May 11, 2026 | Historic, Tours, Travel
Andy, tell us about By Lantern Tours and how you help/serve your clients. By Lantern Tours offers story-driven walking tours of historic Old Town Marblehead. My wife, Marybeth, and I co-founded the business around a simple belief: Marblehead has one of the most extraordinary stories in American history, and most people have never heard it. We offer three tours: the REV250 Tour, Legends & Lore, and Ghosts & Consequences. Groups stay small by design, because the stories deserve that kind of attention. Whether you’re a first time visitor or a Marblehead local, you’ll hear things that will surprise you.
What inspired you to start your business? We live in the middle of all of this history, and once you start paying attention to it, it’s hard to stop. We’ve sat in the kitchens of colonial homes and heard the real stories of the families who built them. We’ve explored attics and basements, opened secret doors, and found trap doors leading to wells. We know which houses used to be taverns and bakeries. We’ve seen them, heard the stories, and fact-checked them to make sure they’re true. At some point we started sharing these stories with friends and family, and people leaned in. They wanted more. So we told more. That’s genuinely how this started.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in running a business? That passion is the product. Marybeth and I spent our careers in advertising and marketing, and what that taught us, more than anything, is how to tell stories. When you share something with genuine passion, people feel it. That’s true whether you’re selling a national brand or walking a group of strangers through a 300-year-old street. The other thing we’ve learned is that in a small town, everything is personal. Every booking matters. Every guest who leaves happy tells three people. Every five-star review is a salesperson working for you around the clock. Marblehead has been generous to us, and we carry that with us every single tour.
What do you love most about Marblehead? That it’s real. There’s no reproduction here, no theme park version of history. The buildings are original. The streets are original. The harbor looks the way it looked when Marblehead’s men launched from it. When you walk a guest down a narrow street in Old Town and tell them the story of who lived in that house — and the house is still standing right in front of them — you can see it land. That moment of genuine connection with history doesn’t happen anywhere else quite the way it happens here. And the people. Marblehead has a character that’s entirely its own. Stubborn, proud, fiercely independent. Exactly the kind of town that would row Washington across the Delaware in a snowstorm and not make a big deal about it.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? That for most of our adult lives, Marybeth and I were consumed by the thing most parents are consumed by: raising our three kids. That was the priority, the focus, the full-time project. Everything else came second. At some point the kids grew up. And in that space, something unexpected happened. We started paying attention to the town we had been living in — really paying attention. The history, the stories, the houses, the harbor. We started digging. One story led to another, and we couldn’t stop. Starting a walking tour business was never the plan. The kids may be grown, but we’re still very much in their lives – and they in ours. Marybeth’s mom lives with us too. But between all of it, we’ve found something that genuinely energizes us.
More Information:
By Lantern Tours
Andy and Marybeth Maercklein, Owners
617-329-9630
[email protected]
Bylanterntours.com
Mar 20, 2026 | Travel
Tell us about NorthEast Experience, your services, and how you help your clients. At NorthEast Experience, we help communities shape tourism that works for residents first, and visitors as a result. We sit at the intersection of community engagement, experience design, and destination strategy, translating local values into visitor experiences that actually work on the ground.
What We Do: We partner with communities to design tourism models that protect local heritage, support local businesses and nonprofits, and create lasting, year round economic impact.
For Destinations: We work with residents, businesses, nonprofits, and cultural institutions to define shared values and priorities. We map local assets, stories, spaces, and seasonal rhythms, then connect them into a clear destination narrative. From there, we pilot initiatives, especially in shoulder and offseason periods, that rebalance visitation and strengthen the local economy. Impact: A more coordinated visitor experience that reduces peak season pressure while preserving what makes a place distinctive.
For Local Businesses & Organizations: We help businesses clarify their goals and design engaging, place based experiences that align with the broader destination story. Impact: Stronger visibility, deeper community connections, and more consistent, year round revenue.
For Tour Operators: We co design experiences with communities to ensure they reflect local values, scale responsibly, and fit naturally within destination priorities and itineraries. Impact: Authentic experiences that resonate with travelers and deliver measurable benefits to local Economies.
Storytelling is central to our work. We design experiences that connect visitors meaningfully with a place, its culture, history, and people. In Marblehead, for example, our collaboration with Arnould Gallery & Framery uses art and storytelling to encourage responsible travel, transforming the gallery into a hub for connection, learning, and support for local artists. Our international team combines deep community engagement with expertise in tourism, sustainability, business development, branding, and storytelling. Drawing from fields like urban planning, retail, the arts, and education, we apply data and technology thoughtfully to strengthen local economies while staying grounded in community values. Ultimately, our work is about balance, encouraging longer stays, spreading visitation across the year, and creating steady economic activity without eroding local character. Everything we do is guided by one simple principle: tourism should work for the people who live there.
Why did you start NorthEast Experience? Today’s travelers are looking for more than a getaway. They want meaningful connections with the people, stories, and culture of the places they visit. At the same time, tourism can place real strain on communities when it is not planned thoughtfully. Streets become crowded, resources stretch thin, and residents often feel unheard or disconnected from the benefits tourism creates. We’ve seen firsthand how well intentioned tourism can drift away from community needs and how powerful it can be when residents are truly part of the design. We started NorthEast Experience to help communities design tourism that supports residents while offering experiences visitors genuinely value. For places already welcoming visitors, we help ease pressure, spread visitation more evenly, and increase local benefit. For communities seeking to grow responsibly, we help define shared values, tell their story with clarity, and implement strategies that strengthen local economies and everyday life rather than compromise them. Our goal is to build a tourism model where visitors stay longer, spend locally, engage respectfully, and leave places stronger than they found them.
How can Marblehead benefit from responsible tourism? Responsible tourism gives Marblehead the opportunity to welcome visitors who appreciate its history, heritage, and character, while ensuring that residents, businesses, and cultural institutions benefit meaningfully from tourism. Through community rooted experiences, Marblehead can showcase its rich history and values while inviting visitors to engage in ways that support the town and its people. Imagine local businesses coming alive in the offseason, shops hosting hands on workshops, bookstores offering author talks and reading salons, or galleries creating immersive storytelling experiences. Visitors and residents participate side by side, supporting local nonprofits, artists, and small businesses while turning a simple visit into a shared experience. Visitors can also contribute directly by walking or biking instead of driving, participating in local projects, or joining nonprofit programs. On their way earning recognition while helping preserve what makes Marblehead special. In this way, visitors become active stewards rather than passive observers. We draw inspiration from successful models elsewhere and remain in active conversation with teams doing this work globally. In Copenhagen, Denmark, the CopenPay initiative rewards visitors for making environmentally responsible choices and exclusive experiences. In Boulder, Colorado, the Voicing Boulder project uses community stories and creative expression as a form of data to inform real planning decisions. In Jackson Hole, Wyoming, residents, businesses, and civic groups collaborated to develop a sustainable destination management plan that aligns tourism with community values. Building on these ideas, we are exploring regenerative tourism, approaches that actively strengthen communities by reinvesting in local arts, preserving historic buildings, and protecting coastal and natural spaces. For Marblehead, this means tourism that not only respects the town’s character, but helps sustain it for generations to come.
If you had to pick one favorite way to experience Marblehead, what would it be and why? Marblehead is beautiful in so many ways, and there are endless ways to explore it. One of my favorite ways to start is at Fort Sewall, one of the oldest English coastal fortifications in the United States, or at Grace Oliver Beach, taking in the natural beauty of the coast. At low tide, you can walk out to Crowninshield Island. It is quiet, peaceful, and the views make you feel like you are a world away. On the way to Old Town, I would stop at Little Harbor Lobster Company for a fresh lobster roll. Then I would just wander, letting the narrow streets guide me past historic homes, charming shops, and cozy cafés. For visitors, every stop can be part of a connected story. A town wide approach could link shops, galleries, restaurants, and community spaces through Marblehead’s history and values. Visitors can walk or bike between locations, take part in activities that support local nonprofits, and see how their choices help the town thrive. Tourism works best when visitors feel connected and residents feel supported.
For More Information:
NorthEast Experience LLC
Christine Dunton-Tinnus, Owner and Founder
[email protected]
neexperience.com
Nov 13, 2025 | Travel
How did you end up in your current line of work? After selling a paint-and-sip/art studio I founded, I took time to explore my next chapter. At a travel expo, I saw a sign that read, “You could work from here,” next to a laptop on a Caribbean beach. It clicked. Travel advising blended everything I love: marketing, business building, connecting with people, and learning through global experiences; while helping others do the same. Now, I’m fortunate to explore multiple countries each year and share first hand destination knowledge with my clients. Nothing beats personal experiences to offer real insight for something as important as a bucket list vacation.
What’s a personal motto or mindset you live by? I often say “Ready, Fire, Aim,” and I firmly believe that done is better than perfect. I don’t like to get stuck in perfectionism as momentum matters.
What’s your favorite spot in Marblehead? Crocker Park. When I lived here in my 20s, I’d sit there to write, reflect, and unwind. We had our wedding photos taken there, and over the years we’ve taken countless pictures—from dating, to babies, to now. We have many pictures on the swings overlooking the harbor. It’s woven into our family story. Now, I am so happy to walk our dogs there often.
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you? Although I can come across as extroverted, I don’t enjoy public speaking. I’m most comfortable, and at my best, one on one or in small, interactive groups.
For More Information:
Good Life Travel Company
Debbie Ellis, Found &Travel Advisor
[email protected]
GoodLifeTravel.org
Dec 26, 2023 | Travel
Guest blog written by EVA MOSSBERG (https://www.linkedin.com/in/eva-mossberg/)
In recent weeks, I have noticed an increase in the number of guests from Boston here in town. The other day I spoke with a couple who have lived in Boston for 20 years, who were in Marblehead for the first (!) time. I find that remarkable. Don’t you?
Covid-19 has changed the way we do a great many things this year, including, for many, vacationing: People tend to travel locally during times of economic instability. Add to that the current travel bans and other restrictions and it is easy to see why I, along with many other travel experts predict an increase in domestic and local tourism for the next year or two. Or five. I have heard countless stories of canceled trips to Europe and elsewhere, with people left State-side to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays and other important events. So instead of jetting off to some far flung destination we are forced to stay close to home, like my example of the fine folks from Boston. But why does it take a pandemic and economic turmoil to make us take a staycation?
People have traveled since the beginning of time for a variety of reasons including exploration, war, business, and pleasure. Today, international tourism is a global industry accounting for “9% of global GDP, 30% of services exports and 1 in every 11 jobs” (UNWTO, 2014). The state of Massachusetts welcomed 31 million domestic and international visitors in 2018. These visitors spent $24.2 billion, a 5.6% increase of $1.3 billion over 2017, and generating $1.6 billion in combined state and local taxes for MA and its municipalities, an increase of 5.1% from 2017. Domestic travel spending in MA grew to $19.9 billion, a 6% increase from 2017. There is clearly something that brings people here. Yet we often book vacations away from here.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m a huge proponent of sustainable travel, e.g. travel that takes into account all stakeholders, including the local community as I have seen it transform people, young and old, myself included, in the most amazing ways. I too travel abroad frequently, both for work and for pleasure, however two years ago, at a career crossroads, I made a conscious choice to not take a job as an international tour guide simply because I didn’t want to be away from here for 6-8 months per year. That’s when the penny dropped and I instead decided to form a company promoting local, sustainable, community based tourism. Right here. But that’s not what this blog post is about. This post is about the goldmine we call Marblehead and Cape Ann.
