HausWitch Home + Healing
COURTESY PHOTO Erica Feldmann’s spellbinding boutique blends the metaphysical (spell kits and tarot decks) with the sort of good taste even the devoutly unspiritual can appreciate (art by indie makers, naturally dyed meditation pillows). The shopkeeper draws on her background in design and feminist theory to help people spark some interior magic while encouraging self-care through reiki and tarot readings at the shop’s nearby “healing space”—this is Salem, after all. hauswitchstore.com/.
MarketStreet Lynnfield
Don’t call it a mall—MarketStreet Lynnfield is open-air shopping—but do call it super convenient. Some 80 businesses include national faves as well as small-batch offerings such as Polkadog Bakery and the beauty spot Mane & Mani; restaurants like Otto Pizza and Temazcal Tequila Cantina; and entertainment in the form of Kings bowling. There’s even a nine-hole golf course and—if you truly enjoy shopping till you drop—180 on-site apartments. marketstreetlynnfield.com.
Ledger Restaurant & Bar
COURTESY PHOTO The only way Ledger’s bloody-mary-fueled Sunday juggernaut could be any better is if they started offering their showstopping smoked-hollandaise eggs Benedict, handmade doughnuts, brûléed grapefruit, Banana Bread Foie-ster, hot-honey-and-green-chili-butter-slathered fried chicken and waffles, pork hash, pastrami hash, Brussels-sprout-feta-fried-egg-fermented-poblano-aioli hash, and French-toast pancakes with maple syrup on Saturday mornings, too. Oh, wait. They totally went and did that. 125 Washington St., Salem, MA 01970, ledgersalem.com/.
The Paddle Inn
PAT PIASECKI Leave it to the folks behind Somerville resto-industry darlings Parlor Sports and Trina’s Starlite Lounge to nail the rare trifecta of legit casual, plus far suburbs, plus pitch-perfect right-nowness. Chef Suzi Maitland’s graze-friendly menu trots the globe with ecumenical panache, slinging polished riffs on Vietnamese bun cha, Spanish gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), and Thai-ish fries loaded with chili sauce, scallion cream, and peanuts best ordered immediately: You’ll want sustenance for negotiating the rest of the itinerary. 27 State St., Newburyport, MA 01950, paddleinnsurf.com/.
Ellis Square Social
COURTESY PHOTO During the two decades Jay Murray kept Grill 23 humming like a well-marbled machine, his creative artistry was mostly relegated to the specials board. At his new spot in Beverly, those thrilling flights of fancy finally get the run of the place, with eclectic, on-the-pulse small plates—duck wings laced with Ethiopian spices, mushroom croquettes with shiitake aioli—inspired entrées (see: swordfish with rice pilaf and a fresh chickpea-and-dill purée), and the sort of charry-edged steak perfection you get from 20 years of practice. 252 Cabot St., Beverly, MA 01915, ellissquaresocial.com/.
Joppa Flats Education Center
Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center offers wildlife educational programs designed to make nature fun—and a trip to the beach a (gentle) teaching moment. Kids and adults alike can explore marine touch tanks and art exhibits at the center, then set off on guided tours across the refuge’s 52 acres of salt marsh and mud flats, home to more than 300 species of birds, including bald eagles and snowy owls. massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/joppa-flats.
Beautique
Leah Lynch made a name for herself as the North Shore’s favorite lash artist before realizing her dream of opening her own full-service salon and spa in Newburyport. In a delightfully homey bi-level space, her crew of detail-oriented stylists—among them a Newbury Street transplant—and aestheticians offer a wide-ranging menu of beauty treatments, from hair extensions and waxing to facials and (naturally) lashes. beautiquenbpt.com.
Beauport
COURTESY PHOTO Gloucester is now a destination thanks to this luxe beachfront retreat, which has been bringing sizzle to the site of a former frozen-foods plant since it opened in 2016. The long-weekenders come to lounge at the rooftop pool, dine overlooking Pavilion Beach, and pedal around town on complimentary beach cruisers. But they stay for the fresh, nautically inspired guest rooms, some of which offer water vistas and fireplaces. beauporthotel.com.
Derby St. Shops
No need to don a fancy hat to enjoy this derby: With community events, pop-ups from local entrepreneurs, and new shops and eateries cropping up all the time, it’s clear that this browsers’ paradise has become the modern, beating heart of the South Shore since opening 15 years ago. Shop classics like Anthropologie as well as harder-to-find spots such as Evereve and Nic+Zoe—then stop by Cava to pick up a hearty grain bowl, all without having to race back to your car. derbystshops.com.
Abby Park
Great suburban brunch spots must strike a balance—buzzy enough for hang time with single friends, family-friendly enough for Sunday socials with the full brood in tow. Enter Abby Park: Tucked inside a brick building in East Milton Square, this lovely New American bistro impresses visiting in-laws seeking proper plates such as eggs Benedict topped with lump crab cake while still delighting bachelorette-style posses with short-rib poutine and generously sized mimosa flights.
Idle Hour
COURTESY PHOTO It’s great fun whiling away a night with friends at this charmingly quirky Quincy newcomer. Sip on a well-curated lineup of craft beers and creative cocktails—such as the Count Dracula, smoky mezcal with Campari, raspberry cacao, and mole bitters—while sharing bites of chef Ashley Gaboriault’s globally inspired comfort food: say, a crispy fried-chicken sandwich topped with kimchi, and not-quite-mozzarella sticks stuffed with Cajun risotto. idlehourquincy.com.
