It's Vacation Week and we're exploring the best summer destinations in New England. Here are some awesome ways to enjoy the summer in the Massachusetts communities of Newburyport and Salem.
1. Riverside Cycle: Explore the rolling hills or flat roads of Newburyport by bike. Riverside Cycle offers four-hour rentals for $25, enough time to get you to Plum Island and Sandy Point and back. Click here for more.
2. The Tannery: A former leather tannery that was redeveloped in 1985, The Tannery now houses a variety of retailers. The building is also home to a farmers market every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Click here for more.
3. Chococoa Baking Company: While you're out shopping in Newburyport, Chococoa Baking Company will satisfy your sweet tooth. Stop in to try the special whoopie pie fillings from coconut to s'mores. Click here for more.
4. Quins Canine Café: Also located at The Tannery, Quins Canine Café has the perfect homemade treat for your precious pooch. The doggy liver chew is one of their most popular products to spoil your canine. Click here for more.
5. Garrison Inn: The three-star luxury boutique hotel is centrally located a block away from Market Square and a four-minute walk from Waterfront Park. The inn is named in honor of abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison and listed on the national register of historic places. Click here for more.
6. Custom House Maritime Museum: Once the 1835 customs house for the collection of imports and exports out of Newburyport, the Custom House Maritime Museum explores the rich maritime history of the area, which is the birthplace of the U.S. Coast Guard. Click here for more.
7. Bob's Lobsters: If you are looking for the quintessential New England Lobster Roll experience, Bob's Lobsters has a delicious buttered roll waiting for you! The seafood shack offers specialty avocado, spicy, fat lobster, wasabi and buffalo lobster rolls. The Plum Island lobster spot also serves everything from chowders to fried clams. Click here for more.
8. Plum Island: The barrier island is accessible by car and features beaches, nature trails, and the Plum Island Lighthouse. Visitors can also explore the wild dunes. Click here for more.
9. House of Seven Gables: The House of the Seven Gables is an American treasure right on Salem harbor. A stunning home built in 1668 that has since become a National Historic Landmark District, it hosts over 110,000 visitors year round, educational programs for nearly 10,000 school children, and 75 public programs. Click here for more.
10. Salem Maritime National Park: Visit the first National Historic Site in the U.S.! The park features a lighthouse, three wharves and 12 historic structures along the scenic Salem waterfront. Click here for more.
11. FINZ: If you're hungry in Salem, head to FINZ seafood and grill for fresh and seasonal seafood prepared in new and creative ways. FINZ puts emphasis on serving sustainable seafood and works with fishermen and their communities that share the same commitment to sustainability. Click here for more.
12. Pickering Wharf: A historic wharf and marina on Salem's coast. Come for the multitude of shops and restaurants or to just gaze out upon the ocean. Click here for more.
13. Ye Olde Pepper Candy Co: If you have a sweet tooth, swing by this classic Salem family-owned candy shop for some "olde" fashioned confections you can't get anywhere else. Click here for more.
14. Salem Witch Museum: Explore one of the most emotional events in American History: The Salem Witch Trials. This museum is open year-round and consists of a dramatic retelling with life-size figures and an exhibit on the evolving perceptions of modern day witches. Click here for more.
15. Peabody Essex Museum: Spend a few hours at the Peabody Essex in Salem, one of the nation's major museums for Asian art. The impressive building presents the earliest collections of Native American and Oceanic art in the country.
16. Notch Brewing: Feeling thirsty? Finish your day at Notch Brewery, where craftsmanship is key in making unique session beers. In the summertime, get some sun out on the patio along the Salem waterfront. Click here for more.
