This Quiet Massachusetts Town Is An Underrated Gem For 2026
The new year is both exciting and sometimes stressful when you’re trying to figure out your plans. But don’t get in your head about it! If a meaningful 2026 adventure is on your bucket list and you live in Massachusetts, your search is over: Amesbury is the perfect destination. Home to under 18,000 residents, this town is easy to miss compared to its larger northeastern Massachusetts neighbors. However, the nature that awaits you here is incredible, including riverside trails and lakes to explore when the weather is warm. And even when the weather turns cold and gray, the town stays welcoming, offering cozy cafes, museums, and galleries to keep you entertained. It is time to pencil it in: Amesbury is waiting with the best Massachusetts vacation yet!
Outdoor Recreation
With a river, a lake, and open farmland in the area, there are plenty of places to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine in Amesbury. Right in the heart of town, you’ll find the Amesbury Riverwalk Trail, a rail trail and bike path that stretches from downtown Amesbury to Carriagetown Marketplace on the southeastern side of town, following the Lower Powow River along the way. The Woodsom Farm lies on the western edge of town and is another wonderful place for hiking, featuring expansive wetlands and stretches of oak, beech, and birch stands. You also might spot people snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or sledding here in the winter months. Near the farm lies Lake Gardner, a wonderful place to canoe, kayak, fish, or even swim on the warmer days!
History & Art
Rural Massachusetts is filled with historic towns, and Amesbury, founded in the 17th century, is no exception. You can explore some fantastic museums in town, such as the Industrial History Center, which was established in 1986 and sits in the town’s historic Upper Millyard, preserving Amesbury’s industrial history. The center includes an orientation exhibit and several rotating exhibits, along with a full calendar of educational events.
To experience a time capsule, also make sure to check out the Bartlett Museum, a historic museum filled with area artifacts that date from prehistoric times to the present. Some of the exhibits include a timeline of the town’s history, a Victorian parlor and colonial kitchen replica, a schoolroom, a natural history room, a carriage house, and more. The town’s art, meanwhile, is largely on display at alchemy + art, a local gallery and art supply shop in the Upper Millyard. Here, you can see one of the rotating art shows or attend an art class as well.
Annual Festivals
If you love a good celebration, you will want to plan your visit to Amesbury during the town’s annual Amesbury Days. This nine-day celebration takes place from the end of June to the beginning of July and features all kinds of exciting community events. A few of the activities you may be able to attend include a block party that kicks off the summer, a brewfest, a city-wide yard sale, a 5K run & walk, a pancake breakfast, line dancing, live music, fireworks, and much more. During the rest of the year, you can keep your eye on the calendar of events at Cider Hill Farm, which hosts fun events like a spring Tulip Fest, fruit festivals, a country fair, and other quirky, agricultural-themed activities.
Food & Drink
Amesbury’s culinary scene may be small, but it offers a well-rounded mix of mouthwatering spots for every meal of the day. For breakfast, you can head to the Morning Buzz Café, which serves farm-fresh eggs and fluffy pancake stacks that will most certainly hit the spot. For lunch, you have spots like The Barn Pub & Grille, which is particularly famous for its colossal lobster rolls! The barn itself is a beautiful location, set in a 150-year-old livery stable. When the evening rolls around, look no further than Ristorante Molise for dinner, an incredible Italian restaurant that is family-owned and operated by an Italian immigrant family. In the spring, summer, and fall, you can also pick your own fresh fruit and flowers at the aforementioned Cider Hill Farm, which has a robust calendar of U-pick produce experiences.
Extending Your Trip
If you have the chance to extend your itinerary, you will definitely want to check out some of Amesbury’s neighboring towns. Rockport sits less than an hour from town and is one of Massachusetts’ most recognizable destinations for coastal art and beachgoing. Here, you can visit attractions like Motif #1, the iconic red fishing shack that has appeared in artwork across the country, and the Rockport Art Association & Museum, which showcases more than a century of Cape Ann art.
History lovers, meanwhile, should make sure to visit Salem, which is just 40 minutes south of Amesbury and 30 minutes from Rockport. You can find a huge range of museums and historic sites in town, including the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, which preserves 600 years of New England maritime history, and the Salem Witch Museum, which explores the dark history of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. And these two towns are just the beginning. Make your trip as long as you like, exploring other nearby towns like Salisbury and Newburyport!
A Wonderful Trip Awaits In Amesbury
While it can sometimes feel overwhelming to make your travel plans for the coming year, you can rest assured that a wonderful trip awaits in Amesbury. If you are hoping to avoid the higher crowds, without sacrificing natural beauty or entertainment, the town is exactly the kind of destination you have been searching for. And as a bonus, it is located near several popular tourist destinations, meaning that you can easily incorporate it into a memorable road trip. It’s looking like 2026 is going to have your best travels yet!
