Castle Hill Tour: Highlights on the Hill
Join us for a leisurely tour of the Castle Hill grounds from our comfy tour cart. You will hear the rich history of the estate while enjoying the breathtaking views of the gardens, marsh, and water. This is the perfect way to get a comprehensive overview of the Crane Estate,… Read More
Castle Hill Tour: Highlights on the Hill
Join us for a leisurely tour of the Castle Hill grounds from our comfy tour cart. You will hear the rich history of the estate while enjoying the breathtaking views of the gardens, marsh, and water. This is the perfect way to get a comprehensive overview of the Crane Estate,… Read More
Homeschool Adventures: Session 1
Young explorers are invited to join us in September & October for a 4-part homeschool series that will get them active & moving with nature adventures, exercise, and outdoor skill building. While exploring Appleton Farms & the Crane Estate, participants complete active adventures & design challenges that will exercise both… Read More
Passport to the Past: Stevens-Coolidge Guided House Tour
Discover the stories behind the walls of one of North Andover’s historic gems. Join us for a guided tour of Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, a Colonial Revival treasure that reflects early 20th-century elegance and global influence. Once the summer home of Helen Stevens Coolidge and John Gardner Coolidge—a diplomat and… Read More
Autumn Equinox Sunset Hike at World's End
Join us at World’s End for a sunset hike in celebration of the Autumn Equinox. As we recognize this change in the season, this turning point in the year, we’ll take in the spectacular view of the setting sun and the Boston skyline. We’ll engage in a quiet mindful moment… Read More
CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike
Come explore the lesser-visited corners of Castle Hill and its surroundings with us. This hike is a CraneOutdoors guide favorite because it’s got a little bit of all the things that make the Crane Estate such a special place… A stroll along the spine of Castle Hill, starting at the… Read More
CraneOutdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River
One of the best ways to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate is a… Read More
CraneOutdoors: Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure
Kayaking the pristine, sheltered waters of the Essex River Basin offers one of the top on-the-water experiences to be had in Northeast. Add to that a hike on the area’s largest island and you have the makings of an epic adventure. This combined outdoor trip in the Crane Wildlife Refuge—home… Read More
CraneOutdoors: Sunset Kayak in the Crane Wildlife Refuge
There are few places on the North Shore that more reliably enjoy spectacular sunsets than the back side of Crane Beach, overlooking Essex Bay. On this outing into the… Read More
Farm Days at Appleton Farms
Celebrate the beauty of autumn with our annual Fall Celebration: Farm Days at Appleton Farms—a seasonal tradition filled with farm fun, crisp air, and colorful countryside views. Spend the day exploring all that fall has to offer on one of the oldest working farms in the country. Whether you’re looking… Read More
Scenic Songs: A Hiking Concert with Rachel Sumner
Calling all hiking enthusiasts and music lovers! The Trustees and Passim are thrilled to collaborate for the 2026 Scenic Songs series, bringing Passim’s renowned folk music to The Trustees’ special places across Massachusetts. Join us on the trail with some of your favorite performing artists for guided… Read More
Castle Hill Tour: Hollywood on the Hill
This guided tour highlights the many star-studded movies that have been filmed at Castle Hill over the past 40 years, such as The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009), The Equalizer (2014), and Little Women (2019). Hear behind-the-scenes stories about Timothée Chalamet, Matthew McConaughey, Jack Nicholson,… Read More