Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Andover, MA

This affluent town in northeastern Massachusetts was established in 1646 and boasts the highest elevation in Essex County, offering views of the Boston skyline, situated 20 miles away.

Andover is distinguished for its prestigious secondary institution, Phillips Academy, founded in 1778, which counts among its alumni notable figures such as Humphrey Bogart, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Jack Lemmon, Frederick Law Olmsted, and Bill Belichick.

On the academy’s campus, the Addison Gallery of American Art, home to one of the world’s exceptional collections of American paintings, offers free admission to the public.

The preservation of the town’s natural landscapes is aided by the Andover Village Improvement Society (AVIS), established in 1894, which is the second-oldest organization of its kind in the United States.

AVIS oversees nearly 30 reservations within the town, featuring over 30 miles of trails, encompassing a significant portion of the Bay Circuit Trail.

1. Addison Gallery of American Art

This museum, affiliated with Phillips Academy, showcases one of the world’s outstanding American art collections. Founded in 1931, it is located on the academy’s campus and boasts more than 17,000 works spanning from the 18th century to the present day.

The gallery features masterpieces by acclaimed artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, John Singleton Copley, Mary Cassatt, Alexander Calder, John Singer Sargent, James McNeill Whistler, Jackson Pollock, Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, among others.

Typically, the museum hosts 12 exhibitions annually, featuring selections from its vast collection along with significant traveling displays.

As a community-focused institution, the Addison Gallery extends free admission and conducts a variety of educational programs catering to individuals ranging from preschool-age children to art educators.

2. Ward Reservation

Comprising over 700 acres of public land, the Ward Reservation features rolling hills, including the highest points in Essex County, situated southeast of downtown Andover. Historically, this area was farmland, initially settled in the 1600s by Nicholas Holt.

His descendants continued to inhabit the land until the late 19th century, and in 1940, the property was donated to the Trustees of Reservations by the widow of Charles W. Ward in his honor.

The highest peak, Holt Hill, offers panoramic views, while Boston Hill provides equally rewarding vistas accessible via the Blue Loop. Additionally, Pine Hole Bog, a glacial kettle hole bog, can be traversed via a 700-foot boardwalk.

3. Holt Hill

The primary attraction within the Ward Reservation is this 420-foot drumlin, noted as the highest point in Essex County.

In a spacious clearing, Holt Hill is crowned with the “Solstice Stones,” arranged to align with the sunset on the longest and shortest days of the year.

The summit offers breathtaking views extending approximately 20 miles to the Boston skyline. This location has served as a critical observation point for generations; notably, in 1775, the residents of Andover watched the burning of Charlestown during the Battle of Bunker Hill from this very vantage point.

4. Bay Circuit Trail

This 200-mile greenway and rail trail weaves through the suburbs surrounding Boston, extending from Newburyport in the north to Duxbury in the south.

The towns of Andover and North Andover are traversed by more than 19 miles of the Bay Circuit Trail as it advances northwest toward the banks of the Merrimack River.

Notably, this section of the trail links a series of areas managed by the Andover Village Improvement Society, totaling seven sites, along with Harold Parker State Forest.

As you navigate through these elevated terrains, woodlands, bogs, and riverbanks, you will experience the natural beauty of northeastern Massachusetts in its purest form. The trail is indicated by plastic markers displaying the Bay Circuit emblem.

5. Downtown Andover

Downtown Andover features an upscale central commercial area designed for pedestrian accessibility, brimming with captivating architecture and a variety of dining options and unique shops.

A prominent structure is the distinguished Andover Town Hall, constructed in the Romanesque Revival style in 1858, while the iconic Musgrove Block (1895) stands out as a local landmark.

Further down Main Street, at 97 Main Street, the Andover Historical Society resides in the Federal-style Amos Blanchard House, built between 1818 and 1819.

During the summer, Andover presents an ideal setting for outdoor dining, offering a diverse culinary landscape featuring Thai, pizza, Mexican, Italian, Greek, New England-style seafood, steak, Mediterranean delicacies, among other choices.

Summer Saturdays are marked by the presence of a farmers’ market, and Thursday evenings feature a summer concert series at the Town Hall’s front plaza.

6. Harold Parker State Forest

A portion of the Bay Circuit Trail meanders through this 3,300-acre forest, extending across several neighboring towns and featuring over 100 vernal pools.

Established in 1916, Harold Parker State Forest represents an early instance of reforestation efforts by Massachusetts and was the subject of various improvement projects implemented by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the 1930s and 1940s.

This undulating landscape was formed during the Ice Age due to glacial activity, with numerous glacial erratics scattered throughout the hardwood, hemlock, and white pine forest.

The expansive trail network within the forest comprises 35 miles of logging roads accessible to the public, while mountain bikers can explore a vast array of single-track trails that would take days to fully cover.

Visitors can enjoy a day-use area at Berry Pond, and the Lorraine Park Campground offers 85 campsites along with opportunities for boating, swimming, and fishing.

7. Moncrieff Cochran Bird Sanctuary

This 65-acre sanctuary, located on Phillips Academy’s property, harmonizes natural beauty with compelling history.

The ponds were created between 1929 and 1930 when the Olmsted Brothers were commissioned to design a bird sanctuary intended to educate the school’s students.

The area features plantings of rhododendron, azalea, wild blueberry, and laurel, alongside an extensive collection of waterfowl within a fenced environment.

Though the sanctuary has allowed nature to reclaim its space over time, remnants of rhododendron and laurel still bloom in June and July.

