CraneOutdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River
One of the best was 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
Oktoberfest at Appleton Farms
Raise your steins and join us for a spirited celebration of autumn at our annual Oktoberfest at Appleton Farms! Enjoy a German inspired afternoon filled with craft brews, live music, and family-friendly fun. During the event, participants can indulge in unique Oktoberfest inspired food offerings from Kefi Catering, DownRiver Ice… 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, Emma… Read More
Castle Hill Tour: Cupola with a View
This is our most Instagram-able tour experience and a particular treat for those interested in the architecture of the Great House and its surrounding property. You’ll gain insight into the architectural choices made by David Adler as he designed and built the Great House, the second home the Cranes built… Read More
Castle Hill Tour: The Cat's Meow
Our children’s tour, The Cat’s Meow, is designed for children age 3-8. Imagine living in 1929 and visiting the Crane family at their summer home in Ipswich. The house is so big and Mrs. Crane’s kitty, Ptolemy, has gone missing just before the party! Can you help a family… Read More
Castle Hill Tour: Guest of the Cranes
It’s 1929 and you’ve just arrived after a long journey to see the Great House at Castle Hill and to visit your friends, the Crane family, of Crane plumbing fame. You are greeted at the door by household staff and your adventure as a “Guest of the Cranes” begins. A… Read More
Castle Hill Tour: Behind the Scenes in the Great House
Do you love checking out basements, kitchens, and other out of the way rooms? Our behind-the-scenes tour takes you past the beautiful facade and explores how the house ran when the Cranes were in residence. You’ll learn how a plumbing magnate incorporated the latest technology of the era into his… Read More
Halloween on the Hill 2025
This October, the gardens at Long Hill come alive with Halloween magic! Join us for Halloween on the Hill, an enchanting outdoor experience filled with glowing jack-o’-lanterns, creative seasonal displays, and family-friendly frights. Wander our woodland trail lined with over 1,500 hand-carved themed jack-o-lantern pumpkins, larger-than-life Halloween decorations, hundreds of… Read More
CraneOutdoors: Sunset Hike to Cedar Point
There’s no better excuse to explore Cedar Point—the western-most part of the Crane Estate—than a hike at sunset. This two-hour adventure in a lesser-known part of the property has it all… A stroll through the beautifully manicured gardens of the Great House A hike down the Woodland Trail leading… Read More
Halloween on the Hill 2025
This October, the gardens at Long Hill come alive with Halloween magic! Join us for Halloween on the Hill, an enchanting outdoor experience filled with glowing jack-o’-lanterns, creative seasonal displays, and family-friendly frights. Wander our woodland trail lined with over 1,500 hand-carved themed jack-o-lantern pumpkins, larger-than-life Halloween decorations, hundreds of… Read More
Sensory-Friendly Hour at Halloween on the Hill
Join us at Long Hill for our Sensory & Accessible Friendly Hour at Halloween on the Hill! This offers a dedicated hour with a reduced number of guests and a quieter sensory-sensitive environment in the midst of our Halloween on the Hill event. This earlier timeframe on select dates is… 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 heart of the Crane Wildlife Refuge, we will be paddling in the protected waters of one of the most scenic… Read More