Newbury sits on Massachusetts’ North Shore, an hour north of Boston. The town encompasses Plum Island, where Lark’s property sits directly on the sand. But the broader area draws visitors for a combination that’s hard to find elsewhere on the coast: a Federal-era downtown rich with history and food, and an eleven-mile barrier beach protected as one of the most important wildlife refuges on the Atlantic Flyway.

Downtown Newburyport rewards walking. Market Square anchors the historic district, where brick buildings rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1811 form one of the largest collections of Federalist-era architecture in the country. The Custom House Maritime Museum, designed by Robert Mills in 1835, holds model ships, Coast Guard history, and artifacts from the city’s privateering days. From there, the Waterfront Promenade follows the Merrimack River past sailboats and fishing charters, with benches facing the water and views to Salisbury across the current.

Dining runs deeper than a town this size has any right to. Sea Level Oyster Bar overlooks Market Square and the river, serving raw bar platters from two outdoor patios. Brine offers oysters and creative cocktails on State Street. Mission Oak Grill fills a converted church with steaks and an extensive wine list under the original beams. Newburyport Brewing Company pours local ales at their taproom.

Maudslay State Park, ten minutes northwest, spreads 450 acres of trails through 19th-century gardens and woodland along the Merrimack. Yankee Clipper boat tours depart from the waterfront for harbor cruises and whale watches to Stellwagen Bank. And Plum Island, just across the causeway, offers eleven miles of barrier beach and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge for birding, kayaking, and long walks on empty sand.