Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Lynn, MA

Twenty minutes by train from North Station, Lynn is a city with a complicated historical reputation, often referred to as the “City of Sin.” The origins of the phrase, “Lynn, Lynn, City of Sin” are uncertain, yet they may relate to the city’s rugged heritage.

Historically, Lynn thrived as a manufacturing leader, particularly known for its shoemaking industry, a craft that dates back to its earliest days of settlement. By the turn of the 20th century, Lynn was a global leader in shoe production, boasting over 230 factories and producing more than a million pairs daily.

Along the waterfront, a series of public sandy beaches present a raw beauty throughout the year, though they attract numerous visitors during the summer months. In the mid-19th century, Lynn emerged as a popular retreat for affluent Bostonians, and the opulent mansions along the route from downtown Lynn to the coast still reflect that architectural heritage.

1. Lynn Shore Reservation

More than 20 acres of Lynn’s stunning coastline are accessible to the public, featuring King’s Beach, Red Rock Park, and Lynn Beach. These beaches are a remarkable attraction year-round, yet are particularly enjoyable during long summer days.

Parking is generally ample, especially in the extensive on-street areas behind King’s Beach and Lynn Beach. The relatively sheltered coastline results in calm or moderate surf. During low tide, visitors can explore vast stretches of hard-packed sand at King’s Beach, enabling them to walk far into Nahant Bay.

To the southwest, the Lynn Shore Reservation connects with the Nahant Beach Reservation, extending along the peninsula for a total of two miles of sandy beachfront.

2. Downtown Lynn

Downtown Lynn offers a vibrant blend of arts, dining, shopping, and elegant brick architecture, making it a prime location for visitors. In 2021, a section of downtown Lynn was designated as the Commonwealth’s inaugural cultural district, with Central Square serving as an excellent starting point for exploration.

Visitors can enjoy food from over 20 international eateries, public art, museums, and shopping opportunities. Additionally, a farmers’ market operates on Central Square, Thursdays from 11 am to 3 pm, from July through October.

Between downtown Lynn and the Atlantic Coast, the Diamond Historic District showcases hundreds of splendid mid-19th century residences, dating back to when Lynn was a sought-after summer resort.

3. Lynn Museum and Historical Society

Adjacent to Central Square stands the Lynn Museum and Historical Society, a cornerstone of the cultural district established in 1897. The museum’s primary permanent exhibit, Industry & Craft: People At Work In Lynn, details the city’s diverse industries and livelihoods throughout its history, focusing significantly on the shoemaking sector.

Visitors will also learn about Elihu Thomson (1853-1937), a Lynn-based inventor and engineer whose Thomson-Houston Electric Company merged with the Edison General Electric Company in 1892, forming General Electric. The museum also hosts intriguing temporary exhibits covering local art, Victorian furnishings, Black history, and many additional subjects.

4. Lynn Woods

Covering roughly one-fifth of Lynn’s entire area, this forested and rocky park was officially established in the 1880s. This land has been publicly accessible since the 17th century when it served as a community woodlot.

On the southern flank of Lynn Woods lies Breed’s Pond, originally created for industrial purposes in the 1840s and later dammed to serve as a public water supply 30 years thereafter. The highest elevation in the city is at Burrill Hill’s summit, featuring a Stone Tower built in the 1930s for fire observation, offering spectacular views of Lynn and Boston to the southwest.

The park’s rugged landscape is interspersed with trails, making it one of the prime locations for mountain biking and bouldering in the Boston area.

5. Northern Strand Community Trail (Bike to the Sea Trail)

Opened in phases from 2013 to 2021, this 10-mile multi-use public path connects multiple North Shore cities, extending from the Mystic River in Boston to Lynn. Much of the Northern Strand Community Trail runs along the former route of the Saugus Branch Railroad of the Boston & Maine Railroad.

Conveniently located near Boston, the trail traverses newly revitalized communities like Everett and Malden, showcasing several brewpubs and a variety of restaurants with deck seating alongside the trail in Everett, as well as numerous dining options in Malden.

In Saugus and Revere, the trail leads beside restored sections of marshland, ideal for birdwatching. As of the time of this article, plans were underway to extend the trail from Lynn down to the peninsula toward Nahant.

6. High Rock Tower Reservation

Lynn’s most recognizable landmark, the 85-foot tower and observatory, stands atop a hill, providing breathtaking panoramic views of the city and the Atlantic coastline. Built in 1904, High Rock Tower is a Romanesque Revival structure, designed by architect Holman King Wheeler (1859-1943), who contributed to 400 buildings in Lynn.

The surrounding park was designed by the Olmsted Brothers in 1907, although this site has a much older history, being a gathering location for the Pawtucket Native Americans as well as the residence of their chief, Nanapashemet, in the 1600s.

In the mid-19th century, Jesse Hutchinson of the Hutchinson Family Singers, an abolitionist musical group, acquired the property from the Pawtucket tribe. After taking ownership, he constructed a wooden tower that preceded the present structure and bequeathed the land to the city in 1853 for an observatory’s establishment.

The tower and observatory—rebuilt at the dawn of the new millennium—are accessible to the public during selected summer evenings.

