Just north of Salem and 31 mi/50 km northeast of Boston (on Route 107) lies the charming colonial town of Ipswich, Massachusetts, which has several 17th-century homes (preserved by the Ipswich Historical Society) around the town common. Anne Bradstreet lived there, and several first editions of her poetry are on view in the Heard House. The Old Burying Ground contains some of the finest examples of early American gravestone art.
The Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, the Massachusetts Audubon Society's largest sanctuary, has more than 10 mi/16 km of hiking trails, and canoes are available for rent. Crane Beach, once part of a private estate, offers miles/kilometers of white sands and important wildlife habitat. Check out The Rockery, a massive rock garden that's the perfect place for playing hide-and-seek. In the summer, the lawn of the former Crane private estate becomes the venue for exceptional outdoor concerts every Thursday night. Take a picnic dinner with a bottle of wine and enjoy the breathtaking views along with the music. https://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/ipswich-river.
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