The “North Shore” of Massachusetts, an area broadly defined as the stretch of sea coast from Boston to New Hampshire, is a prime summer destination boasting an endless amount of outdoor activities. Besides the beaches, waterfront restaurants and nature preserves, this historically significant area is also home to numerous towns and sites that played a key role in early American history.  Here’s a quick guide of what to do in some of the North Shores most popular towns- - Gloucester, Ipswich, Salem and Marblehead.

Gloucester:

The town of Gloucester is arguably America’s most famous fishing village, a title earned from its continuous maritime history since its founding in 1620. Over the years, Gloucester lost so many of its sons to the ravages of the sea that the town thought it fitting to set up a memorial to them. The Gloucester Fisherman (also known as "The Man at the Wheel") at Fishermen's Memorial is one of New England's most famous statues, with the legend "They That Go Down to the Sea in Ships, 1623-1923." 

In East Gloucester you will find the Rocky Neck Art Colony. The winding streets offer interesting glimpses of the harbor, and every other house seems to be an artist's studio.

Today visitors come to explore its nearly four centuries of history, to enjoy a seafood dinner overlooking its harbor, or head out on a whale watch cruise. 

Just outside of town is sight definitely worth seeing: the Hammond Castle. This European-style real life castle was built by the eccentric John Hays Hammond in the 1920’s and now operates as a museum.

MBTA: Take the commuter rail from North Station to Gloucester via the Newburyport/Rockport line. The trip takes about 30 minutes.

Ipswich:

The town of Ipswich is famous for its seafood, most notably the clams (“steamers”) and lobsters. These delicacies are sought after by both locals and visitors, and are a must have for anybody who travels to the North Shore. The town is home to numerous 17^th century residencies; most notably the Whipple House built in 1677. Other sites include the Crane Estate, a huge manor like Great House on Castle Hill, with the adjoining Crane Beach, one of the North Shores most serene beaches. 

Other nature reserves in Ipswich include the beaches of the Sandy Point Reservation the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge at the southern tip of Plum Island; the Ipswich Wildlife Sanctuary; and the Willowdale State Forest, with 40 miles of hiking trails as well as fishing and boating opportunities.

MBTA: Take the commuter rail from North Station to Ipswich via the Newburyport/Rockport line. The trip takes about an hour.

Salem:

Founded in 1626, by the late 1700s Salem had already grown and prospered. Its ships sailed the world, many dealing in trade from the Orient, especially spices, silks, and other luxury goods.

The wealth of the Indies brought great prosperity to the town, which enabled its citizens to build and decorate fine mansions and impressive museums. Salem is also infamously known as the site of the Salem Witch Trials, which took place in one year, 1692 but have haunted the town ever since. A memorial park in downtown Salem commemorates the suffering of the innocents who were falsely accused and murdered through superstition and abuse of power.  There is a spacious town common and many of Salem’s old houses (dating back to the 1600s) and 19th century mansions remain intact and in good repair. 

Part of the historic center has been restored and closed to traffic and is now the pedestrians-only Essex Street Mall, the Peabody Essex Museum and the Custom House (Salem Maritime National Historic Site) have brilliant displays of Salem's (and America's) maritime history.

MBTA: Take the commuter rail from North Station to Salem via the Newburyport/Rockport line. The trip takes about 30 minutes.  

Marblehead:

This is without doubt one of the prettiest and best-kept towns in the country, and people love to come from Boston on the weekend just to walk the streets and window-shop, or have a bowl of chowder in one of several good restaurants. Relax on one of the benches and admire the panoramic view of the harbor and the town. Bring or buy a sandwich, and have a picnic here. The view is unforgettable. It’s also one of the North Shore's more affluent communities, with lovely homes, both new and old, that are worth visiting. 

The Jeremiah Lee Mansion, now owned by the Marblehead Historical Society, was built by a wealthy maritime merchant and furnished with the best things money could buy in 1768—just before the American Revolution. 

The King-Hooper Mansion built in 1728, with a Georgian extension added in 1747, it is presently owned by the Marblehead Arts Association, which offers tours of four floors. Art exhibits change each month. 

Another interesting site is Fort Sewall, an earthwork fortification built in the 1600s and "modernized" in the late 1700s to include barracks and half-buried buildings, which still remain.