7. Lynn Memorial Auditorium

Located at the northwestern edge of downtown Lynn, this iconic Art Deco facility was constructed in the late 1940s. Acknowledged on the National Register of Historic Places since 2005, the auditorium complex houses the city’s primary administrative offices, including the city council and the mayor’s office.

The venue also features a 2,000-seat auditorium that has welcomed renowned performers, including the Beach Boys, Fats Domino, Billy Preston, and Roy Orbison. Although the Lynn Memorial Auditorium experienced a decline in the 1970s, it underwent a comprehensive rehabilitation in 2002, revitalizing its role as a cultural hub.

The auditorium frequently hosts live music from prominent recording artists and tribute bands, in addition to a variety of performances, including comedy shows, dance, magic exhibits, and talks by notable cultural figures.

8. Lynn Shore Promenade

One of the appealing aspects of Lynn’s expansive waterfront is its accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists. Running parallel to the seawall, the paved promenade offers stunning views, particularly at sunrise. This pathway is buffered from Lynn Shore Drive by a grassy slope behind King’s Beach and diverts from the road entirely in Red Rock Park.

Benches are conveniently located along the promenade for those wishing to pause and admire the scenery. On the northern end, the trail leads to a cluster of ice cream shops and restaurants in Swampscott, while traveling south toward the Nahant peninsula brings visitors alongside Long Beach, extending to Little Nahant Island.

9. Red Rock Park

The beachfront at Lynn Shore Reservation transitions into a prominent outcrop of land offering exhilarating views. Surrounded by the promenade along the seawall, Red Rock Park features a sizeable grassy area and benches for those who wish to enjoy the stunning vistas of the Atlantic Ocean, Nahant, and Boston to the southwest.

Depending on tidal conditions, numerous tide pools often form among the rocks at the headland’s terminus, accompanied by informative signs to aid in identifying local marine inhabitants.

10. Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

For those interested in industrial history, the site of the first integrated ironworks in North America lies just a short distance away in Saugus. Established in 1646 by John Winthrop the Younger (1606-1676), the ironworks functioned for the following 25 years before succumbing to nature. Preservation efforts commenced at the end of the 19th century.

Designated as a national park in 1968, the site features a reconstructed blast furnace, forge, slitter rolling mill, and a ¼-ton trip hammer, all powered by a network of seven monumental waterwheels. This area also includes a wharf where iron was once loaded for ocean vessels, alongside a restored home from the 1600s, believed to have belonged to the ironmaster.

11. Lynn Heritage State Park

Located discreetly along the Lynnway and surrounded by new waterfront residential developments, this waterfront park celebrates Lynn’s rich history, its natural environment, and its coastline. The park features a boardwalk adorned with nine panels of mosaics constructed from ceramics and Venetian glass.

Moreover, the park serves as a delightful spot to enjoy scenic views, observing the maritime activity from the adjacent marina, framed by Boston’s skyline. At the time of this writing, plans were in progress to transform the nearby harbor into a green waterfront neighborhood, enhancing public access via the Lynn Harborwalk.

12. Grand Army of the Republic Museum

Lynn is home to one of the last operational Grand Army of the Republic Halls in the country, and the final such hall in Massachusetts. Founded by Union Army veterans post-Civil War, the hall was constructed in 1885.

This venue is maintained by a diverse group of history enthusiasts, honoring those who fought to preserve the Union during the Civil War. Inside, visitors can explore six rooms filled with memorabilia, spanning from the Revolutionary War to World War I. The standout feature is the main hall on the third floor, measuring 56 x 46 feet, which retains its luxurious original furnishings, embellished with photographic portraits of veterans adorning nearly every wall.

13. Capitol Diner

Positioned opposite the Lynn Museum downtown, the Capitol Diner offers a unique slice of history through its compact boxcar design, dating back to 1928. It is believed to be the last remaining diner designed by the J. G. Brill Company, known for manufacturing rolling stock, trolleys, buses, and diners up until the mid-20th century.

The Capitol Diner is impressively three bays wide and ten bays long, preserving numerous century-old features within its interior. This establishment primarily serves breakfast and lunch, closing at 2 pm, and is renowned for its omelettes, pancakes, and other breakfast classics such as eggs benedict, chipped beef, and French toast.

14. Pine Grove Cemetery

Nestled on the hills adjacent to Lynn Woods, Pine Grove Cemetery was established in 1849 and spans approximately 250 acres, with about a third being developed. Many visitors seek solace in this tranquil locale, appreciating the verdant surroundings and views toward the Boston skyline.

During the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built a fieldstone wall encircling the cemetery, which is often inaccurately described as the second-longest wall of its kind worldwide, following the Great Wall of China.

The cemetery is also the final resting place for numerous distinguished individuals, including Medal of Honor recipients, baseball legends, entrepreneurs, U.S. Representatives, and architect Holman K. Wheeler, who significantly influenced Lynn’s architectural landscape.

15. Nahant Beach Reservation

At the tip of the Nahant peninsula, Lynn Beach transitions into Long Beach, comprising a 1.3-mile stretch of wide sandy shore extending to the south. Although open year-round, Long Beach becomes particularly popular in summer for sunbathing, swimming, launching boats, and leisurely walks along the Atlantic, allowing visitors to feel the soft sand beneath their feet.

The northern end features a playground, alongside a visitor center located at the James J. Ward Bath House, and nearby there are sports fields as well as tennis and racquetball courts.