With warm weather and gardens in full bloom, it’s the perfect time to pack a picnic and bring some delicious food and enjoy the beautiful New England views. Here are some of our favorite spots on the North Shore, as well as some great places to grab a bite to eat along the way.
Andover
Harold Parker State Forest
This huge forest offers many different trails and paths for hiking and has 11 different ponds. Explore the forest areas and look for turtles and salamanders before settling down for your picnic.
133 Jenkins Rd., Andover, mass.gov/locations/harold-parker-state-forest
Beverly
Lynch Park
Enjoy your picnic in the riverside park, on one of the two beaches or in the rose garden in this beautiful place.
55 Upper St., Beverly, bevrec.com/the-park
Long Hill
Stop by this Trustees of the Reservations property and enjoy your picnic amidst beautiful plantings, garden rooms and a Federal-style mansion that dates back over a century of history.
572 Essex St., Beverly, thetrustees.org/place/long-hill
Essex
Stavros Reservation
Work up an appetite with a lovely stroll up the hill and reward yourself with a picnic lunch with pristine views of Crane Beach and the mouth of the Essex River.
1-15 Island Rd., Essex, thetrustees.org/place/stavros-reservation
Gloucester
Fort Park Stage
This seaside park offers plenty of options for a picnic: lounge in the gazebo, eat at one of the many picnic tables, or dine on the sand of tree-lined Half Moon Beach, a tiny, beautiful cove overlooking the harbor. Grilling is allowed and the park is large—perfect for turning a picnic into an outdoor party.
24 Hough Ave., Gloucester
Rafe’s Abyss
This beautiful park, covering just 10 hectares, offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and offers great places to stop and relax along the way.
140 Hesperus Ave., Gloucester, capeanntrailstewards.org
Ipswich
Castle Hill
Live out your fairytale dreams on this beautiful property. Carry your picnic basket to one of the many perfect spots on the property, such as the Grand Allee behind the Great House, one of the historic, manicured garden areas, or the secluded, scenic Steep Hill Beach at the bottom of the hill.
290 Argilla Rd., Ipswich, thetrustees.org/place/castle-hill-on-the-crane-estate
Appleton Farms
With stroller-friendly paths, shaded spots, a stone-walled paddock, farm animals, and quintessential New England views, this spot is a great picnic spot for the whole family. Be sure to complement your meal with some bread, snacks, cheese, or fruit from the on-site farm store.
MA-1A, South Hamilton, thetrustees.org/place/appleton-farms
Newbury
Old Town Hill
Climb to the open field on the 51-meter-high coastal promontory, enjoy the magnificent views and dine with your friends and family.
Newman Street, Newbury, thetrustees.org/place/old-town-hill
Newburyport
Maudslay State Park
Gardens, meadows, towering pines and views of the Merrimack River provide plenty of lush picnic spots at this local park.
74 Curzon Mill Rd., Newburyport, mass.gov/locations/maudslay-state-park
Atkinson Common
Located just outside of downtown Newburyport, this 8.5-acre park is filled with gardens, historic structures and notable monuments that make it a great place for a picnic.
388 High St., Newburyport
Manchester
Coolidge Reservation
A short hike along a forest trail will bring you to a sprawling meadow with water views, trees for the kids to climb in, and a rocky boardwalk to explore. Work up an appetite on the Bungalow Hill Trail before settling down for your meal outdoors. Important note: The meadow is only open Friday through Monday.
Summer St., Manchester-by-the-Sea, thetrustees.org/place/coolidge-reservation
Masconomo Park
Follow Beach Street and turn right at Captain Dusty’s Ice Cream to reach this perfect picnic spot, where you can feast on the lawn, gazebo, or on a bench along the harborfront. Kids will love the park’s playground and watching the trains go by.
60 Beach St., Manchester-by-the-Sea
Marblehead
Crocker Park
Enjoy your next picnic high above the harbor at the end of Front Street in Old Town. Settle down on the lawn or in the gazebo and enjoy your meal with a beautiful view of the ocean.
188 Washington St., Marblehead
North Andover
The Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens
The property features flower gardens overlooking forest and fields, as well as a beautiful historic home. Picnic tables are available on-site, as well as large fields to spread out your blankets.
