1. The Inn At Castle Hill
City: Ipswich, MA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (978) 412-2555
Address: 280 Argilla Rd.
Description: This elegant oceanfront inn provides a comfortable retreat on the grounds of the Crane Estate and is a short walk to Crane Beach, one of the most picturesque swimming beaches in all of New England. The grandeur is in the details here. Each of the inn’s 10 guest rooms has a private bath and has its own distinct style and character with its own color scheme and custom furnishings. The inn is a quiet refuge; there are no TVs, but Wi-Fi is available (if you insist). A full gourmet breakfast and tea on the veranda are included in all rates.
2. Ithaki
City: Ipswich, MA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (978) 356-0099
Address: 25 Hammett St.
Description: This modern taverna is an unexpected find in Ipswich, where the extensive lunch and dinner menus feature a wonderful combination of Greek- and Mediterranean-inspired dishes, some classic, some with a modern twist. Enjoy dishes like a grilled octopus salad with aioli, individually baked moussaka, stuffed grape leaves in lemon sauce, and braised lamb shanks. The appetizer platter with 4 types of spreads is delicious, as is the homemade pasta with Ipswich clams. The wine list is hefty and includes Greek vintages. Closed Mon.
3. Great House At Castle Hill
City: Ipswich, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (978) 356-4351
Address: 01938
Description: Perched on the highest hill in Ipswich with a wide lawn that slopes to the sea, the Great House at Castle Hill was built as a summer retreat by Richard T. Crane, a 19th-century plumbing-supply baron. The 59-room family home was built in the English country manor style in 1928. The estate itself comprises 2,100 acres and includes Crane Beach and the Inn at Castle Hill. Guided tours of the home as well as a popular landscape tour are offered May through Oct; check website for days and times. Other events are scheduled throughout the year, most notably a summer Thursday evening picnic concert series and a Christmas open house, when the estate is dressed up in its finest greenery for the season.
4. Crane Beach
City: Ipswich, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (978) 356-4354
Insider Pick:
Description: This spectacular 4-mile stretch of wide-open white sandy shoreline is by far the most popular beach on the North Shore. Administered by the Trustees of Reservations, Crane has plenty of parking (there’s a fee in season), restrooms, outside showers, and a snack bar. Crane Beach is also a wildlife refuge offering visitors a unique environment for a hike along the shore with more than 5 miles of trails that meander in and out of dunes (wear shoes appropriate for walking in soft sand). Crane Beach is also a nesting site for the piping plover; in summer visitors have a good opportunity to see this endangered species.
5. Wolf Hollow
City: Ipswich, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (978) 356-0216
Address: 114 Essex Rd.
Description: Since 1990 Wolf Hollow has been dedicated to the preservation of wolves and the education of the general public to dispel wolf-related myths. During a 1-hour structured presentation, you’ll get to meet several of these canines and observe wolf-pack behavior (which has much in common with human families) in action. Each session ends with a group howl—sometimes the pack answers back! Apr through Nov presentations are given on Sat and Sun; Dec through Mar presentations are on Sun only; check website for time.