MBTA: Take the commuter rail from North Station to Lynn via the Newburyport/Rockport line. Take bus 441 from Lynn. The trip takes about an hour. 

Take a trip to the North Shore and share your experiences with Global Immersions! 

Source: http://www.newenglandtravelplanner.com/go/ma/northshore/

Having a cell phone when you’re traveling abroad can be very helpful; you never know when you could need it! We strongly suggest all of our younger visitors in homestay have an emergency phone for safety purposes.  

In many foreign countries, cheap, disposable phones can be bought at corner stores, along with “pre-paid” minutes. The same is true in the United States, but there are many more options and “hidden” fees. Here is a quick overview of how buying a pay-as-you go cell phone without a contract may not be as easy as you think:

Many stores, including places like Staples, Wal-Mart and CVS, will sell you no more than two phones at a time due to new regulations regarding disposable cell phones. If you’re part of a large group you should call ahead to make sure they have enough phones, and expect that each person will have to buy their own phone.

For disposable phones with “no contract” many carriers offer “pre-paid” minutes. This means, for example, when you buy your phone you’ll spend an additional $25 for minutes to use on your phone. Be careful, you never know how many “minutes” $25 will last you. A major carrier charges .35 cents per minute, and then .20 cents per text, so that $25 won’t last long! Other carriers offer a set number of minutes, say 300 for $25, and then each minute you use your phone will deduct from that original 300 minutes. If you have a smart phone, you also have to find out how much the carrier will charge you for internet use. This feature is called “data” and it is important to consider how much “data use” costs when you buy your phone.  

What happens if you go over your “pre-paid” minutes? With some carriers the phone will just stop working until you add more minutes to it. With others, your phone will continue to work, but the carrier will charge the credit card you bought the phone with and might add on fees for going over your “minutes”. It is important to keep track of how many minutes you have left on your phone. Often you can do this by dialing a number the carrier provided you with, or by logging into an account online.  

So your trip is over and you’re heading home. What to do with your phone? Some carriers will buy it back from you for a fraction of what you paid, then refurbish it and sell it as a used phone. Others won’t give you money if you return your phone, but will take it so they can donate it to an organization in need of cell phones, such as domestic abuse centers. Whatever you do, don’t throw your phone in the trash. The battery, if not disposed of correctly, can cause pollution as it deteriorates.

Here is some advice to our homestay visitors - be careful when you buy a phone. Think about how often you’ll be using it, and for what purpose. If you text a lot, get unlimited texting. If you don’t have a smart phone, then don’t get data. And remember, read all the fine print! 

If you have any helpful tips regarding cell phones without a contract in the U.S, let us know!

This Friday is the first day of Ramadan, one of the most important holidays in the Islamic faith. Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days according to the visual sightings of the crescent moon. This year the holiday will begin on the night of July 19^th and last until August 18^th. Every day during this month Muslims around the world will fast throughout the daylight hours. Muslims believe that Mohammed first received the Qur'an from God during the month of Ramadan, and fast as a way to symbolize their submission (the literal translation of “Islam” in Arabic) to God. 

The Five Pillars of Islam

The Arabic word for "fasting" (sawm) means "to refrain" - and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but from evil actions, thoughts, and words. Sawm is one of the five pillars of Islam, which also includes the shahada (declaration of faith) the salah (daily prayers) zakat (giving of charity) and hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). The whole month is a time for spiritual reflection and prayers, and it is believed that fulfilling any of the five pillars of Islam during this month will multiply the spiritual benefits.  Many Muslims will read the whole Qur'an during Ramadan, or hear it recited during prayers in the Mosque where every day during the month 1/30 of the book is read until it is completed.

Special events during Ramadan

Once the sun sets the fast is broken with a meal called the iftar, which is seen as a time of fellowship between family and friends and has grown into large banquets in many countries. Traditionally, the iftar meal begins by eating three dates, just as Mohammed did during the first Ramadan. The most important night of Ramadan, and the whole year, is Laylat al-Qadr where it is believed God first revealed the Quran to Mohammed. Finally the last day of Ramadan is called Eid ul-Fitr, which is also celebrated with much revelry.

There are approximately 1.6 billion Muslims in the world, and every able bodied adherent (exceptions given to pregnant or nursing women, and the sick or elderly) are expected to fast during the month of Ramadan. That means more than a billion people will be fasting during the day this month!

