Keep your eyes open. Join PEM educators on a walk through the Ropes Mansion Gardens. Look high and low, and see if you can spy some of nature's varied shapes and repeating patterns. Make a sun-print pattern with natural materials to take home. (Garden walk is rain or shine, art activities are weather-dependent.)  Event capacity: 30. www.pem.org

Guided tour of the Peabody Essex Museum's exhibit,"The Emperor's Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City." Never before seen by the public, the contents of an Emperor's private retreat deep within the Forbidden City will be revealed for the first time. See objects of ceremony and leisure - murals, paintings, furniture, jades, and more.   Event capacity: 30. www.pem.org

Hidden on the roof of the Hawthorne Hotel is an exact replica of a cabin from the Salem vessel Taria Topan. For over three centuries this cozy cabin has served as the headquarters of Salem's oldest organization, the Salem Marine Society. Join us for a very rare visit to the Salem Marine Society. Learn why this unique site has its own story to tell, and how it has been connected to the Hawthorne Hotel for over 80 years.   Event capacity: 15. www.hawthornehotel.com

Join Susan Edwards, Salem State University archivist, on a tour focusing on the history and architecture of this institution of higher learning. Beginning first as a Normal School, the university has historic connections to the public school movement of the mid-to-late 19th century, spear-headed by Horace Mann, Nathaniel Hawthorne's brother-in-law. After exploring the campus, head toward the Forest River with Margherita Desy and learn about the history of the Salem Lead Mills and the naturally occurring lead found in the area.   Event capacity: 60. www.historicsalem.org

Spend your lunch hour touring the Gedney House, a stunning example of a Colonial American house, estimated to have been constructed circa 1665. The house is significant for its structural carpentry and for surviving early paint and decorative finishes. Take a peek into one of Salem's architectural and historic gems that rarely opens it's doors to the public.   Event capacity: 15. www.historicnewengland.org/visit/homes/gedney.htm

The Cat Cove Marine Laboratory is operated by Salem State College to promote the sustainable use of aquatic resources on the North Shore and elsewhere. Instruction, outreach and research activities are pursued by Laboratory staff. Fish, clams and other "critters" are spawned and reared as part of instructional, restoration and enhancement efforts. Participants will observe aquatic life and will learn how these organisms are used to understand and manage aquatic resources.   Event capacity: 20. www.salemstate.edu/academics/schools/1028.php

Join the anniversary celebration with special garden tours at the Salem Athenaeum, Historic New England's Phillips House, and the House of the Seven Gables. Staff will be on hand to tell you about the history of each celebrating property. It's a great opportunity to celebrate Salem's history and enjoy a wonderful walk. This is a family friendly activity with a scavenger hunt, raffles, and fun at each site. www.historicnewengland.org

Join Salem Sound Coastwatch for a "walk and talk" at Old Creek Marsh, a beautiful salt marsh located at the edge of Salem State's Central Campus. As we walk around the marsh on a paved and hard packed path, we'll talk about the marsh plants, fish, birds, and more, that live in this marsh--which is part of the Forest River Estuary. We'll explore the role of the marsh in our local ecosystem, the history of the marsh--which has been restored from an industrial dumping ground, and data that is being collected to measure the health of the marsh. www.salemsound.org

See Salem as one of the city's most famous authors saw it! Join Mrs. Sophia Hawthorne for a tour of the Salem that she and her husband Nathaniel Hawthorne knew. This 90 minute tour will take you to places where the Hawthornes lived, worked, and wrote about.  Event capacity: 40. www.nps.gov/sama

17th century home of Witchcraft Trials Judge Jonathan Corwin. The last building in Salem with direct ties to the tragic events of 1692. Historic House museum offering guided and self-guided tours. This year we are featuring 17th century remedy recipes with some very shocking ingredients.   Event capacity: 40. www.witchhouse.info

It's 1770 at the Derby House! The Ladies of Refined Taste will be visiting Mr. and Mrs. Derby in the gardens behind the Derby House for an afternoon of genteel entertainment, 18th century style. Drop in to meet some of the best-dressed people in colonial Massachusetts! www.nps.gov/sama