- The list below includes 403 free or cheap things to do in or near Essex, Massachusetts, including 109 different types of inexpensive activities like History Museums, Specialty Museums, Parks and Movie Theaters.
- From Cogswell's Grant to Essex Shipbuilding Museum, there are a variety of budget-friendly attractions in Essex and in nearby cities within 25 miles like Boston, Gloucester, Cambridge and Salem.
Showing 21-30 of
960
5.6 Miles
Hammond Castle was the home and laboratory of the famous inventor, John Hays Hammond, Jr. The castle features a Medieval style architecture and operates as a museum which houses a collection of medieval, Renaissance and Roman artifacts along with Hammond memorabilia.
5.6 Miles
Stage Fort Park is a local park and a historic site being home to Gloucester's first settlers who arrived here in 1623. The park comprises of two beaches called Half Moon Beach which is more of a lagoon, and Cressy's Beach which is more rocky and natural.
5.6 Miles
Half Moon Beach is a secluded, crescent-shaped beach located in Gloucester Bay. The kids will love the gentle waves and soft sands, or let them climb along the rocks and playground areas, then gather for a quiet picnic lunch.
5.9 Miles
Located on a stretch of river that runs through a National Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, Foote Bros Canoe Rentals offers canoe and kayak rentals, as well as guided trips along the river.
6.0 Miles
Fishermen's Memorial Monument, also called Man at the Wheel Statue, is a historic bronze cenotaph sculpture which was established in 1925 in memory of the Gloucester fishermen who never retured from the sea.
6.0 Miles
87%
68 votes
26
Long Beach
off Rte. 127A on Gloucester-Rockport town line, Gloucester, MA
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Featuring a magnificent view of twin lighthouses, Long Beach in Gloucester is known for its gentle surf and sandy beach. Pack a lunch and bring the kids for swimming and sand castles, and a day you won't soon forget.
6.0 Miles
89%
9 votes
254 Essex Street, Beverly, MA 01915
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Hosting a variety of programs for youth, adults, and seniors, Greater Beverly YMCA - Sterling Center offers its members amenities like free childcare, fitness machines, a jungle gym, and more. The facility has an indoor and outdoor pool for laps.
6.1 Miles
Located within a historic1782 home, the Sargent House Museum is a museum filled with artifacts that tell the history of the local area. These artifacts include paintings by artist John Singer Sargent, of whom the house is named after.
6.1 Miles
21 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
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Filled with sofas and plush chairs, Cape Ann Community Cinema is a small neighborhood theater that features independent films. The cinema also hosts outdoor movie nights where visitors can bring lawn chairs and a blanket.
6.2 Miles
Cape Ann Brewing Company is a local family-owned business which specializes in a variety of beers including the special Fisherman's beer. The Pub at Cape Ann Brewing has both indoor beer hall style as well as outdoor harbor-side seating arrangements and offers a variety of snacks.