Essex, Massachusetts is one of the most charming and distinctive small towns on the entire North Shore — where centuries of shipbuilding history, extraordinary coastal marshlands, and some of the finest seafood in New England converge along the Essex River.
The Essex Shipbuilding Museum brings to life one of America’s most prolific wooden shipbuilding legacies through hands-on exhibits and beautifully preserved vessels. Stavros Reservation delivers a breathtaking hilltop panorama of the Great Marsh and Crane Beach — one of the finest coastal views reachable on foot anywhere on the North Shore.
For dining, Boat House Grille serves a seafood bake loaded with shrimp, scallops, and haddock alongside clam chowder brimming with clams that make it a beloved Essex County institution, and Shipyard Tavern delivers a generous lobster roll with Essex River views in a beautifully renovated waterfront setting.