So, I'm now offering a curated list of my favorite places, but please note that this isn't a complete list of all of the potential stops, and you might find something else that appeals to you while you're driving around the area. There is much to explore in this area, so keep your eye out while you're in the area in case something catches your eye.
I believe Friday is the best day for this Ipswich trip, with Saturday a close second, for two reasons, which I'll explain below. You can go on any other day if you wish, but a couple of excellent options won't be available.
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I usually get a Ham & Cheese Croissant, which is flaky and buttery, and often slightly warm. This is definitely one of top favorite croissants, and highly recommended. It's a great way to start the day before exploring Ipswich.
Some of the other tasty items you can purchase include Scones, Banana Bread. Cardamom Muffins, Coconut Macaroons, and more,
Russell Orchards: On my day trip, I usually visit about four farms in the Ipswich area, each with its own special attractions, but I'll note there are even more farms in the area that you can visit. Russell Orchards sells its own produce, some kitchen supplies, books, ice cream, baked goods, gourmet foods, wine and cider. You can pick your own fruit, dependent on the season, such as blueberries, raspberries, apples, and more. Plus, they have some farm animals which you can see, which is a popular attraction for children.
My favorite Cider Donuts are made here, a light and flavorful donut with such a delicious apple flavor. They don't need a dusting of cinnamon/sugar, and are much better than the heavy, cake cider donuts you find elsewhere. If you're lucky, you'll get some when they are still warm. I'll usually eat a donut or two before I even reach my car in the parking lot. You can even get a Cider Donut Sundae at their ice cream booth.
Northern Lights Farm Stand: Located diagonally across from the Clam Box, Northern Lights has a small farm stand with produce, including Duck Eggs (which I enjoy), and a variety of jarred fruits and vegetables produced by the Mennonites (also a good choice).
One of their main attractions is also all the animals they have on their property, including donkeys, a pot-bellied pig, turkeys, ducks, geese, rabbits, and more.
Tendercrop Farm: This local farm has farmstands in Newbury, Wenham, and Dover, and I usually stop at either the Newbury or Wenham location on my Ipswich journey. Both are fairly similar, offering lots of fruits and veggies (many of their own grown), as well as flowers and plants. They also sell dairy products, baked goods, frozen foods and snacks.
In addition, they have a butcher shop, offering meat from the many animals on their farm, including beef, chicken, turkey, and pork. Their meats are excellent quality and reasonably priced, and I've never been let down. Their Boneless Pork Chops ($6.99/lb) are thick cut, very tender and flavorful. Such a great deal and I usually get some when I stop here. I've seen other butcher shops offering the same thing for twice the price. I've also enjoyed their grass-fed Filet Mignon, Marinated Steak Tips, Duck Breast, Turkey Tips, Sausages, and more. Definitely a great stop to satisfy your carnivore cravings.
Clam Box of Ipswich: For lunch, I can't consider going any place else except the Clam Box. It's my favorite clam shack and never disappoints. It's celebrating its 90th Anniversary this year! Their fried seafood is superb, from the fried clams to the fried scallops, and their service is top notch. They are very customer-driven and have impressed me multiple times in the past. You can dine inside or outside, and during the summer you might have to wait in line as it is very popular.
On Fridays only, they commonly offer Fried Lobster Tails, which are difficult to find elsewhere. Each lobster piece is basically half a lobster tail, and you can see above the plentiful portion you receive. The lobster is delicious, with a nice, light and crispy batter, sweet lobster, and some melted butter for dipping. The dish comes with two sides, and I always opt for French fries and onion rings. This is one reason why I recommend making an Ipswich road trip on Fridays.
Ipswich Shellfish Fish Market: Once you've enjoyed lunch at the Clam Box, you might still have a hankering for some seafood, but which you can prepare at home. So, only on Fridays and Saturdays, you can check out this seafood pop-up, which is my favorite seafood market. This is the second reason why journeying to Ipswich on Friday is a good idea.
They have plenty of fresh, local seafood, as well as some excellent frozen fish. Quality is high but prices are reasonable, and the service is excellent. The staff can cut the fish to any size you need, and can offer suggestions for preparation as well.
They also sell a variety of prepared foods, from tinned seafood to pasta, to their owns soups, sauces, and seafood entrees. Their house-made Corned Bread is delicious, moist and flavorful.
Every Thursday, they post a menu for their Friday and Saturday offerings. For instance, they currently stock local Halibut, Swordfish, Striped bass, and Bluefish. You'll also find seafood from Alaska, Canada, Norway, Iceland, and more. You can find frozen Lobster Tails, split for the grill, as well as live lobsters. So many choices! In the past week, I've dined at home on their King Salmon and local Halibut, and both were absolutely delicious. Highly recommended!
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Winfrey's Fudge & Chocolates (Rowley): Just a few miles from the Clam Box, you can find U.S. Route 1, also known as the Newburyport Turnpike. At 42 Newburyport Turnpike, you can check out the chocolates and candies at this large store. They have stores at four other locations. I especially enjoy their Chocolate Turtles.
They have an excellent breakfast menu, with delicious pancakes, homemade hash, breakfast sandwiches, and more.
They also have a bakery in their basement where they produce numerous pies and pastries. If you just stop by the diner, they have some whole pies and pastries available for purchase, but if you want to ensure you get a specific type of pie, you should order ahead of time. Over the last few months, I've stopped by the diner a few times and purchased their three cream pies: Coconut, Banana and Chocolate. They were all delicious, quite amply sized, and not overly sweet. They generally cost $30 each.
Market Basket (Rowley): At 231 Newburyport Turnpike, there's a Market Basket, which I think is one of their best locations. It's very clean and has a greater variety of products than many of their other locations. And prices are very good compared to many other supermarkets.
Nancy's Marshview Cafe & Bakery (Salisbury): If you continue to follow U.S. Route 1, about 8 miles from Market Basket, you'll cross a bridge into Salisbury. You'll soon come to Nancy's Marshview Cafe, which serves breakfast and lunch, and also has a bakery. I haven't yet eaten breakfast here, but the menu looks enticing, and I've enjoy their baked goods very much.
Bucciarelli's Butcher Shop & Deli (Salisbury): Very close to Nancy's Cafe is this butcher shop, which also sells gourmet foods and wine. It's worth checking out, although their meat prices seem to be higher than at Tendercrop.
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Cellar Door Culinary Shop: Back in Ipswich, check out the Cellar Door, a place for gourmet food, wine and beer. You'll find cheese, cured meats, sauce, olive oil, noodles, chocolates, and much more.
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Some other spots you might want to check out, which aren't on my usual route, in the Ipswich+ area include:
Three Sweet Peas Bakery Cafe (Rowley)
If you have any other suggestions in the area, feel free to send them on to me.
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