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 locals recommend
Singing Beach
Beach St 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 locals recommend
Ravenswood Park
Ravenswood ParkWe 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 AveGo 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 locals recommend
Halibut Point State Park
Gott AvenueLovely 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 locals recommend
Crane Beach
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 locals recommend
Plum Island
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 locals recommend
Good Harbor Beach
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.
34 locals recommend
Motif #1
Bradley WharfA 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 locals recommend
Gloucester HarborWalk
9 Dale AvenueGloucester 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 locals recommend
The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck
6 Wonson StA 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 LnSeasonal 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 locals recommend
Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
290 Argilla RdCastle 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 StA 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 locals recommend
Historic New England Beauport Sleeper--McCann House
75 Eastern Point BlvdBeauport 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.
69 locals recommend
Cape Ann Museum
27 Pleasant StSmall 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 StThe 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.
37 locals recommend
Woodman's of Essex
119 Main StHome 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.
Cala's Restaurant
7 Beach StPopular small restaurant with a varied menu.
A family-run restaurant with classic Mexican dish, great ambiance, and a bar which is always hopping.
15 locals recommend
Jalapeños
88 Main StA family-run restaurant with classic Mexican dish, great ambiance, and a bar which is always hopping.
Allie's Beach Street Cafe
35 Beach StPopular for casual breakfast and lunch.
Essen
4 Summer StGreat 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 locals recommend
Minglewood Harborside
25 Rogers StGreat 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.
41 locals recommend
Causeway Restaurant
78 Essex AveCasual, 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 locals recommend
Sugar Magnolias
112 Main StAlways 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.
Superfine Food
25 Union StNew, 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 locals recommend
Black Cow Tap & Grill
40 Merrimac StBrand 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 StreetExtensive 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.
31 locals recommend
Bearskin Neck
Bearskin NeckWell 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.
Mahri
11 Beach StFabulous 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 StAntiques, 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 locals recommend
The Stock Exchange
3 Beach StBest 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
Crosby's Marketplace
62 Central StNor'east Cleaners
15 Summer StAllens Health Mart Pharmacy
40 Beach StCVS
19 Dodge StEntertainment & Activities
Salem Willows Park
165 Fort AveVintage 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 LnVintage 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 locals recommend
Hampton Beach
Ocean BoulevardWhat 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.