137 Andover St., North Andover, thetrustees.org/place/stevens-coolidge-house-and-gardens
Rockport
Bearskin neck
After admiring this picturesque New England downtown, stroll down scenic Bearskin Neck, lined with shops, and enjoy a leisurely picnic on a stone bench with unparalleled ocean views. Top off your meal with an ice cream or cupcake from one of the Neck’s independent shops.
Bearskin Neck, Rockport
Halibut Point State Park
This spectacular abandoned granite quarry offers hiking trails and expansive views of the coast as far as New Hampshire and, on a clear day, Maine. Enjoy your meal on the scenic rocks by the water, on the edge of the quarry, or on the lawn surrounding the visitor center.
God Ave., Rockport, mass.gov/locations/halibut-point-state-park
Topsfield
Bradley Palmer State Park
On this 721-acre former estate, trails, meadows and old carriage roads lead to a perfect picnic spot that is open from sunrise to sunset.
40 Asbury St., Topsfield, mass.gov/locations/bradley-palmer-state-park
Lynn
Red Rock Park
Enjoy the ocean breeze and relax at this waterfront spot in Lynn with over two miles of land and trails.
188 Lynn Shore Dr., Lynn, lynnma.gov/about/lynnshoredrive.shtml
WHERE TO SHOP
Shubie’s, Marblehead
The North Shore’s most famous deli, offering a wide selection of packaged snacks, fine wine, cheese, grab-and-go meals and sandwiches – two dishes that caught our attention are the Poke Wrap with marinated ahi tuna, avocado, pickled spicy vegetables and Sriracha mayo and the Turkey with Brie and Green Apple, each followed by a freshly baked biscuit.
16 Atlantic Ave., Marblehead, 781-631-0149, shubies.com
Joppa Fine Foods, Neumünster
Think of it this way: fine dining meets summer picnic. Everything is fresh and the menu changes daily, but look for the crispy chicken sandwich, the homemade biscuits and the prosciutto cotto toast with Vermont butter and rosemary aioli and topped with salty Italian meats.
50 Water St., Newburyport, 987-462-4662, joppafinefoods.com
ChezCasa, Salem
This local spot takes the sandwich joint to the next level with delicious, home-cooked meals that are great for takeout. Enjoy homemade potato chips with your sandwich or salad of choice and wash it down with a biscuit. Favorites include the Chopper Cheese, which features freshly chopped beef, mushrooms, fried onions, American cheese, and chipotle mayo on a grilled sub.
97 Bridge St., Salem, MA, 978-744-2143, chezcasafood.com
Karl’s Sausage Kitchen, Peabody
At Karl’s you can enjoy a self-assembled picnic with homemade cold cuts, cheeses from all over the world, freshly baked bread and European delicacies such as cookies, sweets and chocolate.
1 Bourbon St., Peabody, 987-854-6650, karlssausage.com
Vidalia, Beverly
It may look like an old-fashioned farmers market, but Vidalia’s is a serious one-stop shop for fresh baked goods, premium produce, unusual foods and unique grab-and-go sandwiches. Try the eggplant panini with roasted eggplant and red peppers, kalamata olives, red onion, fresh mozzarella and garlic mayonnaise, or the Utopia sandwich with hummus, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, shredded carrots and sprouts.
9 West St., Beverly Farms, 987-998-4814, facebook.com/Vidalias
Duckworth’s, Gloucester
Open Wednesday through Saturday, the revamped Duckworth’s is more casual and convenient than the fine-dining restaurant of the same name that used to occupy this spot. The new version of Duckworth’s offers great grab-and-go meals and desserts, with a wide variety of sides, sandwiches and delicious mains like freshly pressed Cubanos, homemade falafels and crispy polenta. Don’t forget to grab some of the fresh cookies or cakes for a sweet treat.
197 E. Main St., Gloucester, 987-282-4426, duckworthsgloucester.com
Bucciarelli’s, Salisbury
Just outside of Newburyport and close to the beaches of Salisbury is this great family-run butcher shop. Get a delicious specialty sandwich to go or choose from a wide selection of prepared meals. Try the Bucciarelli specialty sandwich, packed with fresh ingredients, or the Pollo Panini with grilled chicken, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions and chipotle mayo on ciabatta.
147 Bridge Rd., Salisbury, 987-518-3131, bucciarellisbutchershop.com
