Local and Regional Activities
Rockport and Cape Ann offer many activities and attractions. There are lovely beaches, boating, diving, and kayaking; miles of coastal roads, forests, nature reserves, parks, and quarries to explore on foot, bicycle, or by car; attractive restaurants offering classic New England specialties like lobster and chowder plus more traditional fare; and easy access by car or train to historic Salem, Boston, and other parts of New England.
Gull Cove House has a notebook with over 20 pages of house information and suggestions for guests on local festivals and events, music and theater, restaurants and cafés, maps of nearby walking and biking trails, and other activities. The house library has maps and over 25 books covering various aspects of travel to this area--biking, canoeing, hiking, rollerblading, secluded islands, scenic rivers, and guides to Boston and other parts of New England. Below are several useful links.
Motif No. 1 in Rockport Harbor
Boat Ramp in Granite Pier Cove below House
Antiques
There are countless shops on Cape Ann, with the largest concentration in Essex. For a partial listing check:
Art Galleries/Events
Rockport has a long-established art colony and is home to the famous lobstering shack on the harbor Motif No. 1, claimed to be the most-painted and photographed building on the eastern seaboard.
Rocky Neck in Gloucester is home to the oldest working art colony in the U.S. Childe Hassam, Edward Hopper, Fitz Henry Lane, and other renowned artists painted there.
North Shore Art
Association
11 Pirate's Lane
Gloucester 978-283-1857
Beaches
So many good choices. Back Beach in Rockport is an 8-minute walk from Gull Cove House. Front Beach is just 5 minutes farther. Several larger beaches are within a short drive. The most popular are Long Beach in Rockport, Good Harbor and Wingaersheek in Gloucester, and Crane in Essex. Consider also Plum Island in Newbury; it's farther away but has a lovely natural setting and walking trails.
Gloucester's Wingaersheek Beach on Winter Afternoon
Bed and Breakfasts/Inns
Rockport has several good B&Bs. Here are links to a general listing plus 4 within a 20-minute walk of Gull Cove House.
Bulfinch House
96 Granite St, Rockport
978-546-9656
Inn on Cove Hill
37 Mt Pleasant St, Rockport
888-546-2701 or 978-546-2701
Linden Tree Inn
26 King St, Rockport
800-865-2122 or 978-546-2494
Tuck Inn B&B
17 High St, Rockport
978-546-7260 or 800-789-7260
Biking/Bicycle Rental
- 20 mile Rockport/Gloucester loop passing near Gull Cove House
North Shore Kayak Outdoor
Center
9 Tuna Wharf (Bearskin Neck),
Rockport 978-546-5050
Bird/Wildlife Refuges
Waterfowl at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island
- Bird watching on Cape Ann
- Birding America Links for MA
- Crane Beach, Ipswich
- Essex County Bird Trail
- Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield
- Mass Audubon Birds & Beyond
- Mass Bird/Bird Observer
- Plum Island, Ipswich/Newbury/Rowley
Boat Ramps in Rockport
Two boat ramps in Granite Pier Cove, one to launch small boats from trailers and one for hand-carried craft such as kayaks and windsurfers. Contact Rockport Harbormasters for more info: 978-546-9589 or harbormaster@town.rockport.ma.us
Boat Tours and Charters
Boston
Links follow to attractions in our state capitol. Families with high school kids thinking about college might consider visits to some of Boston's top-rated colleges: Berklee College of Music, Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, MIT, New England Conservatory, and Northeastern to name a few. Also consider college sporting events at BC, BU, and Harvard. See Trains below to avoid traffic and pricey parking.
- Adams Nat'l Historical Park, Quincy (just south of Boston)
- Beanpot Hockey Tournament (college hockey-early February)
- Boston Ballet
- Boston Bruins Hockey
- Boston Celtics
- Boston Common/Public Garden
- Boston Duck Tours
- Boston Harbor Cruises
- Boston Harbor Islands
- Boston HarborWalk
- Boston Marathon (Patriots' Day in mid April)
- Boston Public Library (wide array of resources)
- Boston Red Sox/Fenway Park
- Boston Swan Boats
- Boston Symphony Orchestra/Boston Pops
- Charles River Esplanade (riverfront walking, biking, rollerblading, concerts)
- Discover Boston Trolley Tours
- Freedom Trail (Paul Revere House, Old North Church, etc.)
- Head Of The Charles Regatta (World's largest two-day rowing event-October)
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
- July 4th/Independence Day in Boston
- John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
- Mapparium in the Christian Science Center
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Museum of Science
- Music in/around Boston
- New England Aquarium
- New Year's Eve/First Night Boston
- Old Town Trolley Tours
- Theater in Boston
- USS Constitution
- Zoo, Franklin Park
General Info about Boston:
Bus Service
Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA)--public busses
Churches/Houses of Worship
Colleges on North Shore
Diving
Festivals and Events on Cape Ann
Cape Ann hosts many interesting festivals and events including the June Chamber Music Festival in Rockport and St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Independence Day in Rockport and several nearby towns, and Harvest, Christmas, and "First Night" celebrations in Rockport.
- Rockport events and festivals
- Cape Ann events and festivals
- North of Boston Convention and Visitor Bureau
Fitness/Gyms
Cape Ann YMCA
71 Middle St
Gloucester 978-283-0470
The Fitness Zone
37 Blackburn Center
Gloucester 978-281-5761
Manchester
Athletic Club
8 Atwater Ave
Manchester 978-526-8900
Foliage Report
Golf
Cape Ann Golf Course
John Wise Ave
Essex 978-768-7544
Public 9 hole course with a few especially pretty holes overlooking the
ocean.
