Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1239297
pend any time on Massachusetts' North Shore and you will quickly understand that it is a region of exceptional beauty. There are quaint harbors, rugged stretches of rocky coastline, shaded forests, rolling farm fields, and vast expanses of golden grassy marsh. "It's a beautiful region partially because of the variety of scenery," says Annie Harris, chief executive of the Essex National Heritage Area, a region, encompassing 500 square miles in 34 towns, that has been designated by the federal government as a landscape of important natural, historical, and cultural resources. With so many awe-inspiring sights to choose from, where do you start? We've assembled 14 of our favorite ways to take in the splendor of the North Shore once we can all safely get out and explore again— practicing social distancing, of course. the quarry at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, one of Harris' personal favorites. A gentle path surveys the picturesque, water-filled quarry, and side trails bring walkers down to the rocky shore or up to a cliff that offers sweeping views of the coast as far as New Hampshire. the view from Chandler Hovey Park on the very northernmost point of Marblehead Neck. The drive to this petite park is stunning in its own right; when you arrive, a panorama including rock-lined shore, historic downtown buildings, and a sailboat-studded harbor continues the magic. up Red Rocks in Gloucester. You'll park in an unmarked dirt lot next to a storage facility and your walk starts as a fairly unremarkable stroll through the woods. But once you make the short- but-steep ascent, you'll find yourself above the treetops surveying the natural beauty for miles around. the Annisquam bridge. The wood-pile bridge that spans Lobster Cove in 68 Gloucester was built in the mid-19th century and offers charming views of sailboats moored in the rock inlet, shingled cottages, and an expanse of sandy beach. on the Ocean Lawn at Coolidge Reservation in Manchester. A short, sloping walk through the forest leads to an expanse of manicured grass, once the yard of Clockwise from top left, Halibut Point, Chandler Hovey Park, Coolidge Reservation, and Manchester Harbor a marble mansion that is long gone. Relax on the lawn, enjoy some sandwiches, and take in a view of the Atlantic interrupted only by a few rocky islands. the perfect photo of Manchester Harbor, a quaint irregular harbor dotted with boats and surrounded by trees, just steps from downtown. PHOTOGRAPH, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT BY FOTOREQUEST/SHUTTERSTOCK, BY DEMETRI2K/SHUTTERSTOCK, BY R. CHEEK, AND BY TONY SCARPETTA