Established as an independent town in the 1850s, North Reading has a history of European settlement dating back two centuries.

The historic 200-year-old historic district meeting house is his third in this location and stands at the highest point in a majestic community of historic buildings.

North Reading’s finest parks are also scenic on the shady banks of the tranquil Ipswich River.

In the center, you can visit companies that have been in the industry for decades and there are many nearby attractions such as a mini golf course, an indoor playground for children under 10, and a go-kart track.  

1. Reverend Daniel Putnam House

The headquarters of the North Reading Society of Historical and Antiquities is located in this colonial mansion on the east side of Town Common for over 300 years.

The house was built for the purpose of persuading the pastor to settle in the parish. The Reverend Daniel Putnam (1696-1759) ministered here from 1720 until his death, and under his contract, he owned 20 acres of land, two of which are his home to this day. was around

Also on the grounds is the West Village Schoolhouse (1845), his one-room schoolhouse that was moved to this location in the 1980s. Reverend Daniel Putnam’s home can be visited during open houses and social events.  

2. BFM Driving & Mini Golf

If you want to hone your golf skills or are looking for a family-friendly activity, there is a combination driving range and miniature golf course at 327 Main Street in North West Reading.

BFM’s 18-hole mini golf course is surrounded by rock gardens with animal models. The holes themselves are fun for kids, but the lack of crazy obstacles allows serious putters to show off their skills.

The driving range now features 28 hitting stations, re-laid mats, pinnacle, and top-flight balls, multiple targets to choose from, and lighting for after-dark play. 

3. The Big Dipper Ice Cream Stand

After playing mini-golf at BFM, families can enjoy a cold treat at the ice cream stand next door.

You can walk from the parking lot. There are some picnic tables out front. Big Dipper not only offers high-quality dairy ice cream but also caters to a variety of dietary needs and preferences with delicious vegan, fat-free, sugar-free, and dairy-free options.

With about 40 varieties of hard ice cream, from toasted coconut to mint chocolate chips, as well as low-fat frozen yogurt, a variety of sherbets and sherbets, and soft cream, there’s sure to be something that piques your interest. You should find it. 

4. Hornet’s Nest Sub Shop

Just off Town Common is a sandwich shop with no shortcuts that have been around for over half a century.

Hornet’s Nest Sub Shop opened in 1972 and quickly became famous for its cheesesteak sub shop. They continue to be the star of the menu and, like all steak subs sold in the store, are prepared using only the finest beef loin.

Our steaks are hand-shavings daily and are never frozen or pre-sliced. The bread is also freshly baked and the turkey sub meat is oven roasted on site. Don’t forget to try the Italian-style thin-crust pizza made with homemade hand-kneaded dough.  

5. Ryers Store

At the southwest end of Town Green is a traditional country shop dating back to 1912.

Lyr’s Store features a deli, hot bar, salad bar, freshly baked bread, hot and cold sandwiches, freshly brewed Pierce Brothers coffee, Richardson ice cream, a wide selection of beers and wines, gourmet specialties Goods and various sweets available.

A unique strength here is Lyre’s own selection of house-made marinated meats, and a list of signature sandwiches includes premium Dietz & Watson cold cuts.

Daily specials are posted on the store’s website and always offer a variety of fresh hot soups Monday through Friday.  

6. Shriners Auditorium

Opened in 1977, this spacious venue in the North Reading/Wilmington downtown area was built as a headquarters by Boston-based Aleppo Shriners and is still owned by the Doyukai.

The Shriners Auditorium has approximately 40,000 feet of exhibition space within the arena and has hosted a variety of events over the past 45 years, from conventions, antique shows, banquets, and concerts to wrestling, mixed martial arts, and boxing. It’s been done.

A milestone on the calendar is the annual Shriners Circus in April. Its history dates back to 1951 and he is known as an aviator, dancer, daredevil stuntman on a motorcycle, and the famous Aleppo clown. 

7. Cowabunga’s Inflatable Playground

For parents with children under the age of 10, there is an indoor inflatable park at the Atlantic Plaza Shopping Center in North Reading.

Safer than a trampoline park, the Cowabunga Inflatable Playground is a small world of inflatable attractions where you can bounce, climb and slide for an exhilarating hour or two.

There are open bouncing areas, huge slides, all kinds of inflatable obstacles, and huge climbing structures with foam ball blasters.

Whether you want to rent out the entire area for a private celebration or use the public space for yourself, the playground is the centerpiece of your birthday party. 

8. K1 Speed

The Boston branch of this national chain of indoor kart tracks is just minutes from Wilmington. K1 Speed ​​opened here in 2015 with two challenging tracks and a fleet of powerful electric karts.

