Sponsored by Visit North of Boston and the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau

New Englanders are extraordinarily spoiled with day-trip options. That’s especially the case for those who live within an easy drive of the region north and west of Boston, where impressive cultural districts draw visitors with their vibrant art scenes and lively events and festivals. 

In Massachusetts, officially designated cultural districts are compact, walkable areas where a community tends to congregate, serving as town centers for artistic activity. These localities vary—as the cultural makeup of each one is unique—and that’s the joy of discovering all 14 that give this region its creative heartbeat. Visit a cultural district on the coast, another set on a river, and you’ll experience the wondrous geographic variety that awaits here, too.

All 14 cultural districts are showcased in the free Just North of Boston digital guide, and here’s a preview of six to give you a sense of their day-trip appeal.

Lowell’s Canalway Cultural District

There are three unique ways to experience Lowell’s Canalway Cultural District: by boat, by trolley, and by taste. First, Lowell National Historical Park takes visitors with advance tickets on mini-cruises, exploring the history of Lowell’s waterpower system. If you’d prefer to stay on land, the park also provides vintage-streetcar rides for free, with conductors calling out points of interest and historical details along the route. Operation varies by season, so it’s a good idea to check the schedule ahead of time.

Then there are the restaurants. As you weave among waterways on cobblestone streets, you’ll encounter a cornucopia of cuisines representing the city’s melting pot of cultures. Sample a bit of everything from fried seafood to Asian and South American fare.

And once you’ve had your fill of treats, mosey down the Lowell Riverwalk, then head over to the Western Avenue Studios complex for a self-guided tour. With more than 350 artists working in 250 studios and 50 live-work lofts, it’s the largest artist community on the Eastern Seaboard.

Rockport Cultural District

Rockport has long been a beacon for artists and painters looking to capture its coastal beauty. So it’s no surprise that its cultural district counts more than 40 galleries and studios. It’s also home to one of the oldest active art associations in the country, the Rockport Art Association. Moreover, you’ll find what is said to be the American building most often rendered in paintings: Motif Number 1, a charming red fishing shack bedecked with buoys.

Upon arriving, drop by one of the area’s many coffeeshops for a cup of something warm and energizing. You’ll need the jolt to explore all the shingled shops and galleries lining Bearskin Neck, and for your time spent breezily tracing the edges of Rockport Harbor. A lobster roll is a necessary addition to your itinerary, as is catching a concert at the Shalin Liu Performance Center, where an expansive wall of glass reveals a stunning seascape backdrop for performances.

Essex River Cultural District

This fluvial locale stretches a mile along Essex’s Main Street, from the corner of Spring Street at its western edge to the old Methodist Episcopal Church at its eastern boundary. It’s bisected by the eponymous Essex River, underscoring the area’s celebration of its nautical legacy, art-inspiring scenery, and dedication to environmental preservation.

Packed with loads of culture and history, the district winds through active shipyards and marinas, antique shops, bustling restaurants, pocket parks, galleries, and historical burial grounds. The town’s rich history of shipbuilding is highlighted as well, thanks to views of Burnham’s Shipyard and the presence of the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum, which houses an impressive collection of marine antiquities. But what sets this region apart is its salt-marsh views. They’re perhaps best enjoyed with a side of fried clams from one of the many open-air seafood establishments lining Main Street.

West Concord Junction Cultural District

The “junction” in question is the old crossing of the Fitchburg and Framingham/Lowell Railroads, where the distinctive 19th-century yellow depot building still stands. The Fitchburg Commuter Rail continues to rumble along the old tracks about once every hour. While this intersection used to see about 100 trains pass through every day, today’s village carries on the bustle with eateries, artisanal shops, art galleries, live performances, and outdoor activities.

While you’re there, be sure to reach out and touch the “Poetry Phone,” a public-art installation offering the chance to listen to spoken word in a solar-powered phone booth. Pick up the receiver to hear one of nine compositions, which change throughout the year. After you hang up, say hello to a nearby bakery or gourmet-food shop and treat yourself to a picnic alongside the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail or on the banks of the Assabet River.

