Guidebook for Rockport
Food Scene
In Rockport, 5 minutes from cottage. Great sunsets and seafood in the rough. Fried seafood, especially the scallops, is generally good. Lobster and corn. Indoor or outdoor picnic tables - bonfires at night, BYOB, but food is surprisingly pricey. You are definitely paying for the outdoor space and unbeatable sunsets.
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The Lobster Pool
329 Granite StIn Rockport, 5 minutes from cottage. Great sunsets and seafood in the rough. Fried seafood, especially the scallops, is generally good. Lobster and corn. Indoor or outdoor picnic tables - bonfires at night, BYOB, but food is surprisingly pricey. You are definitely paying for the outdoor space and unbeatable sunsets.
Great hotdogs and fried food. On Bearskin Neck in Rockport.
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Top Dog
2 Doyle Cove RdGreat hotdogs and fried food. On Bearskin Neck in Rockport.
In Gloucester, near the train station. Amazing donuts and bagels--really! This is where visitors from Manhattan get their bagels.
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Jim's Bagel & Bake Shoppe
34 Railroad Ave In Gloucester, near the train station. Amazing donuts and bagels--really! This is where visitors from Manhattan get their bagels.
In Gloucester, close the Rocky Neck. Excellent food, but pricey. This is a special occasion place for us. Boston prices and quality; people tend to get more dressed up here than elsewhere on Cape Ann. Reservations are a must, as the dining room is quite small. Not a good place to take a large group or children, as you will likely disturb other diners. Walking distance to the excellent local theater, The Gloucester Stage.
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Duckworth's Bistrot
197 E Main StIn Gloucester, close the Rocky Neck. Excellent food, but pricey. This is a special occasion place for us. Boston prices and quality; people tend to get more dressed up here than elsewhere on Cape Ann. Reservations are a must, as the dining room is quite small. Not a good place to take a large group or children, as you will likely disturb other diners. Walking distance to the excellent local theater, The Gloucester Stage.
On Bearskin Neck in Rockport. Great pastries. Small deck overlooking the boats and Motif #1 for morning coffee.
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Helmut's Strudel
69 Bearskin NeckOn Bearskin Neck in Rockport. Great pastries. Small deck overlooking the boats and Motif #1 for morning coffee.
In downtown Gloucester. Great food and drinks--Boston quality, Boston prices. (They have a sister restaurant in the South End in Boston.) More imaginative menu than many places in Rockport and Gloucester. Sunday brunch.
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Franklin Cafe Cape Ann
118 Main StIn downtown Gloucester. Great food and drinks--Boston quality, Boston prices. (They have a sister restaurant in the South End in Boston.) More imaginative menu than many places in Rockport and Gloucester. Sunday brunch.
In downtown Gloucester. Great breakfasts and brunch, but get there early or you'll have to wait.
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Sugar Magnolias
112 Main StIn downtown Gloucester. Great breakfasts and brunch, but get there early or you'll have to wait.
On the water in one of the most picturesque locations in Gloucester, the artist colony of Rocky Neck. Rustic interior, simple but decent food, large portions, excellent drinks, friendly bartenders (we always sit at the bar), outside deck.
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Rudder Restaurant
73 Rocky Neck AveOn the water in one of the most picturesque locations in Gloucester, the artist colony of Rocky Neck. Rustic interior, simple but decent food, large portions, excellent drinks, friendly bartenders (we always sit at the bar), outside deck.
Unfortunately this place is closing this year. Trendy, farm to table restaurant where reservations are a must. On a very picturesque cove in Annisquam Village of Gloucester (about 15 min. drive from cottage). Pricey, smallish portions but very good food, imaginative menu, charming wait staff and unbeatable location. Check to make sure it's open before getting your heart set on it. Great Sunday brunch, but get there early!
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The Market Restaurant
Unfortunately this place is closing this year. Trendy, farm to table restaurant where reservations are a must. On a very picturesque cove in Annisquam Village of Gloucester (about 15 min. drive from cottage). Pricey, smallish portions but very good food, imaginative menu, charming wait staff and unbeatable location. Check to make sure it's open before getting your heart set on it. Great Sunday brunch, but get there early!
In Gloucester, on Route 127 just over the Rockport line. OMG this place is amazing. Cupcakes, cakes, and other pastries, some that you've never tried before--all scrumptious. If you need a cake for a special occasion, this is the place! For cakes or cupcakes, be sure to order ahead. It is right on the Gloucester/Rockport line as you drive into Rockport, so you don't have to deal with Gloucester traffic.