Unlike petrol-powered carts with lawnmower engines, these eco-friendly machines have zero rpm maximum torque and can rocket out of corners.

The easiest way to stay on track is with an arrival and drive package. After each race, you will receive a results sheet detailing the times for that session and the previous week or month for the riders.

Perfect for corporate events and group celebrations, K1 Speed ​​has a café serving snacks and drinks, and an arcade with billiards and air hockey tables.  

9. Reading Town Forest

The southwest corner of the city borders an attractive 290-acre protected area on the Ipswich River.

The Readingtown Forest was founded in the 1930s when organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Massachusetts Forestry Society, and 4-H Club planted a myriad of evergreen trees on the property.

The landscape is varied, with marshes, glacial eskers, meadows, and large pine forests.

There are four different marked trails, an overpass over a river, over a pine ridge, and over a section of boardwalk. Keep an eye out for the Old Council Ring, a 100-foot diameter pine ring planted in 1930 as a symbol of unity.  

10. Damon Tavern

Just south of Reverend Daniel Putnam’s house on the east side of Town Common is another building owned by the North Reading Antiquities Society.

Damon Tavern was built in 1817 for Revolutionary War veteran Captain David Damon.

In the first half of the 19th century, his 21-room inn was a rest stop for the Boston-Heverhill and Salem-Lowell bus lines, but it also served as the local post office.

In the 1830s, traveling artist Rufus Porter (1792-1884) painted pastoral murals on the ballroom’s stucco walls. This mural is one of the few surviving murals of him in New England.

Later, in the early 20th century, North Reading’s first telephone exchange was established here, and from the 1950s until the 1980s, the building housed the public library. 

11. Town Common

The heart of North Reading lies on Town Common, a triangular lot sloping south from the Third Meeting House (1829), built in the Greek Revival style.

This is one of several buildings that contribute to the historic North Reading Center Village area.

The oldest on the east side is the Reverend Daniel Putnam’s House (1730), which will be discussed later. Other notable buildings include the MacLean House (1818) and the French Second Empire-style Flint Memorial Library. 1875 in the 17th century.

There’s a bandstand at the bottom of the slope, and a short walk from this square is home to a number of decades-old local stores, including Hornet’s Nest Sub Shop and his Ryers Store, a country store.  

12. Harold Parker State Forest

North Reading sits on the south side of a 3,320-acre landscape of glacial faults, rocky outcroppings, ponds, marshes, and rolling wooded hills.

The vast coniferous forests of Harold Parker State Forest were planted by him in the 1910s as one of the state’s first land acquisitions for tree planting.

In theory, you could spend days traversing these forests. The network spans a total of 35 miles and includes portions of the 230-mile Bay Circuit trail.

It has some of the best mountain biking on the North Shore, notably the Yellow Diamond Trail, which circles Salem Pond and is accessed from Middleton Road.

This campground has 89 sites and is located on the secluded beach of Frye Pond, one of the 11 main bodies of water in the forest.  

13. Ipswich River Park

North Reading is justifiably proud of this stunning community park created on the south bank of the Ipswich River in the 1990s.

A true natural wonder, Ipswich River Park is the perfect place for a quiet stroll along the bench-lined paths that run along the northern riverbank. Perfect if you want to stay a little longer.

Ipswich River Park is also a vibrant center for active recreation, with facilities for youth baseball, softball, tennis, soccer, basketball, street hockey, skating, and horseshoes.

Seasonal food stalls, extensive picnic facilities, and a pavilion that hosts the North Reading Barbecue & Entertainment series on Wednesday nights in late June and late July.  

14. Clarke Park/Martins Pond

One of North Reading’s most spectacular natural features is this 89-acre pond, which is fed by the Skag River and drained by Martins Brook, a tributary of the Ipswich River.

Homes line the lush east and west banks of the pond, with boat launches on either side of 89 Traveled Way and 65 Lakeside Boulevard.

A small area on the south coast is Clark Park, but at the time of this writing the beach was closed to swimming.

Still, it’s a beautiful place to hang out by the water, with docks, covered picnic areas, basketball and sand volleyball courts, and a children’s playground.  

15. Hillview Golf Course

Owned by North Reading, the fee-based course has undergone a number of upgrades in recent years, including redesigned tees, greens, and fairway landings.

At 5,773 yards from the tip, Hillview Golf Course is designed to offer a balance of ease of play for beginners and difficulty for experienced golfers.

Accuracy is key and perhaps the biggest challenge is keeping approach shots on fast greens.

The course is also known for being reasonably priced at just $47 for 18 holes on weekends, and while it has a driving range with big buckets, it was $12 at the time of making this list.