September 2017

We at Essex Street Inn love to suggest fun and interesting sites for our guests to explore in the area and September is the best month to do it thanks to the Essex National Heritage Area’s Trails and Sails events. “Trails & Sails” is two weekends that offer more than 150 FREE events and opportunities to explore our beloved region’s cultural, historic, and natural sites: September 15-17 & September 22-24!

Enjoy a variety of guided walks, paddles, historical tours and other adventures for all ages, skill levels, and interests that will connect you to the spectacular places, history and heritage that define the Essex National Heritage Area on Boston’s legendary North Shore.

Newburyport is an ideal location for setting up home base to for participating in many of these wonderful activities. Here are a few of our favorites!

Custom House Maritime Museum of Newburyport
Newburyport, as the eastern seacoast’s first major commercial port and official birthplace of the United States Coast Guard, has a rich maritime heritage. Tour the historic 182-year old Federal Custom House designed by Robert Mills, architect of the Washington Monument and the U.S. Treasury Building and discover the city’s prolific shipbuilding industry, Marine Society and extensive maritime trade.

Trails & Sails Dates
September 15, 2017, 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM
September 16, 2017, 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM
September 17, 2017, 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM
September 22, 2017, 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM
September 23, 2017, 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM
September 24, 2017, 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM

Birding the Little River Trail System
The Little River Trail System in Newburyport covers the historic Common Pasture and the Upper Little River head waters and is one of the regions premiere spots for birding. The walk is easy terrain. Park at the Little River Nature Trail Head. (Storey Avenue, right on Low Street, right on Hale Street, 1 mile down on right.)

Trails & Sails Dates
September 16, 2017, 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Moseley Estate at Maudslay State Park
Maudsley State Park is the hidden jewel of Newburyport. This is an excellent and rare opportunity to join the park interpreter on a tour of the former Moseley Family estate to view the house sites, gardens and farm complex area and talk about their historical significance.

Trails & Sails Dates
September 23, 2017, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Kayak Tour at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Is kayaking through the Great Marsh just the adventure you’re looking for? Bring your kayak, paddle and personal flotation device and join refuge staff on an informative tour through this wonderful natural resource. This event is limited to 12 boats. By preregistration only; contact the refuge at (978) 465-5753

Trails & Sails Dates
September 23, 2017, 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Newburyport Clipper Heritage Trail
Historian Ghlee E. Woodworth is a wealth of information and great stories about Newburyport history. Learn about John Quincy Adams’ first love, Mary Frazier, abolitionists and silversmiths, and about a small group of citizens who saved the downtown from being demolished during urban renewal. There’s history in every footstep you take.

Trails & Sails Dates
September 16, 2017, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Harbor Light on Plum Island
Originally constructed in 1788, the historic Newburyport Harbor Light on Plum Island offer visitors a panoramic view of Plum Island, Newburyport Harbor, and the surrounding areas, including the Isles of Shoals, the coast of Maine, and much of Cape Ann. Tour guides will provide a brief history and answer questions.

Trails & Sails Dates
September 24, 2017, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Lowell’s Boat Shop (Amesbury)
Lowell’s Boat Shop was founded in 1793 and is the oldest continuously operating wooden boat shop in the United States and a National Historic Landmark. Located on the banks of the Merrimack River in Amesbury, Lowell’s continues to build wooden boats in the traditional method and will be welcoming guests to learn more about its unique history and the craft of wooden boat building as it was practiced then and continues to be today.

Trails & Sails Dates
September 15, 2017, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
September 22, 2017, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Plum Island Airport : New England Cradle of Aviation (Newbury)
Guided tours of the Burgess Aviation Museum! Tours feature photographs, artifacts, and a diorama celebrating the 1910 flying field at Plum Island in Newbury – New England’s first – and the current Plum Island Airport.

Trails & Sails Dates
September 16, 2017, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Whittier Home & Museum (Amesbury)
Tour the home of John Greenleaf Whittier, renowned Poet, Abolitionist and crusader for Social Justice. See where he lived during his adult life and wrote his most famous work, “Snowbound” and learn why Whittier’s beliefs are still relevant in today’s divisive climate of social unrest.

Trails & Sails Date
September 16, 2017, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
September 23, 2017, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
September 24, 2017, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
(Tours Start on the Hour)

For more details, directions, and additional events, check out the Essex National Heritage Trails & Sails Website!