The 10 Most Memorable Things To Do on the Massachusetts North Shore

Feast on Fried Clams at the Place Where They Were Invented

You haven't had fried clams until you've tasted the sweet, tender wholebelly clams at Woodman's of Essex, where fried clams were invented in 1916.

© 2007 Kim Knox Beckius

At Woodman's of Essex, where more than 50 members of the Woodman family still make sweet, tender and delicious fried wholebelly clams using Chubby's reliable recipe, you'll enjoy casual dining and a taste sensation that has drawn customers for generations. Be sure to sample the clam chowder and steamers here, too. The North Shore's Ipswich Clams--hand-harvested from the muddy tidal flats of the Essex River--are unparalleled.

• Sail Out of Gloucester Aboard a 65-foot Schooner
• Dine at the Top of a Lighthouse
• Drink Watermelon Beer
• Hold a Sea Star in Your Hands
• Feast on Fried Clams at the Place Where They Were Invented
• Squeak Your Feet on the Singing Beach
• Meet the Artists at the Rocky Neck Art Colony
• Shop for Vintage Jewelry and Other Antiques in Essex
• Taste the World's Best Popcorn
• Spy on Shorebirds at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge