Only a few miles north of Dock Sq along MA 127 is Halibut Point Reservation. A 10-minute walk through the forest brings you to yawning, abandoned granite quarries, huge hills of granite rubble, and a granite foreshore of tumbled, smoothed rock perfect for picnicking, sunbathing, reading or painting. The surf can be strong here, making swimming unwise, but natural pools can be good for wading or cooling your feet. A map is available at the entrance.
Halibut Point State Park & Reservation
Massachusetts
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
17.89 MILES
If you walk south on Lafayette from Derby St, you'll find yourself on the other side of the tracks (or river, in this case). Welcome to El Punto, or ‘The…
27.24 MILES
Spread across a 10-acre site, the Strawbery Banke Museum is an eclectic blend of period homes that date back to the 1690s. Costumed guides recount tales…
17.73 MILES
All of the art, artifacts and curiosities that Salem merchants brought back from the Far East were the foundation for this museum. Founded in 1799, it is…
17.79 MILES
The most poignant site in Salem is the Witch Trials Memorial, a quiet park behind the Peabody Essex Museum, where simple stones are inscribed with the…
17.73 MILES
Contained within the Peabody Essex Museum, this 16-room Chinese house was shipped to the museum from China's southeastern Huizhou region.
29.77 MILES
Georges Island is one of the transportation hubs for the Boston Harbor Islands. It is also the site of Fort Warren, a 19th-century fort and Civil War…
27.16 MILES
This 1760 structure is one of the finest Georgian houses in the US. Elizabeth and Mark Hunking Wentworth were among Portsmouth's wealthiest and most…
29.98 MILES
Designated a National Recreation Area, the Boston Harbor Islands consist of 34 islands with sandy beaches and hiking trails. Since the massive cleanup of…
Nearby Massachusetts attractions
1.27 MILES
In 1922, long before there was any municipal recycling program, Elis F Stenman decided that something useful should be done with all those daily…
2.33 MILES
The red fishing shack decorated with colorful buoys is known as Motif No 1, since it has been captured by so many artists for so many years. (Actually, it…
4.29 MILES
Some claim that Long Beach, which straddles the Rockport–Gloucester border, is the best beach on the North Shore. It is lovely indeed – ideal for swimming…
4.31 MILES
The biggest and best of Cape Ann's beaches is Wingaersheek Beach, a wide swath of sand surrounded by Ipswich Bay and guarded by Annisquam Lighthouse.
4.95 MILES
East of East Gloucester, on the way to Rockport, Good Harbor Beach is a spacious, sandy stretch surrounded by dunes. Walk out to Salt Island at low tide.
5.56 MILES
This small museum is a gem – particularly for its paintings by Gloucester native Fitz Henry Lane. Exhibits also showcase the region's granite-quarrying…
5.72 MILES
Visit Gloucester's working waterfront and see the ongoing restoration of wooden boats, watch the operation of a marine railway that hauls ships out of the…
8. North Shore Arts Association
5.76 MILES
With some 600 members, this vibrant local arts association has been hosting exhibits and performances since 1922. Visit the lovely harborside setting to…