TheInsider.com

"We recommend a serene boat trip along the winding, placid waters of the Cape Ann marine estuary. Just 30 miles north of Boston, in the picturesque harbor of Essex, an historic shipbuiding center, you will find Essex River Cruises, which offers five 90 minute trips aboard the Essex River Queen each day.

"As the Essex River Queen motors slowly down the Essex River, you will pass working boats and pleasure craft at rest at their moorings, eventually reaching the scenic tidelands and sand dunes at the river's mouth near Crane Beach. Peaceful fields and forests stretch uphill from the waving grasses and purple flowers at river's edge. The views are so unspoiled you might feel as though you are seeing this landscape as the 17th century colonists first saw it."

"The journey offers something special for everyone. History buffs will welcome the tales of the shipbuilding heyday and stories about the farms and mansions that dot the river's edge. For birdwatchers, there are opportunities galore for seeing the sea birds that make this rich habitat their home. For the amateur geologist, it is possible to visualize ancient glaciers scraping away at the rocky landscape, leaving exposed bedrock along the rocky shore and hills that punctuate the otherwise uninterrupted horizon. And for you Hollywood types, the trip passes many islands, including Hog Island, where The Crucible was filmed. All cruises are narrated, so sit back and enjoy the wind and water as you learn about the natural history, industry, and geography of the area."

TheInsider.com is a Boston Globe website