Explore the breathtaking Crane Estate on Massachusetts' Ipswich coast — a 2,100-acre Italian Renaissance villa perched above a mile-long private beach. A private guided tour of the Great House reveals Gilded Age opulence at its most dramatic.
What to expect
Your Trustees guide opens the doors of the 59-room Great House, moving through the formal rooms decorated with 17th-century Spanish leather, the family dining room set for a Gilded Age banquet, and Mrs. Crane's private sitting room. Outside, the formal Italianate gardens frame a breathtaking perspective along the Grand Allee toward Crane Beach. The grounds include woodland trails, a working farm vista, and the elegant casino bathhouse. The combination of architectural grandeur and wild Atlantic coastline is uniquely American.
Good to know
Castle Hill is 35 miles north of Boston — arrange a private car or taxi from the cruise terminal. Guided house tours run on a set schedule; book the first morning tour to maximise time. Combine with a walk on Crane Beach (one of the top-rated beaches on the US East Coast) if time allows before all-aboard.