Lynnfield Lynnfield, MA

The history of the I-95-Essex corridor dates back almost as far as the history of America itself. With the founding of the Massachusetts colony, the area provided farmland and fishing; the fishing continues, but much of the farmland has become towns and suburbs. The town of Salem gained notoriety during the witch trials of the late 1600s, an event celebrated every Halloween in the town as thousands of tourists descend, hoping to be haunted. The Peabody Essex Museum in Peabody houses collections of artifacts from around the world, obtained by the seafaring men of the area on their voyages. See maritime art, American art and even an entire Chinese house, along with diverse travelling exhibitions. The museum also presents children's activities and classes. Farther to the east, the fishing village of Gloucester featured prominently in the book and the movie "The Perfect Storm."

Of course most people think of seafood when they think of Boston, and the North Shore has no shortage of excellent seafood joints. For fish, lobster and raw bar selections try the Sea Witch Restaurant and Oyster Bar in Peabody. It may be a no-frills kind of place, but with lobster rolls like this, who needs frills? Man cannot live on seafood alone, so when the meat craving strikes, head to The American Barbecue in Beverly. Get ribs, pulled pork or chicken with all the trimmings. Some say the baked beans alone make the trip worth it. Ponte Vecchio Restaurant in Danvers brings the authentic Italian cuisine of Boston's North End to the North Shore, and has for decades. Some regulars report visiting Ponte Vecchio for 20 years. They recommend the octopus carpaccio, but rest assured you can find dishes for any taste. Try the homemade gnocchi, for example. With Boston less than an hour away, many residents of the North Shore make the trip south for the night life. Closer to home, though, the Pickled Onion puts on a full schedule of entertainment, from DJs to karaoke to live bands on the weekends. Bring a team for pub trivia on Monday nights.

As the name implies, the interstate runs south through the I-95-Essex region before it veers west to circle Boston, and most commuters avail themselves of this route into the city. Route 1 heads more directly north and south, and Route 128 forms the main way east and west. Bicyclists make a common sight on the roads around Boston, most of them exercise enthusiasts rather than commuters, but drivers must learn to share the road with large numbers of cyclists at times. Walking between local destinations can be difficult in outlying areas, with sidewalks rare in most places. While MBTA buses and commuter trains do run as far north as Beverly and Danvers, travel times and expense on these routes can make them impractical for commuters. Cabs and Uber can be summoned to most towns in the I-95-Essex area.

Parks of all descriptions dot the landscape of the I-95-Essex region. One of the biggest, Willowdale State Forest/Bradley Palmer State Park, attracts hikers, bikers, equestrians and boaters from all over the Boston area. Since this is New England, the parks also provide excellent cross-country skiing on the many miles of wooded trails. Leashed pets are welcome as well. Harold Parker State Forest allows all that, plus overnight camping in one of 89 campsites from May to September. Each year the park hosts a day-long Fishing Derby, with prizes for the best catch. Beverly and Salem both have dog parks, where pets can run off-leash and play together.

While the cost of living in the I-95-Essex region can be cheaper than in Boston proper, expect the prices of most things to be higher than the national average. Housing costs run about 9 percent less than the Boston average — but that's still much higher than in most of the country. A one-bedroom residence rents for an average of $1,613 per month. Getting into Boston via MBTA buses and trains costs $11.20 for a one-way trip. Expect to pay $5 for a beer in an area pub. Gas prices run about 7 percent higher than the national average.

Along the I-95-Essex corridor, shopping centers and malls abound. The Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers and the Northshore Mall in Peabody contain many large national chain retailers and big box stores, but much of the best shopping can be found away from the major malls. Downtown Salem's shopping district has many of the quirky, eclectic shops and boutiques you expect of a tourist town. Following the witchcraft theme of Salem, visit the Magic Parlor for herbs, crystals, tarot readings or even jokes, costumes or makeup. Although the shop specializes in genuine mystic supplies, they want everyone to enjoy their visit as well. Indulge your inner nerd at Harrison's Comics and Pop Culture, the headquarters for everything a fanboy or fangirl needs. Comics, graphic novels, apparel, toys and games, Harrison's has it all. Sign up for a Magic: The Gathering tournament, or just hang out and bask in all the superhero glory. Foodies can fill all their gourmet requirements at Pamplemousse in Salem. The store stocks a huge selection of wines, craft beers, cheese and housewares for every style and taste. Take a cooking class, or stop in for one of the many tastings hosted by this shop. For more basic groceries, supermarket chains Stop & Shop and Shaws have locations throughout the area. Fresher produce can be had at the Salem Farmer's Market or the Beverly Farmer's Market during the warm months. Chris' Farm Stand operates two locations and also runs booths in the Salem and Haverhill Markets in season as well, with a variety of locally grown produce.