Thirty miles north of Boston you’ll find it. A gorgeous spit of land called Cape Ann right on the Atlantic coast. It’s a scenic wonderland up and down Route 127A. Rockport is among a collection of cozy seaside villages ripe for exploring.
I arrived early in the morning and found a metered parking spot a few steps from the waterfront. Rockport is small-town bucolic New England. The Main Street scene has a collection of art galleries, unique shops, and eateries. But the real appeal is Rockport’s waterfront, which you can access through tiny sidewalk openings, sort of like nooks and crannies between downtown buildings. Skinny walking paths and small parks are everywhere. Free guided walking tours are available Monday through Friday during the summer months.
Walk along the water’s edge and you’ll see a variety of sailing vessels, motor boats, lobster boats and dockside traps. Or, just simply sit and relax on a park bench and enjoy the serenity of the moment. There always seems to be a cool gentle breeze blowing in from the Atlantic. A welcome relief on a hot summer’s day!
Walk down Bearskin Neck, a long peninsula with a street lined with shops, restaurants, and a motor lodge that dead-ends into a turnaround at a rock-lined jetty. You can park your vehicle there and chill, watching the boats enter and leave Rockport Harbor and Sandy Bay. If you have steady feet and good balance, walk along the jetty out to the point to enjoy a stunning view of the ocean and harbor . (I wasn’t that brave.) Near the jetty at the end of Bearskin Neck is a restaurant called My Place By the Sea. The outdoor deck seating area has stunning views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and a delicious lunch and dinner menu. Get there early for a waterfront table. (A lined formed at the restaurant entrance about a half-hour before opening for lunch.) Rockport is also a robust art colony with over 30 galleries and the Rockport Art Association and Museum.
A visit to Front Beach is a good place to walk off a meal or spend a day basking in the sun. Front Beach is also a popular spot for shelling and sea glass hunting. If you’re in the mood for some spectacular hiking, visit Halibut Point State Park, just north of downtown Rockport. Due to limited parking, a free summer shuttle from the Rockport train depot takes visitors to Halibut Point. The 56-acre park is the site of a former granite quarry.
There are many trails to explore, including some leading to the rocky shoreline with tide pools teeming with sea life. Swimming is prohibited but you’ll see visitors dipping a toe or two in the water. At the park’s highest point, on a clear day you can see more than 80-miles to Maine and Vermont. There are picnic tables, water fountains, and restrooms at the visitor center. Rockport has a very simple motto: Slow down and be renewed. I did!
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