15 Best Things to Do in Lynnfield (MA)
Lynnfield, an affluent North Shore suburb, is located 14 miles north of Boston and is known for its upscale outdoor shopping mall.
Market Street Lynnfield has over 80 shops and restaurants for all tastes and a lovely little skating rink in the winter.
As for history, you can pinpoint what's common in the town, which was founded in the 1700s, a century before Lynnfield separated from its neighbour, Linn.
The original meeting house dating back to 1714 still stands here, the third oldest Puritan meeting house still standing in New England.
In Lynnfield, you're never far from a natural freshwater lake, and one of the city's unique features is Reedy Meadow, the largest expanse of freshwater marsh in Massachusetts.
1. Market Street Lynnfield
What put Lynnfield on the map was this luxurious outdoor shopping plaza, which opened in 2013.
Like many similar towns, Market Street Lynnfield is designed as a small town, with large sidewalks, street furniture, and public gathering places.
One of these places becomes an outdoor skating rink during the winter months. Some of the brands waiting for you here include Apple, Banana Republic, Sephora, J. Crew, Gap, Hollister, Levi's, and Pottery Barn.
Food and beverage options run the gamut from the legit Sea Bar and DeVue to Starbucks, Panera, Wahlburgers and Yard House. There's also a King's Dining and Entertainment branch, which is an adult-oriented bowling experience.
2. Meetinghouse Common District
You can trace Lynnfield's roots back to Triangle Town Common, home of the original meeting house, built in 1714.
At that time Lynnfield was part of Lynn known as Lynn Farms. The common meeting house saved the residents of the Lynn Farm from a long trek to church in Lynn.
Since the 18th century, the meeting house has served many different purposes, including use as a fire station. Since the 1960s, the building has most recently been home to the Lynnfield Historical Society.
In contrast, the Center Collegiate Church dates back to 1832, with a sanctuary rebuilt after a fire in 1979.
Nearby, the Colonial Revival Public Library building dates back to 1904. The Common is a staple of community life, hosting outdoor events in the summer, including a concert series in July.
3. Partridge Island Trail
Ready Meadow occupies more than 500 acres of Lynnfield land, the largest piece of freshwater marsh in the state.
It is an important habitat for many endangered and rare species of plants, birds and amphibians, and has been designated as a rare wetland habitat by the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
Partridge Island is isolated in the swamp, once the site of a Native American camp. This piece of high ground is accessed by a boardwalk with an observation deck at Readymeadow.
The route departs from the intersection of Main Street and Heritage Street, and after crossing the swamp, winds around Partridge Island and its smaller neighbor to the south.
4. Rotary Park
Although beautiful, Rotary Park is a narrow strip of green space along the shore of Summer St at Pillings Pond.
The city has done a lot of work on this small site, removing invasive plants and planting hardy native shrubs to keep the beach healthy and suitable for recreation.
There is a driveway shaded by hardwood trees, a paved driveway lined with benches overlooking the ponds and its forested shorelines, and interspersed with lakefront homes.
For fishing, there is a boat launch and a small dock, and the lake has good numbers of panfish and bass.
5. Beaver Dam Brook Reservation
The city has a range of protected areas open to the public for passive recreation.
Most ecologically important is the Beaver Dam Brook Preserve, which covers about 200 acres on the floodplain of the river of the same name.
The property includes most of the watershed and recharge areas for the well fields in the Lynnfield Center Water District.
So the wetlands and temperate forests here are absolutely essential to local water quality. You can walk along the creek and on a range of trails in the surrounding forest, accessed from the south end of Greyland Rd.
6. Lynn Woods Reservation
Established in 1881, Lynn woods Reservation is the nation's second-largest municipal park, accessible from Lynnfield via conservation land in the southern part of town.
The prime property on the city line is Bow Ridge Preserve, in the old Kallenberg Quarry, with stunning views of the Boston skyline from the edge of Skull Rock.
Trails here, and along Route 1, lead south to Lynnwoods, connecting via a trail system more than 30 miles long. From the north, you'll soon reach the shores of Walden Pond, one of the park's three active reservoirs.
7. Lake Quannapowitt
Located in neighboring Wakefield, this grand 250-acre pond is a wonderful resource for the city and surrounding communities.
Lake Quannapowitt is surrounded by a row of public parks, and you can walk around the entire lakeshore along a 3.2-mile paved trail.
To the east, the view along Main Street at sunset is stunning. In the West Bank, one of the best farmers markets in the region is held on Saturday mornings, from mid-June until October.
Finally, to the south, the city operates kayak and paddleboard rentals in the summer, open to non-residents.
8. Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
The first integrated iron works in North America was established a few miles south of Lynnfield in Saugus.
Beginning in 1646 and operating for approximately 25 years, John Winthrop the Younger (1606-1676) established the Saugus Iron Works, with water-powered facilities, and his own wharf on the Saugus River. Iron ore was loaded onto the oceans. Go ships. .
The factory was lost until an archaeological survey in the 20th century revealed telltale signs, including a 500-pound hammer and a water wheel that powered a blast furnace.
Now the complex has been reconstructed, a National Historic Site, and you can check out the blast furnace, forge, rolling mill, shear, slate, and giant trip hammer.
One surviving item from the 17th century is the early period Appleton-Taylor-Mansfield House, believed to have been the residence of the ironworker.
9. Jordan’s IMAX Theater
In 2004, New England-based retailer Jordan's Furniture opened an IMAX theater at its Redding location, minutes from Lynnfield Common.
This massive screen measures 80 feet by 60 feet and is located in an auditorium that can seat 500 people. If you want to see an epic movie being shown for the first time on the big screen, this is the place to be.
What you get are stunning laser-enhanced 4K images, incredible sound thanks to a 12,000-watt sound system, and “butt stabilizers” in the Tempor-pedic seats, to complete the fully immersive experience.
10. Beanstalk Adventure Ropes Course (It at Beantown)
Another great attraction is the indoor high ropes course offered by Jordan Furniture in Reading.
The adult course spans two floors and features 30 exciting challenges, from a freestanding beam 24 feet in the air to inclined rope ladders, spaghetti lines and zip lines.
As with all ropes courses, it's a good idea to bring a pair of gloves. Little adventurers can take the BeanSprout course, designed specifically for kids 48 inches or under.
11. Breakheart Reservation
If you haven't whetted your appetite for nature yet, there's another remote area of hardwood forests and lakes to the west of the Linwoods Preserve.
What's noteworthy about Breakheart Reservation is its rocky terrain, with views of peaks to the Boston skyline and miles to New Hampshire.
Another thing about this property is the long paved path that winds around the upper and lower pools, perfect for gentle walking and cycling.
On your way, you'll want to explore the trails branching off to peaks like Ash Hill and Eagle Rock.
In summer, there is a beach on the north shore of Lake Pierce (Upper Pond), while a visitor center at the entrance covers the site's rich natural and human history.
12. Independence Greenway Bike Route
Starting at the Lynnfield-Peabody line, a multi-use trail slowly takes shape, cutting eastward across the North Shore.
The first phase of the Independence Greenway Bike Route was completed in 2010, and when we wrote this article, the main section was up to Lt. Ross Park in West Peabody.
It's a scenic drive, with views down the south bank of the River Ipswich, across to Norrisbrook Wetlands and Crystal Lake Reserve land.
At the time of writing, I needed to use the sidewalk between Lt. Ross Park and Peabody Road to get to the next section, which leads to North Shore Mall.
When we wrote this list, plans to connect the two main sections, and extend the track east to Salem, were already in the design or construction stages.
13. Sagamore Spring Golf Club
Established in 1929, Sagamore Spring Golf Club is a daily fee public course that prides itself on being affordable and accessible to all.
The golf experience here is simple and no-nonsense, and if you play on a weekday you won't pay more than $40 for 18 holes.
Summer twilight is also specific to early birds and birds. The landscape is mature forest, with some impressive elevation changes.
Par 4 #7 is nothing short of stunning, while Par 4 #13 will surprise many players by dodging right and inside the OB.
For practice, there is a ten-stop driving range off the first tee and a practice putting and chipping green through the clubhouse and the ninth green.
14. Cedar Glen Golf Course
Located in the evergreen forests on the north side of Breakheart Reserve, this 9-hole course has been open since 1928.
It's the closest nine-car transfer station to Boston on the North Shore, and is known for its relaxed atmosphere and forgiving layout for players of all standards.
All holes are straight and free of major water hazards – the main challenges come from elevation changes and wood creep, which can be difficult on holes #2, #7 and #8.
The course also has the advantage of being open all year round depending on the weather.
15. Lynnfield Concerts on the Common
Throughout July there is a series of weekly outdoor concerts in the picturesque setting of Lynnfield Town Common.
Organized by Lynnfield Rotary Club, these shows take place on Wednesday evenings at 6pm and cater for a wide range of tastes.
The Reading Community Concert Band was founded in 1994, and has a set date each year. The concerts are free, and you are invited to bring your own food as well as a lawn chair or picnic blanket.