Are you hosting a Muslim visitor, or would you like to engage with Islamic cultures during this special month? Here are some suggestions for activities in Boston:

This Friday Boston’s Center for Arabic Culture is holding an “Evening of Palestinian Embroidery from Gaza” event. It’s a great opportunity to see intricately handmade Palestinian embroidery, with proceeds from the sales going to help families in Gaza. 38 Newbury St. 7^th floor; 6:30- 9:30pm

Algiers Coffee House is a Harvard Square staple that is famous for its Arabic coffee and Middle Eastern foods. Serenely sip a cup of coffee or tea and watch the busy traffic outside!

If you or your visitor would like to take part in Ramadan celebrations, especially the iftar meal, the Islamic Society of Boston is holding numerous events at their Cultural Center in Roxbury over the month.

Share any Ramadan celebrations you have with Global Immersions! 

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan 

The Boston HarborWalk is a unique walking pathway that follows the beautiful Boston harbor through several of the city’s waterfront neighborhoods.  Weaving through the piers, wharves, beaches and shorelines of areas like Dorchester, South Boston, Watertown, Deer Island and the whole Downtown area, the HarborWalk will extend a full 46.9 miles once it’s completed! Creation of the HarborWalk is a long-term cooperative project between the City of Boston, the Boston Redevelopment Authority, MassDEP, and the Boston Harbor Association to maintain a walk able waterfront in the city as public access areas, and is now nearly 80% completed! 

The HarborWalk offers much more then spectacular views of Boston, the ocean and a nice sea breeze; the city has worked hard to protect and draw attention to the numerous cultural, historical and educational highlights along the city’s waterfront. With stops like the ICA and JFK Library museums, the Charlestown Shipyard and the Fort Point Channel, and the upscale restaurants alongside Liberty Warf, the HarborWalk is much more than a walking path!  To serve as markers and add a fun modern element, the city has sponsored local artists to create sculptures and installations along the walk, as well as monuments marking significant points along the historic harbor.

The curators of the HarborWalk also highlight the green parks and beaches, perfect for a family outing in the summer.  You can visit the Christopher Columbus Park, Castle Island and Pleasure Bay, or the Belle Isle Marsh. There are variety of stops along the water that offer nice views, open spaces and outdoor adventure.

Check out the HarborWalk’s website for a full list of attractions and events. Talk a walk along the harbor and share your story with Global Immersions! 

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Harborwalk 

Our Explore Boston program is designed to help our visitors learn more about U.S. culture and Boston while attending a local event or activity with our staff.   Each Explore Boston event is researched and determined based on maximized cultural learning, time of year and cost.   The goal is for our visitors to explore the great city of Boston and all that it has to offer with insiders and attend events they might not know exist!  We welcome hosts and their families to join their visitors for each Explore Boston event.  Do you have suggestions, ideas or local happenings our visitors would like?  

Join Global Immersions on our first 2012 Explore Boston event this Thursday, July 19 at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) for a free concert featuring Jaime Woods and Nick Hakim! The G.I team, visitors and hosts will enjoy local music, the view on the waterfront and each other’s company! 

Meet at the front door entrance to the ICA at 5:15pm.  Take a tour of ICA at 5:30pm and the music starts at 6pm.  Look for Derek (wearing a G.I. t-shirt) if you arrive after 6pm on the stairs near the music. The ICA has a cash bar and café. The concert will go until 8:30pm.     

Berklee Artists Jamie Woods and Nick Hakim

Together Jaime Woods and Nick Hakim create “feel-good” music influenced by soul, blues, jazz, and folk and inspired by Curtis Mayfield, The Beatles, and Jimi Hendrix. Their first album debuts this summer. Throughout the summer the Institute of Contemporary Art features artists from the Berklee College of Music, which boasts some of the most talented students, alumni, and faculty in music today.

Tomorrow is the 4th of July! We’re lucky to be in one of America’s most historically significant cities, and there is so much to share on this day with your visitor! Bring them to your family barbecue, watch your town’s fireworks display, walk the Freedom Trail - nothing demonstrates American culture better then Boston on Independence Day! Here are some helpful links to inspire your holiday celebrations:

Find 4th of July fireworks in your neighborhood at Boston Central 

4th of July events are held all over the Boston area - find a long list of celebrations here.

Look at our earlier blogs for more fun Independence Day celebrations, and share your stories with Global Immersions! 

Have a good 4th!