Essex is a lovely coastal town in Essex County, located less than half an hour north of Boston. The city is known as a former center for shipbuilding in the United States and is home to the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum, which preserves historic schooners and ship hulls. More than five dozen antique stores are showcased through the city's quaint downtown village, earning it a reputation as one of New England's top antiquing towns. Some of New England's top seafood restaurants are also located within the town.

Cogswell Grant

© Cogswell Grant

The Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum

© The Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum