castle and the exterior grounds to see how royalty really live! Admission is free for kids under 6. Worth Stopping By: If you have little ones that are into princes and princesses, you’ll want to make time for a visit to the Hammond Castle Museum. If you’re ok with a dessert dinner (we know your kids will be fine with it) stop at Holy Cow Ice Cream Cafe for some delicious homemade ice cream and ice cream sandwiches. Local Eats: The beach has a concession stand with snacks and drinks and you can often find a local vendor selling Italian ice from a cart, but if you’re looking for something more substantial, head into town where are there endless options. Parking is discounted after 3pm and free after 5pm. Depending on tides, you can also consider visiting later in the day, when spots begin to free up as beachgoers head home. Pro Tip: This beach is very popular, so get there early to get a parking spot in the lot. And as the water returns, warm wading pools are formed, making this an ideal "swimming" beach for even the littlest beach bums. While you should check the tide schedules to plan your trip around low tide, tide pools remain exposed for at least a few hours before and after that mark, giving your little ones plenty of time to explore. During low tide, this beach reveals an awesome sand bar, large rocks to climb on, and tide pools filled with snails, tiny fish, sand shrimp, and hermit crabs.
