Location: Ipswich
Top Things to do in Ipswich
10 Things to Do in Ipswich That You Shouldn't Miss
Ipswich is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,175 at the 2010 census. Home to Willowdale State Forest and Sandy Point State Reservation, Ipswich includes the southern part of Plum Island. A residential community with a vibrant tourism industry, the town is famous for its clams, celebrated annually at the Ipswich Chowderfest, and for Crane Beach, a barrier beach near the Crane estate. Ipswich was incorporated as a town in 1634.
Restaurants in Ipswich
1. Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 280 reviews
Covering 4,662 acres of diverse upland and wetland habitats, this refuge was established to preserve the feeding, resting and nesting areas of migratory birds.
Reviewed By LindsleySilagi - Santa Teresa, New Mexico
We had a most enjoyable day traveling through Parker river and stopping at the watch tower, and other designated ares for viewing the birds. Saw a wild Turkey! it was wonderful on the marsh. It is very different terrain. We went to Sandy Point Beach too which was great fun. If you like beachcombing, it is a good place to go!
2. Essex River Cruises & Charters
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 235 reviews
"Enjoy a scenic river excursion that captures the essence of New England " -Boston Globe. 1 1/2 hour narrated cruises, along the calm waters of the Essex River. Glide back in time, past islands, dunes & beaches formed by glaciers. See historic mansions, shipyards, saltmarsh farms, rare birds, wildlife, and stunning scenery. Charters &Clambakes. Restroom onboard, free parking, handicaped accessible, cards taken, and bar available. We also specialize in customizable private charters, perfect for corporate outings, birthdays, weddings, celebrations, and family reunions. Our private events range from New England Clambakes or BBQs on secluded tidal beaches to cocktail cruises. All charters are unique and planned your way with a variety of catering and bar options.
Reviewed By Z8364LHrichardt - West Boxford, Massachusetts
Perhaps going on this cruise with the remnants of a hurricane off the coast was not the best idea, but they were still taking people out. The result was a 2 hour bumpy, windy, cold ride. Putting that aside, this is what it says it is: a river cruise. You'll see some cranes and other birds. The guide will point out where some houses and estates are on islands but you won't see them through the trees. Go for the boat ride. That's what you'll get.
3. Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 217 reviews
Experience the grandeur of a seaside estate and its marvelously landscaped grounds, notable for a broad, undulating lawn running down to the shore.
Reviewed By kathyandalan - Averill Park, New York
The same parking fee for Crane Beach allows you in to the Crane Estate. There are tours of the house and lovely grounds and gardens to wander. There are vistas down to the ocean in the distance. And statues and metal sculpted griffons (by the same artist who did the Prometheus in Rockefeller Plaza). There is a trick moving rock on one of the paths. Mr Chase had a sense of humor. For an added fee, the house offers a # of different tours. We took the Guests of the Chase Family tour and enjoyed it! If you have time, spend part of the day at the beach. It is beautiful.
4. North Shore Music Theatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 119 reviews
Reviewed By Donna D - Middleton, MA
Saw Evita here recently and wonder why the ticket prices are so high. $67 -$80 each for Beverly is silly and folks seem to think the same as there were many empty seats. The actors were good but not great. Evita herself seemed angry and lacked the essence of the character. The young woman who sang "Another Suitcase in Another Hall...where am I going to" stole the show and should have been Evita. The choreography for this show was just plain strange. And we didn't notice anyone of color in the cast -- very sad. The stage floor kept going up and down to change sets, leaving a gaping hole in the center when it did. Quite a distraction.
The owner encouraged you to donate to a booth in the lobby that sends people with cancer to see a show there. What a disgrace -- when there were so many empty seats. They could have easily filled the empty seats that night! We couldn't believe it when the owner mentioned Paul Anka was coming there and how much he was paying him. Lacked class. Will not be returning. Better experiences for a quarter of the price at local venues or through ArtsBoston or Goldstar elsewhere.
5. Mill River Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Mill River Winery is open Wednesday through Sunday 11am – 6pm. During operating hours you are able to sample their handcrafted wines, taste the specialty foods they have available and browse a great selection of wine accessories. Tours of the manufacturing facility are available upon request.
Reviewed By Votenochains - White Mountains, New Hampshire
The converted barn is tastefully set up for wine tastings and small gathering. They have some nice wine related products, olive oil and cheeses for sale along with wines. There are four tastings or you can customize. Wines vary. The place is still new in wine years so reds are a challenge. Nice staff though. Would be great if they partnered with an established winery from California or something for a few really good wines.
