When was the last time you snuck into a speakeasy and had yourself a glass of locally made spirits? Never? Then you should head straight to the Speakeasy Lab at Deacon Giles Distillery in Salem. If you can find it, that is.
A sip of liquor at Deacon Giles Distillery will whisk you back to the heady days of Prohibition.
These cocktails will make you swoon in a good way. Try the Back Bar (rum, lime, cranberry simple, and rosemary-clove meringue) or the Hot and Dirty (vodka, Sriracha pickle brine, and hot sauce).
The distillery produces gin, vodka, rum, spiced rum, and amber rum. The staff here are all knowledgeable, so feel free to ask about how each one is made.
The Speakeasy Lab at Deacon Giles Distillery is located at 75 Canal St., Salem. The entrance is on Gardner Street. Click here to visit their website for more information. And if you love a secret bar, check out this Massachusetts speakeasy hidden in a shoe shop.
A quiet escape from busy city life is often just a short car ride away. Or in my case, make that a short boat ride away. Last weekend, my family and I dug into our Salem bucket list and decided to check off nearby Bakers Island. This local spot had been on our radar for quite a while, but for some reason, we had never made it out for a visit. With a charming lighthouse, gorgeous views, and a peaceful atmosphere, the island did not disappoint.
advertisement
We couldn't have picked a more beautiful day to visit. We left home and made the short drive down to Salem Wharf where we boarded our boat, the Naumkeag. There were about 15 people on our tour. We also had a very friendly guide who told us stories about Salem’s maritime history and answered our questions about the island.
The boat ride to Bakers Island took about 20-25 minutes. It was bumpy (and a little wet) but we had lots of fun! It was a wonderful experience to view the city from the water.
Our captain let us out on a rocky beach when we got to the shore. As we navigated the unsteady rocks up the hill to the grassy area, I was glad that I had worn sneakers instead of flip-flops.
I immediately noticed how quiet and peaceful it was on the island. We were just minutes from the city, but it felt like we were worlds away.
Our tour was hosted by Essex Heritage, a local non-profit organization that owns 10 acres of land on the island. This includes the Bakers Island lighthouse, two keeper's houses, a small campground, and several short trails. The rest of the 60-acre island is made up of summer homes. Out of respect for the seasonal island residents, we were urged to stay within the clearly marked Essex Heritage boundaries.
Our guide from the boat teamed up with an island volunteer and together they led us on an interesting tour of the property. We learned all about the history of the beautiful Bakers Island Light which dates back to 1820.
The lighthouse is actually the second of its kind to stand on the property. It is now powered by solar energy. Unfortunately, you can not climb it at this time.
After we spent some time admiring the lighthouse and reading the informative plaques about its history, we headed inside one of the homes and explored the property's small museum which contained old photos and historic items.
You may be wondering, “Can you spend the night on Bakers Island?” The answer is yes! There are actually two different options for staying here. You can rent out the recently renovated lightkeeper’s house (complete with a bathroom, kitchen, and electricity).
Or you can reserve one of three camping platforms that overlook the ocean. During our visit, we wandered down to the campground area for a picnic and I can tell you that the views from here are amazing!
We were also met with some very protective mama seagulls who were closely guarding their recently hatched chicks. These fluffy little ones were quite a sight to see!
I could have spent the entire afternoon just gazing out at the ocean, but our tour was almost over. We packed up our picnic and headed down one of the wooded trails to meet the rest of the group back at the beach.
I'm not really sure why it took us so long to get around to making a visit to Bakers Island, but I do know that it will definitely not take me that much time to return again!
Have you visited Bakers Island or any of the other islands off the coast of the North Shore? If so, please tell us all about your experience. You can find out more about booking a trip to visit the lighthouse at the Bakers Island Light website and the Essex National Heritage Area Facebook page. The Massachusetts North Shore is also full of many other beautiful lighthouses, including the nearby Marblehead Lighthouse in Marblehead and the twin lighthouses on Thatcher Island in Rockport. If you want to view multiple lighthouses in one trip, I suggest taking this fun Cape Ann Self-Guided Driving Tour.
Sightseeing in Boston is extremely diverse. There are so many different ways to experience the city. Specialty walking tours, bus adventures, and bike trips are just a few choices available. However, my favorite way to see the city is from the water. The views are stunning and it is such a nice way to sit back and unwind. The Massachusetts Bay Lines's spectacular sunset harbor cruise is the perfect way to catch a glimpse of the city sights and a fun way to end the day.
advertisement
This affordable sunset cruise will take you into the harbor for a 90-minute tour. The boat sails right from Rowes Wharf in downtown Boston, close to many great restaurants, shops, and hotels.
Along the way, you will get to see some of Boston’s major historic sights including the USS Constitution, the Bunker Hill Monument, and the Old North Church.
Have you taken a sunset tour of Boston? What did you think of the experience? Tickets and further information about this fabulous sunset cruise are available on Viator. For more fun on the water, be sure to check out Codzilla, Boston's high-speed thrill ride, and Charles Riverboat Cruises.