Towneship
Chandra Gouldrup, the sustainability minded chef behind breakfast/lunch spot the Farmer’s Daughter, adds praiseworthy dinner to her repertoire at this neighboring knockout inside a 150-year-old Swedish church. Original cathedral ceilings soar over a stunning space that serves contemporary New England cuisine such as tender duck with cherries and a five spice–pinot noir glaze, plus excellent elixirs that include bourbon with local maple on wood-smoked ice. towneshipne.com.
TreeTop Adventures
COURTESY PHOTO Who needs another trip to the beach when you can spend a sunny afternoon tackling rolling logs, ladders, and ziplines? The high ropes courses and trails at TreeTop Adventures are built for both experts and beginners, making it a great place for the whole family to get out of their comfort zone together. treetopcanton.com.
Rectify Barbershop & Beauty Alcove
After amassing a loyal following at Love and Mercy salon in Boston, Dayna Gamba and her wife, Shalyn, a brow expert, have struck out on their own with this Mansfield beauty and barbering haven. Opened just last year, Rectify has fast become a go-to shop for those looking for a sharp cut and color or life-changing brow upgrades. rectifybba.com.
Mirbeau Inn & Spa
Sipping wine on a blanket by the cranberry bogs is so much more relaxing than sitting in traffic on the Bourne Bridge, isn’t it? With three restaurants, easy access to two golf courses, and a spa, the South Shore’s version of a turreted French manor is a welcome respite before the Cape Cod fray. plymouth.mirbeau.com.
Natick Mall
Designer boutiques such as Louis Vuitton and Burberry. A recently opened Wegmans grocery store right inside the mall. Even an upcoming brick-and-mortar outpost of the locally grown home-goods website Wayfair: This mall takes the traditional suburban shopping experience and kicks it up a few notches. natickmall.com.
The Rail Trail Flatbread Co.
We’d never say no to pizza for breakfast—especially when it’s baked in a roaring wood-fired oven and crowned with an egg at this Hudson crowd-pleaser. But that’s not the only eye-opener you’ll find here: fresh, creative salads; fluffy pancakes; and customizable bloody marys (hello, bacon-salt rim) make this a Sunday treat you’ll want to indulge in every single week. railtrailflatbread.com.
Adelita
COURTESY PHOTO Arcade games, sippy cups, and free kids’ meals before 6:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday. No, this isn’t your local Chuck E. Cheese—it’s the latest hot spot from Kristin Canty, the brains behind West Concord favorite Woods Hill Table. At her new, family-friendly-but-still-sophisticated entry to the town’s dining scene, the focus is on Mexican cuisine—and not just any Mexican cuisine. Here, the pasture-raised pork, chicken, and beef stuffed into every tempting taco, burrito, and quesadilla comes straight from Canty’s New Hampshire farm, so you can feel good treating the little ones (and yourself) to dinner here any day of the week. We’ll raise a guava margarita to that. adelitaconcord.com.
Buttonwood
This Newton Highlands restaurant from the team behind Sycamore opened in early 2018 to much acclaim—then promptly shut down after an electrical fire in the kitchen. Now they’re back and better than ever, slinging crowd-pleasing small plates, mains, and craft cocktails (including a spicy draft negroni) for their grateful neighbors. Come in for dinner or just pop by the bar for a local craft brew and the crispy pork ribs with sticky Thai glaze and pineapple—no matter what you’re in the mood for, the friendly vibes here are contagious. buttonwoodnewton.com.
Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
Leave the iPad behind to bump along on a hayride or eat honey fresh from a beehive: One visit to Drumlin Farm, and you’ll see why this Lincoln oasis has been a cherished tradition for generations of families. Extensive seasonal programming—from beloved “Woolapalooza” sheep-shearing days to strawberry picking—is the pitch-perfect blend of authentically agrarian and totally accessible. massaudubon.org/drumlinfarm.
Ripped by Jules
Jules Feldman Batchelor draws legions of followers—notably fellow moms yearning to regain their physiques—to her West Acton studio with high-intensity boot camps, Tread Tabata, nutritional counseling, and a motto: Stronger than Yesterday. Despite her otherworldly stamina and Olympian’s physique, Batchelor is relatable, too: Having overcome bulimia, she brings empathy and perspective to her classes and training videos. rippedbyjules.com.
Sky Salon
Elizabeth Smith to the rescue: When we rang needing immediate attention for our graying tresses, the stylist fit us in the next day—and matched our brunette locks perfectly, all while maintaining an intuitive balance of chattiness and quietude as we lounged on a couch, waiting for our color to develop. The best part? The salon’s gentle, ammonia-free dye meant we didn’t leave with a burning scalp after color correction—just glossy, shiny hair. skysalonlincoln.com.
The Inn at Hastings Park
COURTESY PHOTO Prime location steps from Lexington Center? Check. Front porch fit for a Norman Rockwell painting? Naturally. Sunny guest rooms that are part Mayflower, part modern farmhouse? Of course. Combine that with a proper dining room serving New England standards prepared with ingredients from local purveyors such as Wilson Farm, and you’ve found a pastoral paradise. In other words: If Paul Revere were a 21st-century Instagram influencer, he’d stay here. innathastingspark.com.