July 5th Day Trips

Ferry to Provincetown, MA
http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/ptown_main.html

This summer, make the trip between Boston and Provincetown in speed and style, in just 90 minutes. And with more onboard amenities and services than any other ferry in New England, getting there is half the fun. Our ferry makes it easy for everyone to enjoy the restaurants, beaches, shopping and nightlife unique to Provincetown and the outer cape.

Concord, MA
http://www.concordma.gov/Pages/index

Concord, signifying agreement and harmony, was incorporated as the first inland settlement in Massachusetts through a grant from the Massachusetts General Court dated September 12, 1635.  As the scene of the first battle of the American Revolutionary War (War for Independence) on April 19, 1775, it is considered the birthplace of the nation, where the “shot heard ‘round the world” for liberty and self government was fired.

Within walking distance of Concord Center are The Concord Museum, Orchard House, the Old Manse, the Old North Bridge, Minuteman National Historic Park, Emerson House, and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.  Walden Pond, which served as the inspiration for Thoreau's Walden in 1854, is nearby and offers a variety of recreational opportunities and hiking trails.

Located 20 miles west of Boston, Concord's population has remained stable at 16,000 over the past several decades.  It is a picturesque New England community of handsome residences, preserved open spaces, family-owned farms and thriving commercial centers.  The town is served by MBTA commuter rail to Boston, Cambridge and Fitchburg; and a commuter bus to Boston.  State highway Route 2 runs through Concord, and Routes 128/95 and 495 are conveniently accessed.

Boston Harbor Islands
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/metroboston/harbor.htm
http://www.bostonislands.com/

This 17-island state park is part of the 34-island Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. They are a wonderful natural resource, only 45 minutes by ferry from downtown Boston. Visitors to the park enjoy shell and slate beaches, easy hiking paths, old hay fields gone wild with bayberry, raspberry and elderberry, and old roadways to historic foundations and forts. Shade is found at picnic sites, trailside benches, and on wooded trails. There are many historic and scenic harbor vistas such as Dorchester, Quincy, Hull and Hingham Bays, the Blue Hills, Boston's skyline, 34 islands, and outward to Massachusetts Bay.

Crane Beach, Ipswich, MA
http://www.thetrustees.org/pages/294_crane_beach.cfm

The white sands of Crane Beach stretch for miles along both sides of Castle Neck, forming one of the most picturesque swimming beaches in all of New England. More than 1,200 acres of beachfront, dunes, and maritime forest are managed for both recreation and conservation. Elevated boardwalks, vegetation management programs, and fencing protect the dunes. More than five miles of designated trails traverse an extensive dune complex featuring swales that support amphibians and invertebrates.

You can catch the Ipswich Essex Explorer Shuttle leaving from Boston at North Station on the Green Line (http://www.ipswich-essexexplorer.com/).

Newburyport, MA
http://www.newburyportchamber.org/index.html

Newburyport draws visitors from around New England and the world, who flock year-round to this seaport rich in history and beauty. Enjoy a walking tour, by yourself or with a guide, around this beautiful and historic seaport.

Newburyport/Plum Island is world-famous as a “natural history” destination. Recognized as one of the nation's finest birdwatching areas, birders and nature enthusiasts from around the world come to this area to observe a tremendous diversity of habitats and species. Whether you are interested in studying plants, birds, whales, or experiencing incredible habitats such as the salt marshes or tide pools, the Newburyport/Plum Island area offers all these and much more

The MBTA runs a line from North Station on the Green Line to Newburyport.