Pie on the Beach, weekend getaway from Boston
Day Trip or Weekend Getaway
Overview
Day 1 (12 miles): local museum, orchard, estate slumming, beach & pub
Day 2 (7 miles): historic homes, river canoeing and local brewery
Whether you go for a day trip or a weekend getaway, this Ipswich excursion features all the things you'd want in a New England vacation: a beautiful beach, great seafood, lovely rides on country roads, history everywhere you look, and of course pie.
Logistics
Maps
Transportation
MBTA Commuter Train from Boston's North Station to Ipswich - 49 minute ride.
Friday Outbound: 3:20pm, 7:40pm (schedule)
Saturday Outbound: 9:30am, 11:30am
Saturday/Sunday Inbound: 3:00pm, 6:00pm, 9:12pm
Bikes
Urban AdvenTours - $35+ daily for hybrid, road, mountain, tandem and kids bikes with Kryptonite lock and helmet
Lodging
Ipswich Inn Bed & Breakfast, 2 East Street, Ipswich, MA, (978) 356-2431 - Ipswich makes for a wonderful weekend getaway, and the Ipswich Inn is a complete joy. All of the rooms in the historic home are charming, and the owner Ray is super friendly and quite a character. A full breakfast at the Inn's restaurant is included, and comes with a view of the beautiful backyard and the flock of wild turkeys that are the de facto pets of the Inn. $135+/night
Foote Brothers Canoe & Kayak (overnight camping)- "This overnight trip includes camping on Foote Brothers private island, located about two hours upstream from our rental office."
Cape Ann Camp Site - "Cape Ann Camp Site is located 30 miles northeast of Boston in the historic city of Gloucester. Established in 1949, Cape Ann Camp Site is a family owned and operated business built on the knowledge that the vacation is only as good as its destination — and you really can’t get any better than this small fishing village on the coast of Massachusetts.
What to bring?
Basket or pannier for picnicking, beach supplies
Trip Highlights
Day 1 - Saturday
A. Ipswich Commuter Rail or Ipswich Inn
Start your adventure!
B. Ipswich Museum, 54 S Main Street
Dive into 400 years of history at the Ipswich Museum. The two locations, a house dating to 1677 and another dating to 1800, are both a quick walk from the town center. The collections range from historical objects to decorative arts to fine art from the 17th through 20th centuries.
Saturday: 10 AM-4 PM
Sunday: 1-4 PM
C. Russell Orchards, 143 Argilla Road
Russell Orchards is a gem. Any day of the week from May through Thanksgiving you can stop in for the farmstand, scrumptious baked goods (pies and cider donuts are to die for), and their huge selection of delicious and unusual (and not too sweet!) fruit wines. Depending on the season, there's pick-your-own strawberries, blueberries, apples and more, and there are several festivals throughout the summer. Bring the kids to check out the farm animals, and don't leave without grabbing a pie and a bottle or two of wine to enjoy on the beach!
Open 9-6 daily from May through October; 9-5 daily in November
D. Crane Estate, 290 Argilla Road
Toilet magnate Richard Crane Jr.'s sprawling estate sits atop Castle Hill overlooking Crane Beach. Pop it into granny gear and crank your way up the hill for a stroll around the sprawling grounds, spectacular views included. Join a guided tour of the Great House or come on a summer Thursday for a free public concert on the "Grand Allee."
Saturday Tours for 1 hour between 10AM–2:00PM (last tour starts at 1PM)
Adults - $7, Children - free
E. Crane Beach, 310 Argilla Road
Hands down one of the most amazing beaches in America. Take a hike through the dunes, watch the beach triple in size with the receding tide, and stay for the sunset.
Year-round, daily, 8am to sunset. Free
F. Choate Bridge Pub, 3 S Main St
Fried clams and scallops just about as fresh as they could be. Ipswich is the birthplace of the fried clam, and the Choate Bridge Pub is a fun place to hang out with the locals and enjoy a few Ipswich Ales. It's cash only though, so come prepared!
Saturday / Sunday: 11am - 10pm
Day 2 - Sunday
A. Ipswich Inn
Begin your adventure!
B. Ipswich "First Period" Home Tour
Be sure to save time on your trip to Ipswich to bike around the residential streets near the town center. Ipswich has a remarkable number of still-inhabited houses built during the "First Period," 1625-1725. You can't miss them, but if you want a more comprehensive tour here's a detailed list and map of where to find them and information on their stories: website and google map.
C. Canoeing on the Ipswich River, Foote Brothers Canoe & Kayak, 230 Topsfield Road
If you turn your Ipswich trip into a weekend getaway, complement your biking with a little upper body workout and paddle up the Ipswich River! Foote Brothers Canoe and Kayak is located only a 3 mile ride from downtown Ipswich. Boats are available to rent for the day, or you can rent a canoe and paddle upriver to camp on one of the islands in the middle of the wildlife preserve.
April-October, 8am-6pm, $32+
D. Ipswich Ale Brewery, 2 Brewery Place
Nothing complements your fried clams like and Ipswich Ale or IPA, but so far there's been no public access to the brewery for tours or tastings. All that is about to change, however, with a restaurant and tasting room slated to open in Fall 2014...
E. Ipswich Commuter Train Station
Hope your adventure in Ipswich has been scenic, yummy and educational! Hope you brought some goodies for the train ride back to Boston.
