This is a very special place. My first time visiting and…read morewill definitely be going back. Beautiful grounds with sculptures, dotted here and there. The building itself indoors is contemporary and has inspirational posters throughout, as well as photographs of leaders around the country. We were there for a film of the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The entire space can be rented out for retreat, and their focuses on leadership. Check out their website for visits or events that are happening.

Love this venue. Hard a special farm to table dinner and met some great people sitting at long…read moretables! The food was not that great, but I have heard that some dinners are better than others. The room is very cool and I love the fire place and the rotating art collection.

We recently had our daughters baby shower Steeple Hall @ Mission Oak Grill. The Room is simply…read moreGorgeous!! This was the best experience I've had planning an event, which I've planned plenty. The Staff on the day of event was more that accommodating, they were pleasant, and willing to do anything needed to make the event the way we envisioned it, From Nik going the extra mile helping us set up the back drop!!! The room was set up beautifully and all Nik's recommendations where perfect. The bartender Kristin was pleasant, happy and fast! The waitress Kathie.... was more than accommodating, she was on the go... if we needed something before I could look for her she was there and ready to help. There was no leaving us to figure anything out, they literally took care of it all. My biggest thing is service always and the staff and facility were exceptional! We'll definitely be back for any future functions. A & T Dalton

My husband and I just had our wedding at this venue this past August. The wedding coordinator (Nik…read moreKedian) was terrific! He's very friendly, organized, professional and a phenomenal communicator (always made himself available for a phone call and responsive via email). We had tremendous confidence in him and it's one of the main reasons why we chose the venue. The other two primary reasons is that the venue is beautiful (it's a hidden gem) and the food is excellent (we are harsh critics and confirm it's great). All of our 100+ guests raved to us how beautiful the venue was and the food (food comes from the restaurant downstairs - go there for dinner!). Thank you again Nik along with all of the wonderful staff. We will always remember you all and your generosity making a rainy day nothing short of perfect!

Went to see Stever Forbert and he is really good. Really great actually…read more The hall holds only about 200 chairs so that was a special time. Nice acoustics. Highly recommend this place! We are looking forward to going back!

My wife and I saw Million Dollar Quartet at this venue. Excellent show. It's a small, quaint, and…read morecharming venue that holds approximately 200 people. Every seat is good. The theatre was clean and staffed by volunteers. Elevator accessible. This venue has well known talent perform here on a regular basis which is great to see. The venue is located in downtown Newburyport with a great view of the water...during the day. The price of tickets are very reasonable and worth a trip.

Went to see the carousel last night and I had a great time. The staff were exceptionally friendly…read moreand even offered free rides when it wasn't too busy. Felt like a kid again.

From the owner: One of only a few in the country, the Salisbury Beach Carousel features 44 original carvings,…read moreincluding goats, giraffes, zebras, chariots, and of course the beloved horses, both jumpers and standers, featuring hand-painted details that are sure to dazzle and delight riders. Playful organ music and cool ocean breezes complete the joyful experience. The antique Carousel, which was created in 1909 is well preserved in its new home, The Salisbury Beach Pavilion, a majestic landmark that welcomes visitors year-round to Salisbury Beach. Additionally, the Pavilion features private event space - the perfect setting for a birthday party or any celebration for both the young and the young at heart. $4 = 1 Ticket = 1 Ride Come, enjoy the ride!

My partner and I just had the pleasure of staying at the Inn and the experience was luxurious. The…read moredecor was calming with a coastal feel creating the perfect escape. The bathtub was a large soaker that was great for taking my worries away. We enjoyed a yummy Bolognese sauce and a bottle of wine from their restaurant Grove. And I can't say enough about the attentive staff, especially Paula and Billie Sue. They were so kind and made sure we had everything we needed. This is great spot if you need a bit of respite and want to enjoy small town friendliness with a touch of indulgence.

The inn is a poorly executed wonderful idea…read more It easily could fill the need for an easily accessible comfortable luxurious place in the area. Every lodging option in nearby Newburyport minimally suffers from inadequate parking, which the Briar Barn has in abundance. This coulda been a contender additionally offers much better access to 95 and is closer to points of interest south of Newburyport. The most inexplicable flaw in this building that was built in roughly 2018 is that the climate-control system either is only heat or air-conditioning in a climate in which it the temperature during a shoulder season literally can be in the 30s (or lower) overnight and the 70s (or higher) during the day. Conversely, I do not recall even historic b and bs not having systems that allow switching between heat and air-conditioning year round. Additionally, the first floor rooms are very dark and subject you to hearing essentially every slight sound from the room above you. Even my highly tolerant significant other repeatedly called the front desk about high heels clicking on the upper floor during one stay. Having the spa, which easily could have been connected to the main building, in an entirely separate facility in an area that frequently experiences inclement weather further indicates the rookie mistakes made designing this place. The common comment that guests frequently plan on eating at the on-site restaurant, which also requires walking outside, only to learn that it is entirely closed for a private event further demonstrates the careless approach to this place. Both having a function room and providing better communication about not being able to eat there in this community that has very limited dining options within a 10-mile radius just makes sense. The bigger issue is this place catering to weddings while still offering itself to the general public. Many reviews have mentioned being unduly subject to even late-night noise related to wedding guests coming and going to events. It further seems that the staff is much more interested in wedding parties than those of us coming simply to enjoy the area. This lack of hospitality extends to doing nothing to appease a guest when things go wrong. One review that notes being put in a noisy room right off the lobby while a wedding party dominates the place comments on the goodwill value of a cheap bottle of wine. The first easy fix for the inn is piecemeal installing individual wall-mounted climate-control systems in each room. The next step is booking members of a large group on the first floor and putting those not part of a group on the second floor as far as possible from the group. The inn further should place tasteful signs around the inn asking guests to please be considerate of other guests, especially late at night. Thicker carpets and padding in the rooms also should abate noise nuisance. In the interim, booking an Airbnb that suits individual needs seems to be a better option than the Briar Barn.

