Arthur may be out looking for the next best roller coaster, and this blog has been discontinued. Thanks for visiting and happy travels!

With its rich history, beckoning coastline, and many sights, there are scads of fun things to do throughout the towns north of Boston. Don't believe me? Skedaddle to the area from September 28 to 30 and you will indeed discover scads--over 150, to be exact--of events during the annual Trails & Sails celebration. Dozens of organizations, in conjunction with the Essex National Heritage Commission, will be presenting a wide variety of events loosely based on the theme, "A Weekend of Walks and Water." Best of all, none of the events will cost you scads of cash; in fact, through the generosity of the participating organizations and sponsors, they will all be free.

On the water side of the offerings, there will be whale watches and schooner sails in Gloucester, river cruises in Essex, and kayak tours in Newbury. Some events will focus on food, including a tour of the Cat Cove Marine Laboratory in Salem to learn about aquaculture, a visit to Valley View Farm in Topsfield to see how goat cheese is made, and a wagon tour of Arrowhead Farm in Newburyport to talk with the folks tending the crops, poultry, and beef cattle. Among the many other Trails & Sails things to do, some will explore architecture, the area's Great Marsh, and Colonial-era history.

Essex County Trails & Sails: A Weekend of Walks and Water
September 28 to 30
Various locations throughout the North Shore
All events are free. Some require reservations.
978-740-0444

Photo: Arthur Levine, 2006. Licensed to Boston.com