1. Jabberwocky Book Shop
City: Newburyport, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (978) 465-9359
Address: 50 Water St.
Description: Housed in a 2-story renovated mill building with soaring timbered ceilings, the largest independent bookstore on the North Shore has an extraordinary range of titles and has been a fixture in the Newburyport community for more than 40 years. The store hosts many author events (often featuring local authors) and is one of the principal sponsors of the annual Newburyport Literary Festival. You’ll find the staff is unfailingly helpful and genuinely excited about the stock. Be sure to check out the deeply discounted “once-read” books in the Green Room.
2. Joppa Flats Sanctuary (Massachusetts Audubon)
City: Newburyport, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (978) 462-9998
Address: 1 Plum Island Turnpike
Description: Experienced birders know that their life list can be expanded without any great effort by a trek to Joppa Flats because the sanctuary is a stopover for migratory birds along the Atlantic flyway. Located at the mouth of the Merrimack River where it spills into the Atlantic Ocean, Joppa Flats also supports a healthy population of native shorebirds, such as plovers and sandpipers. Budding naturalists can learn about birds and coastal ecosystems through hands-on activities at the Education Center, such as helping collect and identify freshwater specimens and observing the seals and birds native to the area. Open Tues through Sun and Mon holidays.
3. Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
City: Newburyport, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (978) 465-5753
Address: 01950
Description: Named for the wild beach plums that still grow here, this 11-mile barrier island is located off the coasts of Newburyport, Newbury, and Ipswich. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway and is home to both the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and Massachusetts Audubon’s Joppa Flats Sanctuary. Nearly 300 species of migratory birds and waterfowl visit Plum Island seasonally. Hone your observation skills and take one of the free naturalist-guided tours that leave from the visitor center. The beaches within the refuge are open to the public. And although there are few beach amenities (no food concessions or showers), most visitors are content to soak up the tranquil beauty. Know, too, that birds have priority—the beaches are closed during piping plover nesting season.