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Cake Ann
63 Rogers StreetIn Gloucester, on Route 127 just over the Rockport line. OMG this place is amazing. Cupcakes, cakes, and other pastries, some that you've never tried before--all scrumptious. If you need a cake for a special occasion, this is the place! For cakes or cupcakes, be sure to order ahead. It is right on the Gloucester/Rockport line as you drive into Rockport, so you don't have to deal with Gloucester traffic.
Tonno Restaurant
2 Main StPastaio Via Corta
123 Main StBest fish and chips!
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Turner's Seafood Market & Fish n Chips Shoppe
4 Smith StBest fish and chips!
Best local upscale restaurant. Great food, great bar, downtown location.
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Feather & Wedge
5 Main StBest local upscale restaurant. Great food, great bar, downtown location.
Along route 128A toward Gloucester (drive in direction of Halibut Point, about 10 minutes past there, in Gloucester). Great breakfast, lunch counter, picnic tables outside, great food to go (soup, daily specials), bakery counter. Been here forever, and for good reason!
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Willow Rest
1 Holly StAlong route 128A toward Gloucester (drive in direction of Halibut Point, about 10 minutes past there, in Gloucester). Great breakfast, lunch counter, picnic tables outside, great food to go (soup, daily specials), bakery counter. Been here forever, and for good reason!
Food with nightlife
In downtown Gloucester. Good drinks, oysters and pizza. Strange combo, I know!
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Short & Main
36 Main StIn downtown Gloucester. Good drinks, oysters and pizza. Strange combo, I know!
On the harbor in Gloucester. This is a bar and restaurant with decent food, good drinks and an awesome large deck with multiple fire pits, overlooking Gloucester Harbor.
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Beauport Hotel Gloucester
55 Commercial StOn the harbor in Gloucester. This is a bar and restaurant with decent food, good drinks and an awesome large deck with multiple fire pits, overlooking Gloucester Harbor.
Parks & Nature
In Rockport, 5 minutes from the cottage along 127A. Not to be missed! Hiking trails around a huge beautiful quarry with views of the Atlantic beyond. You can picnic on the rocks at the edge of the ocean, but alas, no swimming. This is a very unique and beautiful place. The trails are not difficult, but they are uneven in places. Beware of the poison ivy along the paths.
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Halibut Point State Park
Gott AvenueIn Rockport, 5 minutes from the cottage along 127A. Not to be missed! Hiking trails around a huge beautiful quarry with views of the Atlantic beyond. You can picnic on the rocks at the edge of the ocean, but alas, no swimming. This is a very unique and beautiful place. The trails are not difficult, but they are uneven in places. Beware of the poison ivy along the paths.
In Rockport. With your beach sticker, you can park in the parking lot or along the street in the resident only spaces very close to the beach. Rocky but there is always enough sand for everyone, especially at low tide. Bring your beach chairs in case you have trouble claiming a sandy spot (although we always manage to find something). Very peaceful--almost never crowded, and fun for body surfing, as there are often waves. But on calm days it's great for small kids too. No radios or large groups of teens. It is often 10 degrees cooler here than anywhere else in town, so a great place to go on hot days.
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Cape Hedge Beach
In Rockport. With your beach sticker, you can park in the parking lot or along the street in the resident only spaces very close to the beach. Rocky but there is always enough sand for everyone, especially at low tide. Bring your beach chairs in case you have trouble claiming a sandy spot (although we always manage to find something). Very peaceful--almost never crowded, and fun for body surfing, as there are often waves. But on calm days it's great for small kids too. No radios or large groups of teens. It is often 10 degrees cooler here than anywhere else in town, so a great place to go on hot days.
It's all around you! Walk down any path labeled "Atlantic Path" and explore. Stunning views of the ocean, gorgeous houses and gardens, walks in the woods... Very little traffic, so great for cycling and walking with dogs and kids.
Andrews Point
It's all around you! Walk down any path labeled "Atlantic Path" and explore. Stunning views of the ocean, gorgeous houses and gardens, walks in the woods... Very little traffic, so great for cycling and walking with dogs and kids.
Rockport and Gloucester: Hiking trails through the woods. Very interesting history--ask about it at the Bookstore in downtown Gloucester.
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Dogtown
Rockport and Gloucester: Hiking trails through the woods. Very interesting history--ask about it at the Bookstore in downtown Gloucester.
Beautiful trails through the Rockport Woods. Walk around the quarry for great photo opportunities. Unfortunately only members can swim here, and there is a guard who will approach you to ask for your pass. However, you can walk past the quarry on the large carriage road and then take one of the side paths in to walk around the quarry itself. Just tell the guard you are not there to swim, just taking a walk. Don't forget your dog or he'll never forgive you!