Lexington Cultural District 

History abounds in the Lexington Cultural District, which roughly follows the path of the Minuteman Bikeway. Consider bringing or renting a bike to cruise on wheels between your sightseeing destinations. Along the way, you’ll pass meadows and parks, the Brown Homestead conservation area, the Lexington Minutemen Memorial sculpture, and Buckman Tavern—plus several other structures which were present at the Battle Green during the first skirmish of the American Revolutionary War.

When you’re ready to ditch pedaling for a more leisurely sidewalk stroll, head to Massachusetts Avenue to take your time at a multitude of art galleries, studios, ice-cream shops, cafés, and bakeries, many housed within long-standing architectural marvels.

Downtown Lynn Cultural District

Public art is only the beginning in this cultural hub that celebrates local artists and creators. You’ll first notice colorful murals splashing the walls of buildings and overpasses; one standout is “The Resident.” Painted by Glasgow-based artist Smug One, this towering work is an expressive portrait of a Lynn community member named Ferns. 

Beyond the murals and installations, you’ll find galleries, green spaces, performance venues, eclectic shops, and bountiful dining options. But behind the scenes, the city works to connect artists with resources. That includes support ranging from championing maker spaces like the Brickyard Collaborative to awarding Lynnspire Grants to Lynn-based creatives.

Downtown Lynn is also a flourishing events center, with farmers’ markets, poetry readings, festivals, and even drum circles. When you’re there, you’ll see the district’s vision in action: opening up opportunity and access for everyone.

Explore eight more cultural districts in the free Just North of Boston digital guide.

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Portland, Maine, is a surefire bet when you want to find unique gifts and get into the holiday spirit. You’ll stroll down cobblestone streets, gazing into twinkling shop windows and reveling in the old-world charm of Maine’s largest city.

In addition to being home to one of New England’s best toy stores, Portland has no shortage of small businesses that make gift buying merry and meaningful. As you make your gifting list this year, consider Christmas Shopping in Portland’s Old Port and beyond. After all, there are few better places to shop than this city of artists and makers. Here are 10 stores that should be on your holiday-shopping itinerary this year.

1. Soleil

Tucked right beside Renys on Congress Street and not quite a year old, Soleil offers home goods ranging from kitchen tools and novelty jigsaw puzzles to locally designed stationery. Food-shaped accessories are a fun and trendy highlight—you can find a farfalle noodle candle, strawberry cocktail napkins, and a lamp resembling a loaf of bread. Don’t leave without stopping at artist Ana Inciaridi’s mini print vending machine; insert four quarters to receive a surprise linocut food print that’ll fit neatly into a stocking.

2. Viand Mercantile

Open just since October 2023, Viand Mercantile combines the new and old with vintage finds and more contemporary pieces. Drop by the Fore Street store to see sculptural incense holders for sale atop an antique wooden cafe table that’s likely also for sale. And if it’s pre-holiday goodies you’re after, pick up an ornament kit or two for a Christmas party activity.

3. Sherman’s Book Shop

In the grand scheme of gifting, you can never go wrong with a book. It’s imperative to select your titles at Maine’s oldest bookstore, Sherman’s. Choose from the shop’s list of most popular books, head for the local authors section, or delight in wrapping up a bargain book. The store’s journals, notecards, and other goodies make excellent stocking stuffers and host gifts, to boot.

4. Portland Flea-for-All

If you’re in search of a one-of-a-kind present, you will find it at Portland Flea-for-All. Head there on a Friday or Saturday to peruse a variety of vendors selling vintage furniture, clothing, housewares, and vinyl records. There are also handmade goods, antique paintings and prints, and more—you just need to take your time plucking treasures from the vast selection.

5. Loquat

Owned by two textile artists who are graduates of Maine College of Art & Design, Loquat is a fashion brand and store that aims to help marginalized groups of people. The owners curate and create sustainable items that are meant to last, like waxed canvas totes and unique button-up shirts, like this one in an oyster print.

