Fall on the North Shore is one of the best times of year to get outside as a family! Cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, apple orchards, pumpkin patches and plenty of local activities make it easy to spend less time in front of screens and more time making memories together.

Getting outdoors isn't just fun for kids; it gives them an opportunity to move their bodies, explore their surroundings and spend quality time with family. Here are some fun ways to enjoy the season close to home!

🍎 Pick Apples & Find the Perfect Pumpkin

Nothing says fall in New England quite like apple picking!

Connors Farm – Danvers
Right here in Danvers, Connors Farm offers apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, a giant corn maze, farm animals, play areas and plenty of fall treats. Their 2026 fall season runs through November 1.

Brooksby Farm – Peabody
Take a trip through the orchards to pick apples, visit the barnyard animals and stop by the farm store for some seasonal treats. Pumpkin picking is also available during the fall season.

Russell Orchards – Ipswich
Apple picking, farm animals, cider and cider donuts make this another great North Shore Fall tradition.

Smolak Farms – North Andover
Fall Festival Weekends bring apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, children's activities, animals, live music and more throughout September and October.

Marini Farm – Ipswich
For kids who love a challenge, spend an afternoon exploring the farm's corn maze and family play areas.

Seasonal activities, hours and availability can change, so check with each location before heading out!

🍁 Keep It Simple: Take a Fall Nature Walk

A great family day doesn't have to be an expensive one!

Head to Endicott Park in Danvers for a walk, visit the animals, explore the open spaces or let the kids burn off some energy at the playground. Families can also take a walk or bike ride along the Danvers Rail Trail and see how many signs of Fall they can spot along the way.

Make it a game for younger children: Who can find a red leaf? An acorn? A pinecone? A squirrel? The biggest leaf?

Bring a small bag and let kids collect fallen leaves to use for an art project when you get home.

⭐ Our Local Pick: Connors Farm

When Fall fun is practically in our backyard, we have to include Connors Farm!

Located at 30 Valley Road in Danvers, the farm's 2026 fall season includes apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, a giant corn maze, play areas and other family activities.

It's an easy way to turn a fall afternoon into an outdoor family adventure—and don't forget the cider donuts!

🩺 A Few Tips From Your Pediatric Team

Before heading out for your fall adventure:

Dress children in layers so clothing can be added or removed as temperatures change throughout the day.

Bring water! Kids still need to stay hydrated when the weather is cool.

Apply sunscreen to exposed skin. Cooler weather doesn't mean UV rays have disappeared.

After spending time in grassy, wooded or brushy areas, check children and yourself for ticks.

Have children wash their hands after touching farm animals and before eating.

Choose comfortable, closed-toe shoes for orchards, farms and trails where the ground may be uneven or muddy.

And most importantly, have fun! ❤️

Fall doesn't have to be packed with elaborate plans. Sometimes the best memories come from jumping in a pile of leaves, picking an apple straight from a tree, finding the perfect pumpkin or simply taking a walk together as a family!

Happy Fall from all of us at North Shore Pediatrics! 🍂🎃

Flu season is approaching, and flu vaccines are now available at North Shore Pediatrics!

The flu vaccine is an important way to help protect your child from influenza and reduce the risk of serious illness and complications. Children can become very sick from the flu, and vaccination can help make illness milder if your child does get sick. Vaccinating your child also helps protect other family members and people in our community who may be more vulnerable to complications from the flu.

📅 Flu Shot Clinics Coming Soon!
We will be announcing dedicated flu shot clinic dates soon to make getting your family protected as convenient as possible. Keep an eye on our Updates page for upcoming dates and scheduling information.

In the meantime, call our office to schedule your child’s flu vaccine or ask about receiving it at an upcoming appointment.

Help us keep our kids healthy this flu season! 🍂💙

Why We Ask Parents to Call the Office for Triage Questions

Our patient portal is a convenient tool for requesting prescription refills, accessing forms, viewing test results, and sending non-urgent messages to your child's healthcare team. However, when your child is sick or experiencing symptoms that require medical advice, we ask that you call the office directly rather than sending a portal message.

Why Calling Is Better for Triage Concerns

When a child is ill, timely communication is important. Portal messages are reviewed throughout the day, but they are not monitored continuously and may not receive an immediate response. Calling the office allows our staff to gather important information, ask follow-up questions, and connect you with a nurse more efficiently.

Faster Care for Your Child

Many symptoms require additional details that are difficult to communicate through a portal message. By speaking directly with a nurse, we can better assess your child's condition and provide guidance more quickly. This helps ensure that your child receives the appropriate care without unnecessary delays.

Examples of Concerns That Should Be Addressed by Phone

Please call the office if your child is experiencing:

• Fever
• Difficulty breathing
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Ear pain
• Rash
• Allergic reactions
• Injuries
• Any symptom that requires medical advice from a nurse

When to Use the Patient Portal

The patient portal remains a valuable resource for:

• Prescription refill requests
• School and camp forms requests
• Non-urgent questions
• Appointment-related requests
• Accessing medical records and test results

In Case of an Emergency

If your child is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.

Thank you for helping us provide the safest and most efficient care possible. Calling the office for triage concerns allows us to respond more quickly and ensure your child receives the attention they need.

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Sick Visit & School Excuse Note Policy Update

To ensure an accurate diagnosis and proper documentation, our office will not provide school excuse notes if a child has not been evaluated in our office. This policy applies even if your child has tested positive at home for illnesses such as COVID-19, influenza, or other infections.

While home testing can sometimes be helpful for parents, these tests are not always as accurate as the medical-grade diagnostic testing used in our office. For this reason, our providers must perform confirmatory testing in-office before issuing any official documentation for school.

If your child is experiencing symptoms of illness, please contact our office. We pride ourselves on always having same-day sick appointments available so your child can be seen when you need us most. During the visit, our clinical team will evaluate your child, perform any necessary testing, and provide treatment recommendations. If illness is confirmed, a school excuse note will be provided at that time.

If your child is experiencing symptoms of illness, please call our office to speak with one of our experienced triage nurses. Our triage team can help guide you on when it would be best for your child to come in to be evaluated.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as this policy helps us provide the most accurate care for your child while ensuring reliable documentation for school.

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‍_{Due to the impending storm, our office will be closed on Monday, February 23, 2026 to ensure the safety of our patients and staff.}

_{If you have an appointment scheduled for that day, please contact our office on the next business day to reschedule.}

_{If your child requires urgent medical care while we are closed, please visit your nearest emergency room. Afterward, be sure to follow up with our office so we can continue your child’s care.}

_{We appreciate your understanding and hope everyone stays safe during the storm.}

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Due to today’s winter weather, our office will have a delayed opening at 1:00 PM so our dedicated nurses, providers, and clerical staff can safely dig out and make their way into the office — ready to be here in case your family needs to be seen.

At North Shore Pediatrics, we pride ourselves on being available to our families 365 days a year, including weekends, for urgent care needs. Our goal is to ensure your child can receive timely medical care from a team they know and trust, while helping parents avoid long emergency department wait times and unnecessary exposure to additional viruses and infections commonly found in hospital settings.

Whether your child is feeling sick, you need to speak with one of our nurses, or you’d like to schedule your child’s annual physical, we are here to help.

📞 Please call the office after 1:00 PM today.

We are proud to serve our community — especially on days when families need us most.

We are here for you, and here with you. ❤️