For an out-of-the-ordinary day trip from Boston, take a couple of days off from the usual tourist hot spots in the greater Boston area and go explore Ipswich. Located on Boston's North Shore, Ipswich is the quintessential New England town, renowned for its beach, fried clams and historic homes, homes of "First Period" architecture dating from 1625. Stroll around the town to admire these homes and their beautiful gardens, browse the shops and galleries for a unique gift, or dine at any one of their fabulous restaurants.
Nothing restores the body and soul like a day on the beach, especially one without motels, T-shirt stalls, and a throng of beach goers. Crane Beach, touted as "one of the most picturesque beaches in all of New England" is such a beach. Part of a private reservation and an important habitat for numerous plants, wildlife and shellfish, Crane Beach offers you five miles of soft white sand beach. You can walk and wander into the vast network of dunes and get away from civilization. It'll be just you, the birds, and the sound of the waves. Or you can just relax with a book, soak up some sun, and enjoy the solitude.
One of my favorite things to do here is to canoe on the Ipswich River. You can rent a canoe at Foote Brothers and spend the entire day on the river. The river meanders through protected and pristine forests, meadows and farmlands, providing excellent opportunities for bird watching. During the foliage season, the scenery is quite spectacular. There are many places to stop along the way for a picnic or to just to rest. After a day of paddling on the river, replenish your energy by digging into some scrumptious fried clams at the famous Clam Box on High St, about ten minutes away from the canoe rental place. They serve up some awesome stuff!
For visitors who do not have a car, you can take the train from North Station, and hop on the IpswichEssexExplorer to get to the beach and other interesting stops. Check out the following websites for more information:
www.ipswichessexexplorer.com
www.ipswichma.com
www.footebrotherscanoes.com/aboutbros.html
by Eileen Thai
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