Family Day in Newburyport
Newburyport, MA
We took advantage of a beautiful baseball and track-free April day to spend it as a family in Newburyport. After pinning so many places to visit in this area, I was super excited to explore it especially with my boys, Jared and Alex! The first stop on our way was the Plum Island Lighthouse.
As we drove through the beach community on Plum Island, we passed gorgeous views of the Merrimack River and ice cream and waterfront eateries. Plum Island Lighthouse was at the very north end of the peninsula. Surprisingly it was not located right on the water-but in the middle of a small park-perfect spot to take some close-up pictures.
Being off-season, we parked across the street from the lighthouse in the mostly empty North Point parking lot and spent the morning playing football and walking Plum Island Beach with Maisy. TIP: Dogs are allowed on the beach from September 16-May 14.
TIP: The Parker River Wildlife Refuge is also located on Plum Island. Since we had Maisy and dogs are not allowed any time of the year, we could not explore the refuge but hope to visit again to kayak or check out the Hellcat Boardwalk trail.
Downtown Newburyport was our next stop…I LOVE this charming town! The cobblestone streets were lined with red brick buildings with clothing, gift and home decor boutiques as well as restaurants and cafes-all within minutes of the beautiful Waterfront Park and the Harbor Walk. There are plenty of benches along the way to stop and enjoy candy from Simply Sweet or an ice cream from Harbor Creamery. We found the perfect grassy spot along the harbor to set up a picnic lunch…and boat/people watch.
With full bellies and the whole afternoon ahead of us, we hit the shops for a bit then made our way to the Clipper City Rail Trail. This beautiful paved trail is perfect for walking dogs, running and biking. Along much of the way it is fun to stop and look at the unique artwork and sculptures on the side of the trail.
TIP: We walked about a mile each way, but if you would like to extend your walk/bike you can cross the bridge over the Merrimack River and walk the Old Eastern Marsh Trail.
If you have time, the Riverwalk Brewing Company is a great stop and just off the rail trail. We found a table in the outdoor beer garden and were thrilled the brewery allowed Maisy to sit with us! So everyone was happy…Scott savoring his New England IPA, Jared and Alex enjoying their loaded nachos, Maisy eagerly waiting for food to fall and me just happy to be out with the whole family on this gorgeous day!
After dinner and appetizers at the brewery we ended our day at Michael’s Harborside for delicious seafood with a view. The location is perfect with outdoor decks overlooking the Merrimack River and Newburyport Harbor. Everyone loved their dishes-I especially recommend the clam chowder, not too thick and not too thin. With so much more to do in this coastal town, we will definitely be back again!
