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Photo: Jay Burnham, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Historical estate and nature preserve. The Italian and Rose gardens are showstoppers any time of year. Over 5 mi of hiking trails wind along sun-dappled lawns scattered with statues, fountains, and curated plantings. Tours of the Great House and gardens are available. Picnicking available along the properties ocean shore, a social media must. The gift shop has some great on-site only memorabilia. Constant events during the warmer months. Set location of many Hollywood films. Advance passes strongly recommended. No beach access from Castle Hill.
Castle Hill is a 56,881 sq ft (5,284.4 m2) mansion in Ipswich, Massachusetts, which was completed in 1928 as a summer home for Mr. and Mrs. Richard Teller Crane, Jr. It is also the name of the 165-acre (67 ha) drumlin surrounded by sea and salt marsh that the home was built atop. Both are part of the 2,100-acre (850 ha) Crane Estate, located on Argilla Road. The estate includes the historic mansion, 21 outbuildings, and landscapes overlooking Ipswich Bay on the seacoast off Route 1, north of Boston. Its name derives from a promontory in Ipswich, Suffolk, England, from which many early Massachusetts Bay Colony settlers immigrated.
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Crane Estate
A 1200-acre reservation of beachfront, dunes and maritime forests with 5.5 miles of raised boardwalk trails. Crane Beach's annual sand sculpture competition Sandblast! is held every August. In-season: lifeguards and rangers, bike rack, bathhouses with toilets and changing area, outside showers, Store (refreshments and merchandise), picnic tables, drinking water fountains, transportation for mobility-impaired and challenged visitors. Off-season: portable toilets.
Feel the Atlantic wind in your hair throughout these 77 sandy acres at the southern tip of Plum Island. Excellent ocean swimming. Stay away from any fenced off areas, this is an important nesting area for the rare piping plover. Get here early, only 15 parking spots available. Restrooms in season, and some beach wheelchair access.
Almost a thousand acres of rolling, verdant fields; Appleton Farms has been in constant agrarian use since 1638. Farm stand on site. A variety of walking loops take most visitors about 2-3 hours to complete. Many historical buildings dot the property and tours are available. Owned and operated by the Trustees.
Cleaveland Farm
3,000 acres of parkland offering hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing on 40 miles of trails. Additionally, Hood Pond offers excellent fishing, boating, and other water-based activities. Two small parking lots along the southern park border on Ipswich Road. A third lot is in the north on Linebrook Road. The Bay Circuit Trail.