Things To Do

Downtown Andover – 4 mins/1 mile: Just a 20 minute walk or 10 minute bike ride from campus, downtown Andover is a charming town center frequented by Merrimack students, home to many restaurants, cafes and shops. The MBTA commuter rail stops here, providing an easy way to explore all of Greater Boston by train.

Boston – 30-45 mins/23 miles: New England’s largest city has something for everyone! Have an Italian feast in the North End, go shopping on Newbury Street, catch a game at TD Garden or Fenway Park or explore history along the Freedom Trail.

Hiking Trails:

• Stevens Coolidge Place (North Andover, MA) – 3 mins
• Den Rock Park (Lawrence, MA) – 4 mins
• Weir Hill (North Andover, MA)  – 5 mins
• Ward Reservation (Andover, MA) – 6 mins
• Harold Parker State Forest (Andover/Middleton/North Reading, MA) – 15 mins

Malls and Shopping Districts:

• The Loop (Methuen, MA) – 11 mins

• Rockingham Mall/Tuscan Village (Salem, NH) – 15 mins

• Burlington Mall (Burlington, MA) – 23 mins

• North Shore Mall (Peabody, MA) – 23 mins

• Market Street (Lynnfield, MA) – 25 mins

• Assembly Row (Somerville, MA) – 28 mins

• Downtown (Newburyport, MA) – 29 mins

Other Attractions:

• Richardson’s Ice Cream and Mini Golf (Middleton, MA) – 14 mins
• Wamesit Lanes (Tewksbury, MA) – 15 mins
• Canobie Lake Park (Salem, NH) – 17 mins

Sweet Treats:

• Cows Rock Ice Cream (North Andover, MA) – 3 mins
• JP Licks (Andover, MA) – 4 mins
• Mad Maggie’s (North Andover, MA) – 7 mins
• Benson’s Ice Cream (Boxford, MA) – 9 mins
• Friendly’s (Haverhill, MA) – 14 mins – a New England original!

Seasonal Attractions:

Fall:

• Smolak Farms (North Andover, MA) – 8 mins
• Topsfield Fair (Topsfield, MA) – 22 mins
• Salem, “The Witch City” (Salem, MA) – 30 mins

Winter:

• Ski Bradford (Haverhill, MA) – 17 mins
• Nashoba Valley (Westford, MA) – 26 mins

Summer:

• Salisbury Beach (Salisbury, MA) – 31 mins
• Hampton Beach (Hampton, NH) – 33 mins
• Plum Island (Newbury, MA) – 36 mins
• Gloucester and Rockport, MA – 40 mins

Branching Out:

• New Hampshire’s White Mountains: The tallest mountains of the northeast, perfect for a next-level ski or hiking adventure – 1 hour 50 mins north
• New Hampshire Lakes Region: Year-round recreation activities and natural beauty, with waterfront shopping and dining – 1 hour 15 mins north
• Portland, ME: The largest metro area north of Boston, with many shops and restaurants to explore – 1 hour 20 mins north
• Lexington and Concord, MA: These historic towns, which have many Revolutionary-era buildings, museums and attractions – 30 mins south
• Plymouth, MA: “America’s Hometown” home to Plymouth Rock, a replica of the Mayflower, and Plimoth Patuxet, a living history museum replicating the original Pilgrims settlement – 1 hour 10 mins south
• Cape Cod, MA: A warm weather destination with quaint towns, sandy beaches and beautiful views – 1 hour 40 mins south
• Providence, RI: This mid-sized city has charming neighborhoods, a varied restaurant scene, and none of the big city traffic or parking issues – 1 hour 20 mins south
• Newport, RI: This small waterfront city is home to a charming downtown, the gilded age Newport Mansions, the scenic Cliff Walk, and sandy beaches perfect for a stroll – 1 hour 45 mins south

Come visit us and turn your trip into something memorable! Tour campus, explore the region and start picturing your life as a Merrimack Warrior.