Gloucester (Massachusetts)

Gloucester is America's oldest seaport. Established in 1623, the city's roots are tied to the sea. Even with the decline of fishing due to heavy federal regulations, the city has an active waterfront. It also hosts great museums and sites. The Cape Ann Museum has the largest collection of Fitz Henry Lane paintings in the country, Hammond Castle, built by John Hayes Hammond, the father of remote control, Beauport, built by Henry Sleeper and a National Historic Landmark, the Sargent House, home of Judith Singer Sargent, one of the country's first feminists and the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center, telling the story of the fishing industry and featuring the oldest continuously working railways in the country. Gloucester's City Hall was built in 1871 and has examples of the finest WPA murals in Massachusetts. Gloucester also features a diverse selection of fine restaurants and a delightful downtown.

By car

From Boston take I-93 or Route 1 to Route 128. It's about 35 mi (56 km).

By train

The MBTA commuter rail runs from North Station in Boston to Gloucester via the Newburyport/Rockport line. The trip takes about an hour and costs $7.25 one-way.

By bus

Cape Ann Transportation Authority, (CATA), phone: +1 978-283-7916, , runs buses on Cape Ann including special routes during the summer.

• Gloucester Visitor Information Center, off Rt. 127 at Stage Fort Park, Phone: +1 978-281-8865. Seasonal. Get a free brochure on the Gloucester Maritime Trail which describes four self-guided walks.

• Fisherman's Memorial Statue, Stacy Blvd. Iconic statue of a typical storm-dressed "Old Salt" at the wheel commemorating the over ten thousand Gloucester fishermen who have been lost at sea.
• Rocky Neck Art Colony, Rocky Neck Av. off East Main. The oldest art colony in America, with galleries of local artists, bars and restaurants.

Gloucester was voted "Top 5 whale watching destinations in the World" by the World Wildlife Fund as several species of whales migrate to the shores of Gloucester every year to feed on the abundant natural resources. Whale watching enthusiasts can expect to potentially see humpback whales, northern right whales, minke whales, blue whales, fin whales, sperm whales, pilot whales among other whale species.

• Cape Ann Whale Watch

  phone: +1 978 283-5110
  address: 415 Main St
  Offering guaranteed whale sightings on all tours. Departing twice daily for over 35 years, Cape Ann Whale Watch sails aboard "The Hurricane II", made famous in the 1991 movie The Perfect Storm.

• Hammond Castle

  phone: +1 978 283-2080
  address: 80 Hesperus Ave
  Castle overlooking the Atlantic Ocean since 1929, now a museum open to the public, once served as John Hayes Hammond, Jr's laboratory and home, inventor and pioneer of remote control. Hammond held over 400 patents and built a weather chamber in his home where he tried to control rain, snow, sleet and wind inside his lab.
• Stage Fort Park The site of the city's first establishment, with giant bronze plaque to prove it, the fort retains the original cannons used for defense pointing towards Gloucester Harbor. A good place to enjoy a picnic, have a swim at two of the parks beaches, or wander through the maze of stone step remains of the original fort. Gloucester's Visitor and Welcoming Center is also found here.

• Coastal Fishing Charters

  phone: +1 508 284-2909
  address: 417 Main St
  In business since the 1980s offering bluefin tuna fishing charters aboard a classic 35-ft (11-m) boat. Featured in reality TV series Wicked Tuna.

The main downtown area of Gloucester holds a number of local shops and restaurants for many tastes. Although the downtown area has lost the department stores it used to have, many new shops and eateries have opened. The area is a pleasant walk around, and it's easy to drop in and visit shops for Souvenirs, such as the Weathervane and the House of the Raven. The area is changing daily, into a more tourist friendly venue for visitors attracted to a still operational fishing port. Although the city has suffered from the loss of the fishing industry, residents have moved towards recognizing other avenues that the city can survive economically, including tourism, while still maintaining the active fishing community. The main street area has begun sprouting condos downtown, and a new retail spot has arisen in the former Browns Mall, where the Green Life Natural Living Store, and a kitchen specialty store are new additions to the retail scene. There is a sporting goods store called Palazolas, as well as a few bookshops, and antiques stores.
For more typical needs beyond souvenirs and an enjoyable downtown section, there are two main plazas in town, one on Eastern Avenue, and one on Bass Avenue which hold supermarkets and drug stores, along with other outlets.