6. Material Objects

At Material Objects, one of Portland’s best consignment shops, you’re bound to find a gem for the trendsetter on your list. If you don’t feel confident enough to pick out a retro sweater or jacket for your quirky pal, the shop’s jewelry case is filled with smaller-scale handmade pieces, while brand-new accessories and clothing items are displayed toward the front of the store.

7. Fitz & Bennett

For the design-minded friend in your life, head to Fitz & Bennett for striking home decor and gifts. Their fun throw pillows are worth considering: The “Not my Circus” needlepoint option and the little mushroom one deserve spots under someone’s tree. You’ll also find unique holiday cards for sale, from this nod to A-frame cabins to this New England-y lobster lights card.

8. Smalls

After books, food is the second-best kind of gift to give (and receive). At Smalls Cafe + Market in the West End, you can choose from artisanal crackers and granola, flavorful jams and honeys, natural wines, nuts, candies, and more. Stop in for lunch—and a cup of cocoa—to fuel a day of shopping, then leave with some host gifts and a box of cocoa for later.

9. Taproot Market

Taproot Magazine is an independent publication for makers, artists, and other sorts of DIYers. For the rest of us, there’s Taproot Market, which sells handmade goods for the garden, kitchen, and home. Prints, books, and back issues of the magazine are also on shelves. And while you’re in the East Bayside neighborhood, you can pick up goodies from Tandem Coffee Roasters, Après Craft Seltzer, Belleflower Brewing, Blue Lobster Urban Winery, and other craft beverage makers.

10. Portland Trading Co.

In search of a quality gift? Look no farther than Portland Trading Co., which stocks apparel, outerwear, home goods, scents, soaps, and more. For a classically Maine present, check out the shop’s private-label program, which utilizes local materials and employs local talent. One such product is the PTC carry-all tote bag, made from canvas and leather by an artist with Maine roots.

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For adrenaline-pumping hikes, New Englanders don’t think twice before heading to the Presidentials in New Hampshire, or the Green Mountains in Vermont. Those craving a more leisurely jaunt, though, shouldn’t overlook the abundant walking trails just outside Boston.

While Eastern Massachusetts isn’t exactly the place to scale snow-capped mountains, there are plenty of adventures for hikers of all ages and skill levels. These hikes are detailed in my new guidebook, 50 Hikes in Eastern Massachusetts (The Countryman Press), which highlights the best trails that this part of the Bay State has to offer, from the rocky ledges of the Blue Hills to the sandy stretches of the Cape Cod National Seashore.

Below, in an exclusive excerpt for NewEngland.com, are five hikes from my book for every type of hiker.

5 Best Hikes Near Boston for Every Kind of Hiker

For Beach Bums: The Great Island Trail

Where: Wellfleet, MA
Total distance: 6.8 miles
Hiking time: 4 hours

The Great Island Trail is arguably one of the best hikes in all of Massachusetts. The loop, located within the boundaries of the Cape Cod National Seashore, begins with an easy walk tracing the shoreline of “the gut,” where the Herring River lets out into Wellfleet Harbor. Then, it climbs up into a pitch pine forest, offering stunning views from cliffs overlooking Cape Cod Bay.

There’s also a history lesson thrown in, as a small stone monument marks the spot where a former 17th-century whaling tavern once stood. The trail emerges from the woods and traverses sandy dunes leading to Great Beach Hill, and ends with a breezy walk along the beach. While Great Island is no longer a true island, it sure feels that way with its abundance of ocean panoramas.

For Families: Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary

Where: Natick, MA
Total distance: 4.2 miles
Hiking time: 2 hours

Tucked away on Eliot Street, and just a 10-minute drive from the Natick Mall, Mass Audubon’s wildlife refuge along the Charles River spreads out to 624 tranquil acres. It’s a sanctuary in multiple senses of the word — the refuge acts as a home for hundreds of different species of animals and birds, yes, but is also a relaxing day trip for a busy family.