6. Crane Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 472 reviews
Enjoy the Northeast's most spectacular beach and follow trails and boardwalks through a landscape of sand dunes and salt marsh.
Reviewed By yogaroom - Round Lake, New York
We arrived at the tail end of hurricane Jose and got to see some good wave action and blustery winds. We visited off high season, which is our preference and so there were no crowds or sweltering heat. Still, it looks like a nice place for a dip even if the crowds are there. Great protection for Piping Plover bird habitat and dune environment. The Fee (varies by season) also gets you into parking for the Crane Estate/Castle. Depending on the weather your could visit here for 1 or several hours.
7. Cogswell's Grant
Overall Ratings
5 based on 25 reviews
If you love antiques, Cogswell’s Grant should be on your itinerary. This 18th century farmhouse overlooking the Essex River was the summer home of collectors Bertram and Nina Fletcher Little, and houses their celebrated collection of American folk art, including primitive paintings, redware, and painted furniture. Everything is displayed as the family lived with it and shared it with their friends and fellow collectors.Open June 1-October 15, Wed.-Sun.; tours given 11:00am - 4:00pm.
Reviewed By NewJerseyPhil - New Jersey
Each year we travel to Rockport for our vacation. This year we found Cogswelll,s Grant on TA as a side trip. As previous reviewers have said it is a large working farm with one home to tour. Our docent Will Peck gave us the first tour at 11 am. Since the house is not air conditioned I would highly recommend the early tour since it gets very warm on the 2nd floor. Will was fabulous. He made history come alive. He seemed to have a story about each artifact in this large house. We were the only couple on the tour so it was great having a private tour guide. Some of the highlights of the tour included the Little's family passion for collecting and authenticating the thousands of objects they collected for over six decades. These included numerous portraits, 148 baskets and other works of art. Mrs. Little would routinely open drawers of furniture she purchased and find inscriptions and messages from previous owners. The one hour tour was worth it and I am glad we stopped by
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8. Russell Orchards
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 134 reviews
Reviewed By Peter R - Monument Beach, Massachusetts, United States
Tried a new orchard this year for apple picking. Nice variety of apples but picking your own is expensive ($20 for a 10# bag - one peck). Honey crisp were picked out but plenty of Macouns. Apples in the store were $2.50 per lb. Had some fruity wines to taste for $5. I thought they would have lunches available as they said NO OUTSIDE FOOD but really only saw expensive snacks (maple sugar candy, cider donuts, honey, etc).
9. Essex Shipbuilding Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Over 4000 wooden ships have been built on the banks of the Essex River since 1668. The Essex Shipbuilding Museum traces the evolution of traditional boat building through artifacts, photographs, hands-on exhibits and tour guides with deep knowledge of maritime and local history. Both guided tours and self-guided tours are available. Group tours and field trips can be scheduled. The School House building interprets ship models from the Smithsonian Institute.
Reviewed By lauranda - New York
We loved everything about this museum, which is actually tacked on to a working shipyard that continues the centuries-old tradition of boat-building in Essex. Justin Demetri, who led our tour, was incredibly generous with his time and, as someone who grew up in a fishing family in Gloucester, has a wealth of knowledge about local history and maritime culture. We had visited the Cape Ann Museum the day before, which enriched our experience at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum. It was a cold and rainy weekday and the shipyard was quiet; there's probably more activity to observe on the weekends. The tour was wonderful and Justin had something interesting to say about just about everything; we could have kept talking with him for hours. (Actually, we did). For anyone interested in wooden boats, maritime history, or just wanting to get to know more about the local culture, a visit to this museum/working shipyard is a must.
10. Wolf Hollow
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 74 reviews
Reviewed By jana_wolf9 - Burlington, Massachusetts
This was my 3rd visit to Wolf Hollow. I brought a new friend that also loves animals. I was surprised at how they have grown which was evident from the long line of cars waiting for the 1:00 opening. I visited 16 years ago for the first time and there were only a few dozen people in attendance at that time. I was very happy that word has spread and they now have an overabundance of visitors. It was especially nice that the presenter was the son of the founder and he was both informative and a great speaker. Engaged the audience and added humor. The wolves are just beautiful and treated as the magestic creatures they are. It was also a joy for me to see Jelly who I first saw as a very young pup 16 years ago with her brother. They were so young they were being raised and bottle fed by the volunteers. She's 16 now and still beautiful.
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