My point is that as we are now forced to make vacations staycations, we might as well truly embrace it, relative to our own comfort zones and economic means. Tailor your staycation accordingly, but do embrace it, however that looks to you: Book a private fishing charter; buy lobsters from a local lobster fisherman and cook them up at home; support your local restaurants and servers; engage virtually or in person in the many events in town; stay in a local hotel or bed and breakfast for a night or two; buy a new outfit, local piece of art or jewelry, or go hunting for the best lobster roll in Marblehead and beyond – bring a scorecard for fun!
Not only will you discover more of what Marblehead has to offer; you will also support those who make a living off tourism, many who lost two or three months of business already this year. If you need inspiration, spend some time on the Discover Marblehead site and start planning! Just no matter if you are in Marblehead or Beverly, please remember to respect the locals and follow the seven Leave No Trace principles, including carry in/carry out. We live here.
Dec 5, 2023 | Travel
Tell us about Forever A Nomad and why you started it. I absolutely adore traveling! I take pleasure in exploring both popular tourist spots and hidden gems. However, many people feel overwhelmed and uncertain about planning their own trips, which can prevent them from traveling altogether or cause them to stick to the same destination repeatedly. That’s where I come in! I provide comprehensive itineraries for complete trips as well as specific cities and locations, making it easier for anyone to travel the world confidently and enjoyably. I also share the latest tips and insider tricks to help you score the best travel deals. Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a first-time adventurer, I have something for everyone!
What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? “Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” ~Madam C.J. Walker, the first female self-made millionaire. If you have something valuable to offer to the world, then it’s imperative that you start working towards it. I must confess that it’s easier said than done, but I relish the idea of setting objectives and striving to achieve them. If I succeed, it’s because I worked hard for it, and if I fail, it’s because I let self-doubt get the better of me. This quote is both motivating and humbling for me.
What is your favorite spot in Marblehead, and why? Old Town! I love walking the streets of Old Town, reading the signs on the homes to know about the people who lived there, and exploring the unique shops located therein. The history of this amazing town has captivated me since the moment I first came here several years ago with my family on a vacation. I am now proud to call this incredible place home.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? I worked as a licensed private investigator for over 15 years, mostly in the criminal defense field. My husband and I owned and operated a firm that specialized in investigating murder cases, DUIs, drug matters, and other criminal charges. We collaborated with our clients’ attorneys to provide the best possible defense. Recently, we transformed our business into a nationwide TSCM (technical surveillance countermeasures) company that utilizes advanced technology to locate hidden audio and video devices that may have been placed in a client’s home, business, or vehicle.
Forever A Nomad
Kristal Ham
www.ForeverANomad
Mar 26, 2023 | Businesses, Lodging, Travel
Tell us about Chestnut Sweet and why you started it. We started Chestnut Sweet in 2013, after deciding that the structure behind our house that had served for years as a three-bay garage and full workshop might have more practical uses and even some revenue potential. We spent about eight months converting half of that building into a two-floor space that could be used either for our businesses (our original thought), for family overflow or as an in-law apartment. We purposely designed the interior with comfort and simplicity in mind, and eventually we formally registered the space with the state as a B&B. People rent from us mostly in the summer, sometimes purely for pleasure and the enjoyment of Marblehead and the North Shore, and sometimes as an off-site/distance workspace. We’re now seeing many return visitors who have begun to feel like family.
What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? Read widely, listen to your gut, and keep things simple.
What is your favorite spot in Marblehead, and why? That’s very tough, since there are so many sweet spots in Marblehead! The Red Steps, at the top of our street, is certainly one (there’s a secret bench there). The view from that spot, either night or day, is just spectacular; and so are Fort Sewall and the lovely quiet walking trails behind Seaside Park.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? OK, two things: I’m a trained Scuba diver and I’ve worked as a professional tailor and dressmaker.
For More Information:
Chestnut Sweet
Owner: Francie King & Robert Erbetta
www.chestnutsweet.com
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