City: Amesbury, MA

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (978) 834-0050

Address: 459 Main St.

Description: Established in 1793, this is the country’s oldest boat-building shop. Boating enthusiasts and those who appreciate woodwork will not want to skip this working museum, which continues to make handcrafted wooden rowing fishing dories that were once the mainstay of the New England fishing industry. Visitors can drop in to view the boat builders at work, or sign up for a museum membership and you can try your hand at rowing a Lowell skiff on the Merrimack River just outside the shop’s door. Open Tues through Fri 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends by appointment.