Steel Derrick Quarry
67 Pigeon Hill StBeautiful trails through the Rockport Woods. Walk around the quarry for great photo opportunities. Unfortunately only members can swim here, and there is a guard who will approach you to ask for your pass. However, you can walk past the quarry on the large carriage road and then take one of the side paths in to walk around the quarry itself. Just tell the guard you are not there to swim, just taking a walk. Don't forget your dog or he'll never forgive you!
Gloucester Harbor. Wonderful sunset cruises.
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Schooner Thomas E. Lannon
63 Rogers StGloucester Harbor. Wonderful sunset cruises.
Tuna Wharf on Bearskin Neck in Rockport. Rent a kayak or paddle board.
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North Shore Kayak Outdoor Center
9 Tuna WharfTuna Wharf on Bearskin Neck in Rockport. Rent a kayak or paddle board.
Arts & Culture
Gorgeous concert venue with views of the ocean as the backdrop to the main stage through floor to ceiling windows. It only seats about 300, so be sure to purchase tickets well in advance. However, if you don't, try showing up at the door right before the performance; sometimes you can get tickets if a season ticket holder doesn't show up.
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Rockport Music-Shalin Liu Performance Center
37 Main StGorgeous concert venue with views of the ocean as the backdrop to the main stage through floor to ceiling windows. It only seats about 300, so be sure to purchase tickets well in advance. However, if you don't, try showing up at the door right before the performance; sometimes you can get tickets if a season ticket holder doesn't show up.
Windhover Performing Arts Center
257R Granite StIn Rockport on route 127A. Outdoor dance and theater venue.
Live local theatre. Generally good performances; sometimes great. Read reviews before going.
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Gloucester Stage Company
267 E Main StLive local theatre. Generally good performances; sometimes great. Read reviews before going.
Eclectic and enchanting private collection of the first interior designer in the U.S. Friend of Isabella Stuart Gardner. Fascinating and beautiful gardens and location on Eastern Point on the water in Gloucester. Open at odd times, hours, so check before going.
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Historic New England Beauport Sleeper--McCann House
75 Eastern Point BlvdEclectic and enchanting private collection of the first interior designer in the U.S. Friend of Isabella Stuart Gardner. Fascinating and beautiful gardens and location on Eastern Point on the water in Gloucester. Open at odd times, hours, so check before going.
Sightseeing
Motif #1
Bradley WharfJust because it's there...
The home of another Gloucester eccentric, inventor of radar and various other things. Very unusual place.
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Hammond Castle Museum
80 Hesperus AvenueThe home of another Gloucester eccentric, inventor of radar and various other things. Very unusual place.
Gloucester's artist's colony. Mostly galleries and restaurants. Very picturesque.
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Rocky Neck
Gloucester's artist's colony. Mostly galleries and restaurants. Very picturesque.
Shopping
On Bearskin Neck in Rockport. Very eclectic shop with unusual gift items + cheese and selection of gourmet condiments, cooking ingredients, and cook books. Great view off the deck (which you can go out on--in the back of the store). BTW, this is NOT the picture of Lula's Pantry, which is much prettier. Can't figure out how to fix it!
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Lula's Pantry
5 Dock SquareOn Bearskin Neck in Rockport. Very eclectic shop with unusual gift items + cheese and selection of gourmet condiments, cooking ingredients, and cook books. Great view off the deck (which you can go out on--in the back of the store). BTW, this is NOT the picture of Lula's Pantry, which is much prettier. Can't figure out how to fix it!
The Brass Monkey
85 Main StEssentials
Best prices on Cape Ann; good produce and local fish.
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Market Basket
400 Somerville AveBest prices on Cape Ann; good produce and local fish.
Lattof Farm Stand
5 Joseph WayOn route 127 in Rockport. Fresh local produce and home baked goods.
Gloucester Harbor: If you want the freshest seafood to cook yourself this is the place to go - check the hours, go early if you want lobsters as they can run out by afternoon. Hours are limited so make sure you call first. Good prices, selection and quality.
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Steve Connolly Seafood Inc
431 E Main StGloucester Harbor: If you want the freshest seafood to cook yourself this is the place to go - check the hours, go early if you want lobsters as they can run out by afternoon. Hours are limited so make sure you call first. Good prices, selection and quality.
Get your lobsters early morning here at great prices right off the boat. Call early in the week to schedule your order.
Cape Ann Lobstermen
111 E Main StGet your lobsters early morning here at great prices right off the boat. Call early in the week to schedule your order.