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Outdoor Activities & Sports

North of Boston & Merrimack Valley

It's evident the moment you arrive in this area: North of Boston & Greater Merrimack Valley is the ideal destination for indoor and outdoor fun! The coastline offers whale watching, fishing and tanning. Greater Merrimack Valley, on the other hand, is a destination for its parks and forests for hiking, camping and biking opportunities.

Adventure Trips

Companies like Wolfe Adventure & Tours can help you explore this area on the ground with their hiking tours or on waterways with their kayaking journeys. From the coast to the forests, there's a lot to see, and tour companies can help make the most of your experience.

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Beaches

North of Boston has 100 miles of coastline and presents unique beachgoing opportunities. Salisbury Beach offers a boardwalk/midway experience. Rockport has family-friendly Mother's Beach and Front Beach. Gloucester's out-of-the-way gems like Half Moon Beach are waiting to be enjoyed.

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Biking

Enjoy the historically rich trails of Lexington and Concord's Minuteman Bikeway. See what inspired Henry David Thoreau by exploring Walden Woods.

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Camping

Eight state parks offer camping right next to hiking trails, biking paths and fishing. Wyman's Beach Family Campground in Westford has two beaches that surround lakes filled with trout.

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Fishing

For information about fishing in Massachusetts, please visit MassWildlife.

Golf

This area has a historical love for golf, hosting the 4th U.S. Open back in 1898. With more than 30 public courses and several Par 3s, no other part of Massachusetts can claim as many courses so close together.

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Skiing/Snowboarding

With Nashoba Valley and other great skiing and snowboarding locations in the area, you'll never be at a loss for a great trail.

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Sports Teams & Venues

Welcome to the home of nationally competitive amateur sports: the Lowell Spinners, Single-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox, and the Lowell Devils, AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils. It's also where you'll find the New England Riptide — winners of the inaugural Women's National Fastpitch Softball League championship.

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State Parks & Forests

Enjoy parks like Lowell National Historical Park and Minuteman National Historical Park and their options for camping and hiking, or simply relax amid nature.

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Water Sports

The Concord River offers whitewater rafting with its Class III and IV rapids. For water adventures with fewer chances for whiplash, the Merrimack River offers canoeing, sailing and kayaking through historic Lowell.

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Whale Watching

Gloucester is the closest point in Massachusetts to whale feeding grounds. This means less travel time and more ooohing and ahhhing.

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Featured Cities

Gloucester:

Here you'll find rugged fishing ports, great seafood restaurants and exciting whale-watching expeditions.

Find: Lodging | Attractions

Concord:

Concord is where the famous Walden Pond and homes of many literary heroes are located.

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Salisbury:

Salisbury is the state's northernmost coastal town and home to the 520-acre Salisbury Beach State Reservation.

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Featured Attractions

The Lowell National Historical Park

Tour an old cotton mill, ride aboard an early 1900s trolley and learn about Lowell's storied past. Learn more>>

Newburyport's High Street

This historic street is lined with early-American mansions that were built by wealthy sea captains and merchants. Learn more>>

National Heritage Museum

This museum includes exhibits on everything from early-American 20th-century photography to New England neon. Learn more>>

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