• House of the Raven

  address: 141 Main St.
  Custom picture framing on-site. Master framer with 30 years experience. Fine gold, sterling silver jewelry, gifts, cards, and souvenirs.

• Latitude 43

  address: 25 Rogers St
  Coastal cuisine with a modern twist. Award-winning sushi in a sunken in sushi pit.

Breakfast

• Sugar Magnolias

  address: 112 Main Street
  This is one of the most popular places for breakfast in town, fresh, interesting takes on breakfast foods.

• Morning Glory

  address: 25 Western Ave
  Has an outdoor deck overlooking the harbor on Stacy's Boulevard.

• Charlie's Place

  address: 83 Bass Avenue
  Serves a nice breakfast, inexpensive.

• Two Sisters Coffee Shop

  address: 27 Washington Street
  Have some nice Swedish Nisu bread.

Lunch & dinner

• Causeway Restaurant

  address: 78 Essex Avenue
  Not fancy, huge portions, lower than average prices.

• Destino's Subs & Catering

  address: 129 Prospect Street
  Some of the best subs in town, grab a cheesesteak.

• Sclafani's Bakery

  address: 49 Washington Street
  Famous for their Italian subs on fresh baked bread (lunch only).

• Charlie's Place

  address: 83 Bass Avenue
  Nice place to get an inexpensive casual sit down lunch.

• Maria's

  address: 35 Pearl Street
  Tasty local sit down pizza place with thin crust pizza.

• Sebastian's Pizza

  address: 56 Washington Street
  Really great local pizza.

• Virgilio's Bakery

  address: 29 Main Street
  Try the St. Joseph sandwich, also a great selection of Italian grocery products.

Splurge

• Madfish Bar & Grille

  address: 77 Rocky Neck Ave
  On the water in Rocky Neck, Also a great bar w/ live Reggae band on Sunday nights in the summer.

• Studio Lounge & Deck

  address: 51 Rocky Neck Ave
  Outdoor Deck, right on the harbor.

• Passports

  address: 110 Main Street
  Extremely popular restaurant located downtown.

• Duckworth's Bistrot

  address: 197 East Main Street
  Upscale restaurant located in East Gloucester.

• Franklin Cape Ann

  address: 118 Main Street
  Gloucester branch of a Boston restaurant, great bar for cocktails.

• Latitude 43

  address: 25 Rogers St

• Cape Ann Brewing Co.

  address: 11 Rogers St

• Lanes Cove House Bed & Breakfast and Vacation Homes

  address: 6 Andrews St
  A beautiful restored 1800s Victorian, with 3 lovely guest rooms. a roomy upscale vacation home for families, and a trendy small apartment for a couple.

Hotels and motels

• Atlantis Oceanfront Motor Inn

  phone: +1 978-283-0014
  address: 125 Atlantic Rd
  Nice views, terrace or balcony, pool.

• Bass Rocks Ocean Inn

  phone: +1 978-283-7600
  address: 107 Atlantic Rd

• Blue Shutters Beachside Inn

  address: 1 Nautilus Rd

• Cape Ann Marina Resort

  address: 75 Essex Av

• Cape Ann Motor Inn

  address: 33 Rockport Rd

• Captains Lodge Motel

  address: 237 Eastern Av

• Colonial Inn

  address: 28 Eastern Point Rd

• Fairview Inn

  address: 52 Eastern Point Rd

• Good Harbor Beach Inn

  address: 1 Salt Island Rd

• Sea Lion Motel

  address: 138 Eastern Av

• Twin Light Manor

  address: 107 Atlantic Rd

• Vista Motel

  address: 22 Thatcher Rd

• Wingaersheek Motel

  address: 46 Concord St

Campground

• Cape Ann Campsite

  address: 80 Atlantic St
  230 sites.

A trip to Rockport makes a nice day.