Among the wildlife that call the Broadmoor home are otters, turtles, beavers, bluebirds, hawks, and sparrows. They live in a range of habitats in this single property: by the Charles River, alongside streams, on the shores of a former millpond, in oak and pine trees, in grasslands, and inside swamps and marshes. By exploring some of the sanctuary’s more than nine miles of easy walking trails, little ones can glimpse this wildlife in its habitat, and older kids can learn a bit of land-use history. After all, it wasn’t so long ago that a gristmill and sawmill on the property harnessed the water power of a Charles River tributary to operate.

For History Lovers: Borderland State Park

Where: Easton and Sharon, MA
Total distance: 6.3 miles
Hiking time: 3 hours 25 minutes

Borderland State Park is the former estate of Harvard botanist Oakes Ames and his wife, Blanche. Oakes was one of the country’s earliest researchers of orchids, while Blanche was an artist, author, and inventor. Blanche teamed up with Oakes to produce scientifically accurate orchid illustrations for his research, and together they created a body of work that led orchids to become the most-documented plant species — ever.

Both Oakes and Blanche came from wealthy, prominent families. Oakes was the son of Massachusetts Governor Oliver Ames, while Blanche was born into one of the leading families of Lowell, Massachusetts. They started to acquire the land that would become borderland in 1900. Blanche designed the estate’s stone manor herself, which was built with stones that had already existed on the property. The Ameses and their children moved into the house just before its official completion in 1912, and worked to establish their land as a wildlife sanctuary and forest preserve. Foresters helped the family build fire roads on their land, which are now the park’s hiking trails.

Today, Borderland is home to a range of plant and animal life. Water lilies thrive in the park’s six ponds, while deer, rabbits, otters, and other critters reside on land. Embark on this six-mile-plus journey to see them all, plus a film location for the movie Shutter Island.

For Dog Owners: Dogtown Woods

Where: Gloucester, MA
Total distance: 2.5 miles
Hiking time: 1 hour 30 minutes

The Dogtown Woods are an aptly named place to take Rufus for a long walk. They’re also downright bizarre. First settled in the mid-1600s, the secluded area in Gloucester offered protection for the community that lived there. But when the American Revolution reared its head, men left to fight in the war while their wives maintained their homes in Gloucester. Some say the settlement got its name from the dogs that the women in the settlement owned for protection, while others claim a pack of wild dogs took over the land once humans left it. When the war ended and settlers gradually moved closer to the harbor to make a living fishing, Dogtown’s dissipation became imminent. By 1830, the settlement had been completely abandoned.

A century later, in the 1930s, wealthy philanthropist and Gloucester native Roger Babson devised an idea for the spot. To give unemployed skilled workers jobs during the Great Depression, he purchased part of the land that makes up Dogtown. Then, he commissioned stonecutters to carve sayings into more than 20 impressive boulders scattered around Dogtown Commons, the settlement’s former town center. Babson, who founded Babson College in Wellesley, had some words of advice carved into the stones: “Keep Out of Debt” and “Be on Time” are just a few nuggets of his wisdom.

These days, the Dogtown Woods make up 3,600 acres of the Essex National Heritage Area. The inspirational boulders are still there, as are dozens of cellar holes where colonial homes once stood. A trip to the woods will prove to be curious experience, and exploring its winding trails and air of mystery is best enjoyed in the company of a furry friend.

For Adrenaline Junkies: Mount Watatic

Where: Ashburnham, MA
Total distance: 3 miles
Hiking time: 2.5 hours

Mount Watatic is a monadnock, defined as rocky hill or small mountain rising from a mostly level surrounding landscape. (For those thinking of Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire, a monadnock is a type of land formation as well as the name of the Jaffrey, New Hampshire, peak that sits less than 20 miles north of Watatic.) The 1,832-foot mountain is one of the highest east of Massachusetts’s Connecticut River, and is often visited by bird-watchers, as it is one of the most popular spots for hawk observation in the Northeast.

Climbing the mountain makes for one of the most exhilarating hikes in Eastern Massachusetts. A journey to the top culminates with views all the way to the Green Mountains in Vermont, and to the peaks of southern New Hampshire. If weather permits, Boston can be seen in the east, while suburban towns can be seen before it. Hikers will spot farms, mountains, hills, a fire tower, and more.

This post was first published in 2019 and has been updated. 

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