Visitors can traverse miles of rolling trails across the landscape, and near Rabbit Pond, one can find a granite boulder with a historic marker from 1910, honoring the early Andover Theological Seminary students who founded the American Society of Missions.

This land was shared between the seminary and Phillips Academy from 1807 until 1965.

8. Oak & Iron Brewing Company

The picturesque industrial architecture along the Shawsheen River in Andover includes the local craft brewery, situated at 18 Red Spring Road, which commenced operations in 2017.

Oak & Iron Brewing Company produces unique seasonal beers, often using locally sourced ingredients, alongside a diverse array of classic styles.

Available options include a Golden Ale (Andover Easy Ale), Kölsh (Vorfreude), Dunkelweizen (Andover Runs on Dunkel), Oatmeal Stout (Ballardvale Black), and several hoppy Pale Ales (Rivah Bendah, Greenway, New England Project, among others).

The establishment features a cozy outdoor patio, board games, and a menu of beer-pairing food items ranging from Bavarian pretzels to hot dogs prepared using the brewery’s beer.

9. Pomps Pond

From mid-June to late August, you can visit Pomps Pond on Abbot Road for enjoyable summer activities.

Surrounded by woodlands, this body of water was once owned by the formerly enslaved Pompey Lovejoy (1724-1826), remembered in Andover for his contributions to local events, including election cake and root beer for gatherings.

The area features a beach suitable for swimming, sunbathing, volleyball, and picnicking. Amenities include a concession stand, children’s playground, and rentals for kayaks, canoes, and sailboats.

Trails trail along the water, and during the off-season, the beach remains open for dog walkers. Pomps Pond is part of Andover’s 62-acre Recreation Park complex, which includes four tennis courts, lighted pickleball courts, and a lighted ballfield.

10. Andover Farmers’ Market

There exists a thriving farmers’ market in downtown Andover, occurring on Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm, from mid-June to mid-October.

This market takes place in the scenic surroundings of the Romanesque Revival South Church, completed in 1860, which has served as the fourth meeting house on this site since 1709.

It is common to find more than 30 vendors at the market, offering local produce, herbs, maple syrup, flowers, plants, freshly roasted coffee, oils, baked goods, spices, teas, sauces, seafood, and wines.

Prepared food options are frequently available, accompanied by a diverse array of craft vendors selling jewelry, essential oils, candles, organic cosmetics, scrubs, greeting cards, and much more.

11. Sarkisian Farms Driving Range & Ice Cream

For those wishing to enhance their golfing skills, an affordable driving range is available in Andover. This facility is situated on a farm established in the 1930s by Ovagen Sarkisian, an immigrant who escaped the Armenian genocide.

The range features 35 lighted tees, multiple targets (ranging from 30 to 250 yards), a sand trap, and a putting green, with lessons offered for additional support in improving your game.

The driving range opened in 1994, and during its tenth anniversary, an ice cream stand was introduced, which has become a local summer favorite, serving award-winning Richardson’s Ice Cream from Middleton, MA, along with Richie’s Slush, and a variety of custom sundaes, frappes, and floats.

12. Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens

Located conveniently near North Andover, the elegant estate belonging to Helen Stevens Coolidge and her husband John Gardner Coolidge (1863-1936), who briefly served as the United States Minister to Nicaragua under Theodore Roosevelt, is noteworthy.

John is additionally a descendant of Thomas Jefferson and was the nephew of the renowned collector and art patron Isabella Stewart Gardner.

The property has been in Helen’s family since 1729, and the couple undertook a complete transformation of the estate, merging two late-Federal farmhouses into a single Colonial Revival residence and establishing meticulously designed formal gardens.

Currently, this site operates as a museum managed by the Trustees of Reservations, showcasing collections of European decorative arts, American furniture, and Asian art. The estate hosts public events throughout the year, with a particular highlight being the spring bloomfest when approximately 175,000 bulbs are in bloom.

13. Deer Jump Reservation

Located in the northwest of Andover, the Bay Circuit Trail intersects with another path tracing the Merrimack River’s banks for most of its length.

Andover is relatively unique as the majority of its riverbanks are dedicated to public recreation and conservation. The path extends from Lawrence to Tewksbury in the west, featuring bluffs, boulders, and lush hardwood forests composed of black, paper, and silver birch, as well as beech, elm, maple, and ash trees.

Along the trail, visitors will encounter Pine Island, the site of a historic village for the Pennacook Indians, which played a pivotal role in controlling river traffic during a tumultuous period in the 17th century.

14. Penguin Park

Once a vital component of the local industry, the Shawsheen River flows through the town and into the Merrimack at North Andover.

Plans are underway to develop a greenway along the river’s course in Andover; in the meantime, several public green spaces offer access to the riverbanks.

One such space is Penguin Park, which features open fields and a trail weaving through the woods along the shore. This park is an excellent choice for summer picnicking, and it offers a playground designed for younger children.

15. Andover Village Industrial District

One can embark on an informal exploration of the industries once driven by the Shawsheen River at the Andover Village Industrial District, which encompasses the home of Oak & Iron Brewing.

The district features industrial and residential structures (Federal and Greek Revival) dating back as far as 200 years, primarily situated along Railroad St, Red Spring Rd, Shawsheen Rd, Essex St, and Stevens St.

Among the notable sites is the Marland Mill, constructed in 1885 for spinning and carding, with accompanying buildings that date back at least half a century earlier.

Today, this former factory functions as a senior living complex. Another significant factory building is located at 30 Railroad St, where the Tyer Rubber Co. (a division of Converse Corp.) has now been converted into an apartment complex.