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If you’re new to paddling or simply don’t wish to deal with parking hassles, book a guided trip with Essex River Basin Adventures. They’ll set you up with all the gear you’ll need and provide valuable information on the ecology and history of the Essex River. Once you get on the water, the bay is your oyster—or, more appropriately, clam. Essex Bay, after all, is famous for its soft-shell or steamer clams, and you can expect to see plenty of clam diggers at work on the mud flats at low tide. And there’s no finer way to end your day on the water than with a carton of local fried wholebellies or bowl of steamers washed down with a local ale!
TIDAL BEACH CLAMBAKES
Formed 15,000 years ago by melting glaciers of the last Ice Age, the marsh serves as the feeding ground for many species of beautiful birds and abundant wildlife. For generations, it has sustained boat builders, fishermen, clammers, entrepreneurs, and characters of all sorts from the Agawam natives to the present residents. Essex is well known for its restaurants and antique shops. The famous Woodman's of Essex, known to be the inventor of the fried clam, still operates year round along the causeway today, and is a must stop for any fried clam enthusiast. Anyone who takes a particular interest in antiques will find themselves right at home, as there are over 25 antique shops in Essex, all within one mile of one another. If you want some more time outdoors, take some time to explore some of the local nature trails.
Great Marsh Brewery
It’s definitely one of the best things to do in Essex, MA. We take a deeper dive into the Essex MA Antique Trail in this blog, but what’s great about antiquing in Essex is there is something for every taste and budget. Whether you are looking for 17th century European furniture, a beautiful maritime painting, or an old record from your childhood, Essex has you covered. Essex, MA is a vibe and must visit on your trip to Cape Ann.
Location & Hours
Remember that a Massachusetts saltwater fishing license is required. We say this because public access here is hard to come by; however, that shouldn’t stop you from visiting this beautiful North Shore gem at least once. In addition to daily sightseeing cruises, Essex River Cruises offers private charters for all occasions. However, please keep in mind that our goal is to provide a quiet, relaxing, and informative tour for everyone. If you feel that an hour and a half (or 2) is too long for your child to handle, this may not be the trip for them. It is unfortunate to get stuck out on the water with an unhappy child.
The Essex Town Landing at 66 Main Street is the best option, although it requires a paddle of around 1.5 miles to reach the more open stretches of Essex Bay and the islands. The backside of Crane Beach is at least another 1.5 miles further. This can make for a rather strenuous day, especially for beginners. A popular destination for day-trippers is the backside of Crane Beach, where you can have a beautiful stretch of white sand all to yourself. There are stowaway compartments located under some of the seats.
CORPORATE OUTINGS, FAMILY PARTIES, ENGAGEMENT PARTIES, REUNIONS, AND MORE!
Guided kayak trips to Choate and around the Crane Wildlife Refuge can be booked through the Trustees and Essex River Basin Adventures (see below). Usually, we begin opening up cruises for reservations about 2 weeks prior to the cruise. However if you would like to secure your seats ASAP, we suggest periodically checking our online booking calendar until your cruise opens up. Located right in the heart of Essex, MA, Essex River Cruises has been offering guests river cruises for over 20 years. Essex River Cruises has 2 vessels the Essex River Queen I and the Essex River Queen II and they offer public and private cruises ranging from 90 minutes to 7 hours. If you have a group of ten or more and you’d like to enjoy one of our scheduled trips, please call us to obtain a group rate.
About the Train
Ok so if you are visiting Cape Ann, Woodman’s is a must stop. This iconic New England Seafood shack was founded back in 1914, making it through two world wars and the Great Depression, and it’s easy to see why it has been successful for so long. Another launch site that puts you much closer to Crane Beach and Choate Island is Clammer’s Beach, at the end of Conomo Point.
Essex Offers Surprising Delights, On and Off the Main Road - Northshore Magazine
Essex Offers Surprising Delights, On and Off the Main Road.
Posted: Wed, 31 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Dine in town at one of the many fine restaurants surrounding us after the cruise. Mimosas, wine, and beer for purchase (liquor sales starting at 11 am.) We will provide complimentary muffins, coffee & juice. Just as impressive are the historic sites, including Gillette Castle, Goodspeed Opera House and the Haddam Swing Bridge. Upon Becky‘s return to Deep River Landing, the steam train welcomes passengers for the return trip back to Essex Station.
The cemetery contains a number of soldiers from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. While on your journey you could catch some stripers for dinner or even make your way all the way out to Crane’s Beach for some sunbathing. We think Crane’s is one of the best beaches in the area and they even have a concession stand where you could refuel.
Surrounded by fine restaurants, antique shops, working museums, and cultural attractions, you'll cruise through spectacular views of scenic salt marshes with rich unique wildlife. The steam locomotive pulls vintage coaches through the quintessential New England towns of Deep River and Chester. A natural highlight is the undeveloped Selden Neck State Park, accessible only by boat.
Plan to launch and haul here on the upper half of the tide; otherwise you’ll be dragging your yak over the sticky mud flats. Non-resident parking is available about 1/8-mile down Conomo Point Road. Gratuities are appreciated if you feel that you had exceptional service during your time on board, but they are by no means mandatory. In over 25 years of plying the Essex River, we have never had anyone get seasick due to rough waters. The Essex River is a very sheltered area, with the well known Crane Beach acting as a great barrier from the occasional rough seas of the open ocean. But, in all seriousness, we think that you will have fun and it’s worth the short drive.
Whether it’s traditional beer pretzels, burgers, tacos, mac and cheese or wings, Great Marsh has you covered. The Farm Bar and Grille also has a comfortable bar area with a nice selection of homemade cocktails and a respectable selection of bottled beers and beers on tap. It’s a great spot to watch a game or just unwind with some delicious comfort food. If you are looking for a relaxed, down-home place to enjoy a meal that doesn’t necessarily involve seafood you should try out The Farm Bar and Grille in Essex. We recommend making a day of it and grabbing lunch at one of our favorite spots in town like Woodman’s or CK Pearl.
Determine your length of cruise, capacity, and choose what type of cruise you want. We offer cruises with food onboard and also offer our Tidal Beach Clambakes. There are certainly enough seats for everyone on board, but you are not required to stay in them for the whole cruise. On the contrary, we encourage everyone to move around during the cruise to get different perspectives! Note that this means larger groups, especially on busier days, may not get to sit all together. Both of our vessels are equipped with an on board marine restroom, known as a "head"!
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