Far Corner Golf
Main & Barker Rd
West Boxford 978-352-8300
Public 27 hole layout about 45 minutes drive from Rockport.
Lakeview Golf Club
60 Main St
Wenham 978-468-9584
Public 9 hole course.
Rockport Golf Club
60 South St
Rockport 978-546-3340
Semi-private 9 hole course--call for available tee times.
Hiking/Walking/Parks
Many great choices including a walk beginning just below Gull Cove House to a forest and quarries. Some of the entries below have good biking trails also.
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island
- Atlantic Path, Rockport
- Cape Ann Parks
- Coolidge Reservation, Manchester
- Crane Beach, Ipswich
- Dogtown, Rockport/Gloucester
- Halibut Point State Park, Rockport
- Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield
- Maudslay State Park, Newburyport
- Plum Island, Ipswich/Newbury/Rowley
- Ravenswood Park, Gloucester
- Stage Fort Park, Gloucester
- Thacher Island, Rockport
History of Cape Ann
Gloucester
Rockport
- General History
- History of breakwater in Sandy Bay (visible from Gull Cove House)
- Story of Hannah Jumper
- Thacher Island History
Holistic/Spas/Yoga
Kayaking
Consider a trip by kayak to the twin lighthouses on Thacher Island just off the Rockport shore.
North Shore Kayak Outdoor
Center
9 Tuna Wharf (Bearskin Neck)
Rockport 978-546-5050
Libraries
Both libraries have computers with internet access.
Gloucester Lyceum and
Sawyer Free Library
2 Dale Ave
Gloucester 978-281-9763
Rockport Public
Library
17 School St
Rockport 978-546-6934
Lighthouses of New England
- Visitation and technical information
- Thacher Island Association
- Straitsmouth Island Light (visible from Gull Cove House and pictured in the banner atop each page on this site)
Massachusetts/New England Attractions
Concord River, Bedford/Concord, MA
Minute Man National Historical Park, Concord
- About.com New England for Visitors
- Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield, MA
- L.L. Bean, Freeport, ME
- Concord, MA Visitor Info
- Factory Outlet Stores, Kittery, ME
- Frommers New England-Planning a Trip
- Jacob's Pillow Dance, Becket, MA
- Lexington, MA Visitor Info
- Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism
- Massachusetts Tourist Information
- New England Patriots/Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- New England Ski Resorts
- New England Snow Conditions
- New England Travel Planner
- Salem, MA Visitor Info
- Tanglewood, Lenox, MA
- Visiting New England.com
Museums
Beauport, a
National Historic Landmark
The Sleeper-McCann House
75 Eastern Point Blvd
Gloucester 978-283-0800
Cape Ann
Historical Museum
27 Pleasant St
Gloucester 978-283-0455
Gloucester
Maritime Heritage Center
23 Harbor Loop
Gloucester 978-281-0470
House of Seven Gables
54 Turner St
Salem 978-744-0991
Peabody Essex Museum
East India Sq.
Salem, MA 978-745-9500, 866-745-1876
The best museum on Boston's North Shore for New England Maritime, Asian, and American Decorative art.
Salem Witch Museum
Washington Square
Salem 978-744-1692
Sandy Bay Historical Society and Museums
40 King St, Rockport
978-546-9533
Note: Trains between Rockport and Boston (see below) stop in both Gloucester and Salem if you prefer not to drive.
Newspaper with Rockport and Cape Ann News
Performing Arts
Cape Ann
Symphony
Gloucester 978-281-0543
Gloucester Stage
Company
267 East Main St
Gloucester 978-281-4099
North Shore Music Theater
62 Dunham Rd
Beverly 978-232-7200
Rockport Chamber Music Festival
Rockport 978-546-7391
Theatre in the Pines
Rockport 978-546-2463
meddie@mymailstation.com
West End Theater
1 Washington St/Blackburn Theater Bldg
Gloucester 978-281-0680
Windhover Performing Arts
Center
Rockport 978-546-3611
Restaurants
Sailing
Taxis on Cape Ann
(All 4 below in Gloucester MA. One-way ride to/from Rockport and Boston Logan Airport costs about $75 before gratuity.)
Atlantic/Cape Ann's Taxi
978-281-5550
978-281-4747
888-552-8294
A&K Lighthouse Taxi
978-281-6161
888-281-6161
Airport Transportation
978-283-7171
A1 Airport Livery of Cape Ann
978-281-8121
Tennis
Outdoor courts available in Rockport and Gloucester. Indoor and outdoor courts at: Manchester Athletic Club
Tides on Cape Ann
Tourist Bureaus--Rockport and Cape Ann Tourist Info
Rockport
Chamber of Commerce
3 Whistlestop Mall
Rockport, MA 01966
978-546-6575 or 888-726-3922
info@rockportusa.com
Cape Ann
Chamber of Commerce
33 Commercial St
Gloucester, MA 01930
978-283-1601 or 800-321-0133
info@capeannchamber.com
Trains
Rockport station, only 3/4 mile from Gull Cove House, has regular train
service to Gloucester, Salem, and Boston's North Station. In Boston
the "T" subway system connects to other parts of the city,
Cambridge, Logan Airport, etc.
800-392-6100
Contact Gull
Cove House by 