STUFF TO DO

Bored?
There's plenty of interesting and fun places to find in and around Beverly,
you just have to know where to look!

After School Programs

Beverly Youth Centers / YMCA sponsor cool events like paintball, white-water rafting trips, trips to the Red Sox and Celtics games, dances, poetry reading, and coffee houses. Plus you can go there anytime afterschool for sports, games, computers, or just to hangout. Click on the link above for more info.

Amusement Parks

Salem Willows Amusement Park has an arcade, skeeball, kiddie rides, and miniature golf. There are picnic areas and restaurants. Rowboats and equipment can be rented for ocean fishing. There are also harbor cruises.
Open daily from 10 a.m. to about 11 p.m. Free parking. At the end of Fort Avenue, Salem, MA. 978-745-0251
Directions: Take Rte. 128 to Rte.114 east, head into Salem, and look for the signs. Or take Rte. 1A to Salem.

The Discovery Zone on Route 1 South in Danvers. It's like an indoor playground that also has skill games, including skeeball and basketball games, where you can win prizes. One catch: you have to bring mom and/or dad.
Locates at 8 Newbury Street (Rte. 1), Danvers, MA, 978750-4141

Arcades

There's plenty of places to go for arcade games. Click here for a list of games you can play for free at the library. Also, the Balch Street Youth Center has Nintendo and other computer games you can play for free. The Bowl-O-Mat (100 River Street) has a large collection of arcade and other games. Salem Willows (see above) also has a large arcade.

Bowl-O-Mat	100 River Street, Beverly	978-922-1140
Balch Street Youth Center	20 Balch Street (behind Cumming Center), Beverly	978-921-1845
Salem Willows Arcade	173 Fort Avenue, Salem (see above for directions)	978-745-0251

Beaches

Crane Beach: Argilla Road, Ipswich
Lynch Park
Dane Street Beach
Independence Park
Rice's Beach

Even if you don't have wheels, there's just about nowhere in Beverly far from a beach. If you're in Ryal Side, there's Obear Park. If you're in Beverly Farms there's West Beach. If you're in the Cove you're close to Lynch Park and Rice's Beach. Downtown there's Independence Park. If you're in Centerville, or North Beverly, well, you'll just have to bike. If you've got wheels, then Cape Ann is yours.

Billiards

Do you like pool? Check out the Youth Centers where its free!

McPherson Youth Center	McPherson Drive, Beverly	921-6061
Balch Street Youth Center	20 Balch Street	921-1845

Bowling

If you're a bowler, you've got a lot to be proud of. Beverly has its very own Bowl-O-Mat! If you're really into bowling, you can join a league. Don't forget, while you're waiting for you're lane to open up, there's a fabulous arcade (see above for games). There's also Andy's Sunnyside Bowladrome in Danvers, Candlepin Lanes in Salem, and the Metro Bowl in Peabody for candlepin bowling.

Bowl-O-Mat	100 River Street, Beverly	978-922-1140
Andy's Sunnyside Bowladrome	176 Water Street, Danvers	978-774-1983
Candlepin Lanes, Inc.	18 Broadway Street, Salem	978-744-3954
Metro Bowl	63 Foster Street, Peabody	978-531-0500

Camps

The Beverly Recreation Department has an adventure camp in the summer:
The Beverly Regional YMCA also has camps for teenagers in the summer. The sessions are four days long.
Camp Mitchman is a summer camp in Beverly for anyone between the ages of 5 and 14. Activities include Archery, Basketball, Challenge/Rope Courses, Dance, Field Trips, Nature/Environment Studies, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis.

For a complete list of accredited day camps in Massachusetts, visit the American Camping Association New England section webpage.

Beverly Recreation Department	55 Ober Street	921-6067
Beverly Regional YMCA	245 Cabot Street 254 Essex Street	922-0990 927-6855
Camp Mitchman	36 Foster St., Beverly	927-6582

Classes

I know, you just don't have enough classes at school. The Recreation Department offers interesting classes throughout the school year from Computers to Health and Fitness to Business & Self Enrichment. Check out their website for a complete list with prices and times. During the summer tennis lessons, swimming lessons and writing workshops are offered through the Rec. Department.

The Beverly Regional YMCA is a great place for adventure programs, boxing & martial arts classes, and sports programs.

Hiking

Bradley Palmer State Park has Picniking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, marked trails, horseback riding,cross-country skiing, snowmobiling. The paved paths are great for in-line skating! You'll often see rare birds and other wildlife on a canoe trip through the park on the Ipswich River.
Asbury Street, Topsfield, MA, (978) 887-5931
Rte. 1 north to Topsfield, right on Ipswich Rd., Right on Asbury St.

Crane Wildlife Refuge has a 700 acre reservation with five islands & surronding salt marsh. Woodlands, fields, historic buildings, visitor center. Open weekends 8am-sunset, Memorial Day to to Labor Day. Admission charge. Crane Island Tours aboard the "osprey" also availible. Call for times and prices.
Essex Bay Estuary, Essex Bay, (978) 356-4351

Halibut Point State Park is Open daily from sunrise to sunset. Guided quarry tours during the summer on Saturdays. The 54-acre rocky headland, 12 acres of which are trustee-owned land, forms the northern tip of Cape Ann and offers a spectacular view of Ipswich Bay and the New Hampshire coastline. Also see the remains of the Babson Quarry and the Cape Ann Tool Company. Saltwater fishing, hiking, picnicking, and quarry tours.
Gott Avenue, Rockport, MA, (978)546-2997

Harold Parker State Forest, one of the oldest forests in the state forest and park system, has over 35 miles of trails and wood roads and eleven ponds Berry Pond offers a fully restored fresh water swimming beach with modern bathhouse. This park is popular for bicycling, boating, camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, picnicking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and swimming.
1951 Turnpike Road, North Andover, MA, (978)686-3391
Rte. 95, Rte. 114 west, 10 miles, follow signs

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary The Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary has 2800 acres of meadow, swamps, ponds & part of the Ipswich river. Open year round, tues-sun. Admission charge.
87 Perkins Row, Topsfield, MA, (978)887-9264

Willowdale State Forest offers trail-use opportunities on 40 miles of trails and fishing and boating on 100 acre Hood Pond. Offers canoeing, fishing, hiking, marked trails, horseback riding, and snowmobiling. There are no developed recreational facilities at the Forest which exists as two separate parcels divided by Route 1. The eastern block of the Forest is next to Bradley Palmer State Park and the Ipswich River.
Linebrook Rd., Ipswich, MA, (978)887-5931
Rte. 1 north to Topsfield, right on Ipswich Road. Follow signs.

Ice Skating

O'Keefe Center at Salem State College is open some hours for public skating. No skate rentals or sharpening. Make sure to call ahead for info first, since it is frequently closed to the public.
978-741-6560

Shoe Pond (next to the Cummings Center) and
Kelleher Pond (Essex Street) offer free skating to the public.