One of the longest, widest, sandiest beaches in the region is Crane Beach, with 5.5 miles of fine-sand barrier beach on Ipswich Bay. It is set in the midst of the Crane Wildlife Refuge, so the entire surrounding area is pristine and beautiful. Five miles of trails traverse the dunes. The only downside is the pesky greenhead flies that buzz around (and bite) in late July and early August.
Crane Beach
Massachusetts
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Fenway Park
28.95 MILES
Home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest operating baseball park in the country. As such, the park has many quirks that make for a…
Harvard University
28 MILES
America's oldest college, Harvard University is one of the country's most prestigious universities. It was originally founded in Harvard Yard in 1636 by…
Museum of Science
26.99 MILES
The educational playground that is the Museum of Science has more than 600 interactive exhibits. Favorites include the world’s largest lightning-bolt…
Institute of Contemporary Art
27.04 MILES
Boston has become a focal point for contemporary art in the 21st century, with the Institute of Contemporary Art leading the way. The building is a work…
Boston Public Library
28.19 MILES
Founded in 1852, the esteemed Boston Public Library lends credence to Boston’s reputation as the 'Athens of America.' The old McKim building is notable…
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
28.11 MILES
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a different perspective on academia. MIT has a proud history of pushing the boundaries, from its…
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
29.43 MILES
Once home to Isabella Stewart Gardner, this splendid palazzo now houses her exquisite collection of art. The museum includes thousands of artistic objects…
Public Garden
27.63 MILES
Adjoining Boston Common, the Public Garden is a 24-acre botanical oasis of Victorian flower beds, verdant grass and weeping willow trees shading a…
Nearby Massachusetts attractions
1. Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
0.62 MILES
High atop Castle Hill sits the 1920s estate of Chicago plumbing-fixture magnate Richard T Crane. The 59-room Stuart-style Great House is open for guided…
2. Sandy Point State Reservation
1.23 MILES
At the southern tip of Plum Island, Sandy Point is a 77-acre state park that is popular for swimming, sunning and tide-pooling. Walking trails and an…
3. Cogswell's Grant
3.33 MILES
This Colonial-era farmhouse dates from 1728, and is furnished and decorated with all manner of 'country arts' from the era. The home is the product of six…
4. Ipswich Museum
3.57 MILES
Three houses comprise this village historical museum, including the 'first period' Whipple House, which dates from 1677. The bulk of the collection is in…
5. Whipple House
3.58 MILES
Dating from 1677, this was the home of Captain John Whipple, a military officer and entrepreneur. Now maintained by the Ipswich Museum, it contains period…
6. Essex Shipbuilding Museum
3.82 MILES
This museum was established in 1976 as a local repository for all of the shipbuilding artifacts of Essex residents. The fascinating collections of photos,…
7. Wingaersheek Beach
3.96 MILES
The biggest and best of Cape Ann's beaches is Wingaersheek Beach, a wide swath of sand surrounded by Ipswich Bay and guarded by Annisquam Lighthouse.
8. Appleton Farms
5.25 MILES
Six miles of trails wind along old carriageways, past ancient stonewall property markers and through acres of grasslands. Farm friends dot the pastures,…