Ipswich River

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The month of July was signed off well. We went to Ipswich River which is about 25 minutes from home. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful rivers on Boston's North Shore and I really cannot deny that. The river is about 30 miles long (No! we dint go the entire length) and is one of the most canoed rivers in Massachusetts. Along the river path are marshlands and wetlands, creating a wonderful ecosystem.

The canoeing path starts at the Willowdale Dam, from where you can rent canoes. The good thing is that you can rent the canoe for the entire day (unlike the one hour rentals where you are almost in a hurry to come back within those 60 minutes just so you don’t have to pay extra!). The other good thing is that this place is kid-friendly, which means you can take your little toddler along with you and enjoy.
P.S: Lifejackets are available for people like me who don’t know anything about swimming.

As you are canoeing through the river, you start to realize that the river is leading you into wilderness and you feel more close to nature than ever. This place is all about serenity and peace. Although the river runs along the state highway, it is so quiet that sometimes you can hear only your breathing. The river runs into a reservation and so on the banks you are likely to find shade and resting spots. We found this perfect spot to dock our canoe, have lunch and rest for a while. Bliss I should say!

There couldn’t have been a better get-away than this one. Not too far from home, it is an ideal spot for an idle afternoon!
Rating: ****

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