For anyone visiting the Boston area & looking for a daytrip, I would suggest Marblehead, MA. It is a town of about 20,000 people settled in 1620 with lots of interesting history. It's the birthplace of the American Navy (although Beverly would debate that), there is a beautiful & interesting Old Town section, it's very walkalble, our 5th (I believe) vice president lived here, the famous painting Spirit of 76 hangs in Abbott Hall, the harbor and sailboats are beautiful, etc. Go to marblehead.org for more info.

I agree. we were in marblehead a couple of years ago, just wandering around with a Canadian visitor. We watched a lobster boat unload into a small refrigerated truck. Ten minutes later, we saw the truck unloading lobsters at a bar/restaurant a block or two from the waterfront. Guess where we ate? This is a great town just to wander around in with a scenic waterfront and shopping of every sort, from marine supplies to fine antiques.

Back when we have relatives living in Danvers and Gloucester, they used to say that the traffic around Marblehead was terrible...has that changed? (and is it really any worse than getting around most other parts of the greater Boston area?) Do you need a car to get to Marblehead or does it have a commuter train station?

"Back when we HAD relatives..."

No commuter rail - go to MBTA.com and perhaps there is a bus.

Nearest station is Swampscott.

The traffic in and around Marblehead is still awful. There is no easy way to get there.

There is a bus out of Boston to M'head. The ride would probably take about 45-60 mins. - w/ stops & depending on traffic. Not scenic at all. There is a train to both Swampscott & Salem from BOS, but then there is no bus from those stations to M'head. The traffic isn't bad unless you go on the 4th of July or when Santa arrives the 1st Sat. in Dec. A few of the raods are blocked to cars then. However, the parking isn't easy. Kind of like in Europe in the small towns. The earlier you arrive, the better.

I have seen tour buses take people to M'head. We don't usually like organized group "things", but this is one time one MIGHT??? consider taking one.

BTilke - I know you are in Europe, so comparatively speaking, the traffic is not as bad as there, but on the other hand we don't have the wonderful rail system you have.

Car is definetly the best way to get to M'head. Just print directions off mapquest or some other site.
During the week there never seems to be a traffic problem. Morning & evening commuter hours bring more cars on the roads in M'head, but they move. You can't drive 45 mph on them anyway - even at midnight.

Thanks, all. My brother-in-law and family now live near Cambridge and I don't think they've ever been up to Marblehead. I remember it as being very pretty, but also remember our relatives' warnings about traffic.
BiL's family want us to come visit and if we do, thought it would be a fun day trip to Marblehead to poke around. Will keep your advice about traffic and parking in mind. Thanks again.

More towns than Beverly will debate whether Marblehead is the birthplace of the US Navy. Whitehall, NY, and Philadelphia both make the same claim, but the USN refuses to name their own birthplace!

My trips in Marblehead, Swampscott, Beverly, and other North Shore towns were mostly on bicycle on Sunday mornings. With over 10 yrs since my last trip, I cannot remember specifics much, but do recall the entire area as quite nice.

Gen. John Glover A Marblehead/Gloucester fisherman provided the boats for Gen George Washington trip across the Delaware River.

I visited Marblehead the year before last during a trip to New England to see the fall foliage.

I actually enjoyed walking through oldtown Marblehead more than walking through Salem as it seemed more "authentic", that is, less touristy, than Salem. Everyone has head of Salem, not many have heard of Marblehead.

I visited Abbott Hall to see the original "Spirit of 76" painting, which is much larger than I thought it would be. My companion and myself were the only two people in the room looking at the picture.

Visited the fort, or what's left of it, that overlooks the beautiful harbor. I visited the old cemetery where I was fascinated by the old tombstones with the very creepy skeletons and skulls on them. Tombstones that have dates on them going back to the early 1600's.

Drove out onto Marbleneck and visited the lighthouse and where you have a great view of the harbor and oldtown Marblehead, and also a great view of Boston, which is about 15-17 miles across the water.

I like how most of the buildings have plaques mounted on the side of them stating the date it was built, some from the 17th century.

Definately worth a side trip, especially if you're going to be in Salem anyway.

Keith

I would definitely opt for M'head over Salem - unless you are into "witches."
M'head is much more charming & the historical area (Old Town) is so interesting. There aren't many places like it in the USA.

Not only do a lot of the homes have the dates they were built in, but on the plaque is also "writtten" the occupation of the original owner.