This is a wonderful New England inn in a perfect location when visiting Newburyport…read more , From their website: The Essex Street Inn was originally built as the "Lucky Livery Stable" in the early 1800's. In 1880, the stable was razed, and in its place, the present Essex Street Inn was built in a conservative version of the style known as Victorian eclectic. To set expectations, the rooms are cozy. The suites are larger, but since we were only here for one night, we opted for a standard room. Luckily, we were on the first floor, as there are no elevators and steep stairs. They do have a parking lot, which is key during the high season. Our room was very comfortable, and our bed was perfectly plush. There is a K-Cup coffee maker and cable TV in the room. Breakfast is OK and should satisfy most. There is a Starbucks a short walk away and plenty of other coffee shops and breakfast venues in the area. The location is perfect, on a side street, walking distance from shopping, bars, and restaurants. Plum Island is also a short ride away.

As a Choice Rewards member, it is nice to be able to use points for the higher end unique…read moredestinations with character and unique features while avoiding the resort fees that often get tacked on at places like this. Going in the office seasion this cozy gem gives great holiday vibes with some of the rooms (suites) having fireplaces, rooftop patios, and even jacuzzis. Most of the rooms are not well suited to people with mobility challenges due to stairs. The decor is homey and feels like a throwback to colonial New England.

Apple picking is one of those things you just do in the fall in New England and this spot does not…read moredisappoint! Plenty of parking, lots of staff to direct you, 3 orchards, a very cool farm stand, food trucks, playground, live music, oh and hard cider... made for a lovely day!

Didn't have time for Apple picking but the farm is gorgeous! Run, don't walk, for the cider donuts…read more Warm, fluffy, huge and affordable! The upper rack is for half a dozen and you can find a dozen on the second rack. You can find all kinds of baked goods - pie, bread, muffin, cake.... Produce is all the way at the end and they sell fresh eggs for decent price! Don't be discouraged with the long line, they go quickly. If you have young kids, there are chickens and sheep outside. Not sure what they are called but there are four fake horse thingy to ride.

AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! 5 STARS! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING! I LOVE CASTLES! This is one of the…read moreSecret Hidden Gems of America that most people have never heard about or been to before. It's Time to jump into The TimeMobile & scour the Earth & take you to places from a different time that you won't believe still exist. We have set the dial to 1875 to the town of Haverhill MA. & Winnekenni Castle. Many people think that you have to jump the pond & visit Jolly Old England & The UK to see a Castle. Not True. America has many castles; unfortunately they are just not being promoted. This trip is less than 1 hour drive outside of Boston. Bring a Picnic basket, a water bottle & some good sneakers for an easy 20 minute nature walking hike. After your hike, head back to your car & pull out the picnic basket for a picnic on the green grass on the banks of the Lake. The inside of the Castle is Closed & is only open for Functions, Weddings & Special Events etc. Don't worry you will still be able to see the outside of the Castle close up, the Castle Grounds & lots of other cool stuff. Park your car at the bottom near the playground in the Parking lot or on the side of the road where the signs allow Parking. There are closer Free Parking lots on the way up but you will miss out on all the Adventure & The Winnekenni Castle Hike. So Park your car & follow the signs on Castle Rd. up to the Castle. There are multiple trails & if you like hiking & are more adventurous you can go for several miles all around the Lake. We're going to do an easy trek - a 20 minute hike up & lots of natural settings to see. You will travel along the dirt trails along the lake shore & up the hill to the Winnekenni Castle. THE HISTORY Winnekenni Park Conservation Area is 700+ acres that overlooks the Kenoza Lake which is Haverhill's primary drinking water source. Dr. James R. Nicola built the Castle between 1873 & 1875. He was inspired by the stone structures & castles he visited in England. This was his former residence that he used as a summer home. It is not a huge Castle but modest in size but beautiful. Speaking of Beautiful, the word Winnekenni is taken from the Algonquin Dialect meaning Very Beautiful. C Willis Damon was the Haverhill architect who designed this Magnificent Castle. In 1875 the city of Haverhill purchased it along with some additional land in later years. Besides nature walking & jogging, you can do bicycling, cross country skiing in the winter months, horse back riding & other activities. Like I said The Castle is open for Private Special Events. There is no tour here. They also have Special Public Events every so often that they open the Castle up & are either reasonably priced or even Free sometimes. Check the website for further details & upcoming events. You can check out my other review about Winnekenni Park also. There are picnic tables & benches here or just put a blanket on the green grass & Chill. There's even a Playground Area with Swings, a Slide etc here for Kids. So have a great time exercising, explore & learn about the great outdoors on your adventure, see a castle & have a fun picnic on the green grass on the outskirts of the lake. And guess what? IT'S ALL FREE! It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be Really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

this is a really nice place to checkout! would recommend overall --there's some nice paths and…read moreviews. on the busier side.

Family festival in beautiful downtown Newburyport. Free admission, free events, buskers, music,…read morefood court, professional crafters, yoga, dog walking parade, K9 demo, trivia challenge, karate demo, charity tables. and much more. 1 hour norht of Boston, take route 95 to exit 57 follow route 113 east. paid parking in public lots.