North Andover, Massachusetts, is a town of approximately 32,000 residents in Essex County — one of the most graciously composed and most historically layered North Shore communities in Greater Boston, a place whose combination of a beautifully intact colonial-era town common surrounded by white-steepled churches and antique homes, a major historic estate garden, a remarkably rich network of Trustees-managed hiking properties, and a dining corridor that has quietly become one of the best in the Merrimack Valley give it a character that consistently earns the loyalty of both residents and visitors who discover it. Incorporated in 1855 from the original Andover — though the settlement itself predates that, as one of the original 17th-century townships of the Massachusetts Bay Colony — North Andover carries one of the most intact colonial streetscapes in Essex County in the area around its Town Common, where 18th and 19th century homes line the green in the kind of composition that travel writers describe and New Englanders take quietly for granted. Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens at 153 Chickering Road is North Andover’s most stunningly beautiful and most devotedly visited historic destination — open Monday and Thursday through Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM with vibrant tulips in full bloom in May, various blue flowers, crabapple flowers, and lilac flowers across seasons, abstract and colorful elephant sculptures by artists, chairs everywhere for sitting and lingering, a Winterlights holiday display described as a great experience for families of all ages, a small snack shop with a small menu, native and pollinator-friendly plantings, and a historic house open for self-guided tours — described as a heart-warming experience to enjoy the garden in May when various tulips are in full bloom, as a hidden oasis of peace and wonder where the $15 experience is worth far more, and as a gorgeous property that is a perfect place for a picnic especially during the spring bloom event. The North Andover Historical Society at 800 Massachusetts Avenue is North Andover’s most comprehensively equipped and most forward-thinking civic heritage institution — open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 AM to 2 PM with excellent exhibits at the Stevens Center, a large movie theater for lectures and movies, function space, a growing cafe, 100% sustainable power thanks to a generous patron, special events and curated talks, and guided walks to the many historical homes in the neighborhood passing antiquated cemeteries and ending at the Parson Barnard House — described as a beautiful new facility with a growing number of exhibits that has excellent exhibits and is fun for both kids and adults, and as a site with so much to offer where history is being made and the special events and curated talks are what to look out for. Parson Barnard House at 179 Osgood Street rounds out North Andover’s historical picture as the town’s most evocative and most tangibly colonial landmark — open Wednesday through Saturday from 8 AM with property walks, signage describing the history, and private tours available showing items not on normal display, staff described as most passionate about what they do — described as full of great history in a fantastic site, as a lovely little place full of history, and as a very cool look into local history whose significance is evident the moment you walk the grounds.
North Andover’s outdoor landscape is defined by Lake Cochichewick — the largest natural lake entirely within a single Massachusetts town, serving as the town’s drinking water supply — and by a remarkable collection of Trustees properties, town-managed conservation areas, and state forest bordering the town that together make this one of the most trail-rich communities on the North Shore. Weir Hill at 65 Stevens Street is North Andover’s most scenically spectacular and most family-celebrated Trustees reservation — accessible 24 hours with a Cochichewick trail just around the lake described as super easy, family-friendly, and calm, varied terrain including high-canopy hardwood, lakeside trails, scrub oak, and open hilltop, wonderful collection of trails great for birding, wildflower identification, and mushrooming, and an uphill climb with a view from the top described as worth every step of the strenuous ascent — described as a beautiful hidden gem where parking is limited but it doesn’t seem to get too busy, as a great place to go for a hike around the lake with challenging spots and steep hills but great for the entire family, and as a wonderful collection of trails with varied terrain and greater purposes that range from casual lakeside walking to genuine summit hiking. Osgood Hill Trails at 723 Osgood Street are North Andover’s most peacefully expansive and most quietly rewarding estate trail network — accessible with mostly wide trails in some sections and more traditional hiking trails on the slopes, a great view of the lake at the top where planes can be watched going by, four Adirondack chairs awaiting at the peak, several boardwalks, a trail along the lake, and woods ascending to the hilltop — described as a hike that feels a world away from daily life and yet is right in your backyard, as lovely easy trails that are a year-round favorite for a pleasant nature walk, and as an excellent place to walk your dog and let them cool off at the lake. Harold Parker State Forest at 133 Jenkins Road is the region’s most comprehensively equipped and most broadly appealing outdoor destination bordering North Andover — open year-round with a campground with large relatively flat sites each with grill and fire pit, several trails accessible from the campground, clean bathrooms cleaned daily with showers, a small pond described as beautiful for kayaking described as phenomenal, dog-friendly grounds, and quiet peaceful surroundings — described as a relaxing place to enjoy the outdoors for any outdoorsy person with so many activities, as a campground that is very clean with attentive staff who take care of guests’ needs, and as a place worth staying for an extended weekend with Salem nearby for easy day trips.
North Andover’s dining scene is anchored by a High Street downtown village that has produced some of the most genuinely community-beloved restaurants on the North Shore — a walkable corridor within steps of the Town Common complemented by several excellent restaurants along the Route 125 and Route 114 corridors that make North Andover a legitimate dining destination for the entire Merrimack Valley. Vivacino at 220 Sutton Street is North Andover’s most enthusiastically praised and most authentically executed Italian restaurant — open seven days from 4 PM with Caramelle described as cacio e pepe-filled with carbonara sauce, pancetta, and peas, shrimp and lobster gnocchi described as a special worth ordering, eggplant rollatini described as wonderful, affogato for dessert described as incredible, Chef Nimesh coming out to ensure food was delicious — described as too good with a start-to-finish experience that was absolutely incredible with authentic Italian flavor and inviting atmosphere, as a meal where every entree was bursting with flavor and every bite was better than the last with creativity in the plating, and as a place where server Kevin did an outstanding job and made guests feel like family. Jaime’s Restaurant at 25 High Street is North Andover’s most warmly community-embraced and most consistently satisfying everyday restaurant — open Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM and Saturday and Sunday from noon with Korean short rib tacos described as very good, steak and cheese sandwich described as absolute perfection, grilled chicken sandwich described as juicy and flavorful and incredible, roast beef described as so full of flavor, pomegranate margarita described as fantastic, espresso martini made with fresh espresso described as very good, and a warm everybody-knows-your-name atmosphere with a decent-sized bar — described as the perfect spot for workmates, friends, or family gathering with food so good you’ll be planning your next visit before you leave, as having amazing service with a food and vibe combination that will definitely bring visitors back again, and as a great vibe with yummy food that is the perfect spot for a casual meal or a fun night out. Brix Grille at 701 Salem Street rounds out North Andover’s dining picture as the town’s most impressively inventive and most warmly received neighborhood kitchen — open Monday through Thursday from 4 PM, Friday and Saturday from noon, and Sunday from noon to 8 PM with tortellini umami featuring delicious mushroom tortellini and tasty Italian sausage, crispy Brussels sprouts described as tender and flavorful and the real standout, lamb pops described as amazing, sweet potato waffle fries described as great, Hill Farmstead craft beer on tap, and a warm energetic welcoming atmosphere — described as a place that never misses where everything ordered was fresh, perfectly cooked, and packed with flavor from the moment you walk in, as a solid choice and one of the favorite places to grab a meal where food is consistently great and ingredients taste fresh, and as a place where General Manager Joe goes above and beyond to make it feel like home.
