Hidden Gem: Karen's Bakery and Skull Rock

If you're making your first visit to Lynnfield, do what many of the locals do – pick up some , not far from the town common at the rear of 590 Main Street.

was established in 1958, making it one of the longest-running businesses in all of Lynnfield. The monkey bread, a more recent addition, is sold at more than a dozen farm stands and shops throughout the North Shore.

For those who have never tried monkey bread, it's a delicious treat – especially when served warm. The dough is mixed with cinnamon and other flavors and cooked in a way that allows bite-sized pieces to be easily pulled from the loaf.

If you have leftover bread, even better – the Karen's Website suggests using day-old monkey bread for French toast or bread pudding.

An Outdoor Hidden Gem

Fueled up with all those carbohydrates, one great option is to go and check out another hidden gem of Lynnfield –

About a decade ago, an area artist who goes by the name Ichabod did this mural, showing dozens of skulls tightly arranged on a cliff face painted in a handful of different colors.

"Take the knowledge that you will some day be these bones, and enjoy now," a message on the mural tells visitors. To view the mural, check out this photo gallery.

The rock is located in , one of the town's conservation areas. A short trail system in the reservation leads to an overlook providing good views of the area, as well as access to additional trails in neighboring towns. The cliff face bearing the mural is not far from some nearby apartments, a short distance off of the main trail.

To get there, park at the end of Ledge Road not far from the 128 Rotary and follow the trail in to the reservation. Visitors will also spot various remnants of the Kallenberg Quarry, which operated in Lynnfield from 1810 up until the early 20th century.