Interested in taking a guided trail hike through the Forest River Conservation Area or Lead Mills-Wyman Woods in Marblehead? How about seeing some of the oldest Tiffany glass windows in the world, or a walking tour of the National Register of Historic Places in Lynn? Want to examine the ecology of Salem’s salt marsh, or become a citizen scientist at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site? How about learning about the art of making leather in Peabody, or a tour of the historic Olmsted Subdivision in Swampscott? No matter what your passion, you can find something to explore and enjoy during Trails & Sails: Two Weekends of Walks and Water on September 16-18 and 23-25, 2016!
Presented by Essex Heritage, Trails & Sails features more than 150 free events over two weekends and celebrates the variety of historic, cultural and natural places in the Essex National Heritage Area: the 34 cities and towns of Essex County, a 500 square mile region just north of Boston, MA. 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the Congressional Act that established the Essex National Heritage Area as well as the National Park Service Centennial. To celebrate, Essex Heritage has assembled the LARGEST EVER collection of Trails & Sails events to further enhance appreciation of the spectacular places that make this Area like nowhere else.
For Trails & Sails 2016, Essex Heritage has partnered with non-profit and for-profit recreational organizations across Essex County to offer 150+ free, fun, and family-friendly events at more than 100 sites that showcase our region’s distinctive heritage, history, culture, and natural environment. From historic tours and museums, to guided walks, hikes, paddles, lectures, and other activities, there are events happening morning, afternoon and evening that welcome your exploration.
The line-up of Trails & Sails events in the southern Essex County communities of Lynn, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem, Saugus, and Swampscott includes:
Lynn
- “Off The Grid” Photography Exhibit, hosted by Lynn Museum/LynnArts
- Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Museum Tour, hosted by Lynn Community Association, Inc.
- Guided Tour of the Lynn Museum, hosted by Lynn Museum
- History of Pine Grove Cemetery, Part I, hosted by Pine Grove Cemetery Commission, Lynn Historical Commission, Lynn Cultural Council, and the Lynn Community Association
- History of Pine Grove Cemetery, Part II, hosted by Pine Grove Cemetery Commission, Lynn Historical Commission, Lynn Cultural Council, and the Lynn Community Association
- Lynn Woods Walk, hosted by Lynn Woods Reservation
- Photography Walking Tour of Downtown Lynn, hosted by Lynn Museum
- Tiffany Stained Glass Windows Tour, hosted by St. Stephen’s Memorial Episcopal Church
- Walking the National Register of Historic Places in Lynn, hosted by Pat Lee, Lynn Historical Commission
Visit TrailsAndSails.org to see the complete listing of events and design a personalized itinerary. All Trails & Sails events are free and most are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, with the exception of a few reservations-required events. A limited number of free hard-copy guides will be available after Labor Day (September 5, 2016) at the 13 Essex National Heritage Area Visitor Centers and at sponsor locations: Eastern Bank; Institution for Savings; and Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank.
Take the Trails & Sails Challenge: FIND YOUR PARK, FIND YOUR STORY
In celebration of the Essex Heritage and the National Park Service anniversaries, Essex Heritage and its partners challenge participants to “FIND YOUR PARK, FIND YOUR STORY” by going to as many Trails & Sails events as possible to enter to win $150 in gift certificates to Dick’s Sporting Goods. Each time a participant signs-in at a different event, the more likely they are to win. With events to take place throughout the cities and towns of Essex County, participants can go to one event or many over the two weekends. All events are FREE!
Trails & Sails 2016 is sponsored by Eastern Bank, Institution of Savings, and Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank.
About Essex Heritage and the Essex National Heritage Area
Essex Heritage is the non-profit organization that manages the Essex National Heritage Area and promotes recreation, education, conservation and interpretation projects on Boston’s North Shore and the Lower Merrimack River Valley. The Essex National Heritage Area is comprised of the 34 cities and towns of Essex County, MA. For more information, visit EssexHeritage.org or call (978) 740-0444.