Gloucester Travel Guide

Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House, is located on Gloucester Harbor. It was the summer home of an interior designer, so perhaps it isn't surprising that each room is "decorated like a stage set" (to quote the brochure from Historic New England). Tours are available hourly, Monday-Friday, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, from June 1 through October 15....

OK, all you castle lovers! Here is Gloucester's answer to all those who think we don't have castles in this country. It seems that Hammond (of Hammond organ fame) had men gather pieces and parts of castles from around the world to create this imaginative structure which stands boldly at the edge of Gloucester harbor. Please visit my travelogue...

This is a nice little tour of a castle in America. It was actually a home built by John Hays Hammond, Jr, an inventor.As stated from the Hammond Castle Website:"In 1926 he started the construction of his medieval castle home in Gloucester, MA, as a bridal present for his wife, Irene. They moved into the castle in 1929 and opened it as a museum in...

I always try to make a stop here for a wonderful coffee. The best Cap. I've had anywhere. The family is from Calibrese in Italy and they import their deserts, candy, and other delicious offerings.I can't recommend it highly enough. The coffee house is simple, but clean spacious and very friendly.

My choice was Sisters Haddock and it was great! This chef pays attention to his vegetables, which I feel is the mark of a good restaurant. Several grilled veggies served with fabulous mashed potatoes accompanied the fresh and well seasoned fish. Of course I had a popover! Comes with dinner.White wine... and took a scrumptious desert back to the B&B...

We went on a weeknight in June, before full season, so the place was quiet. Cosy atmosphere, incredibly fast service and very friendly. The dish I had, sea scallops cooked in white wine, was worthy of a four-star French restaurant. Fresh, delicate, the scallops tender and cooked to perfection. Reasonable price for this kind of dish. Highly...

I haven't tried it yet... but one of these days I'm going to stop in at the Crow's Nest to have a beer with the guys who bring home the fish I love so much. This is the bar that was the base of operations for the movie "Perfect Storm". Kind of salty...maybe rough and tumble, but if you want the real thing... this is it.I include a few other pics...

Recently The Blackburn Tavern was brought back to life in Gloucester, named for the famous fisherman who's ship was lost at sea and he survived by freezing his hands to the oars of his boat and rowing to saftey, losing his fingers in the process. A good story about the courage of the Gloucester Fisherman.Blackburn Tavern is a small little bar where...

Don't expect much in the way of nightclubs and bars in Gloucester. Last call comes way too early for one thing. Summer action heats up on Rocky Neck at 3 bars in close proximity to each other: Madfish Grille, The Studio and The Rudder. Local artists perform at the Blackburn Tavern, Captain Carlo's, Cameron's, Old Timers Tavern and the Rhumb Line....

Forget mass transit in Gloucester; it's pathetic. The buses only run once every 2 hours on the average and the trains are only commuter rail, not the real 'T' most tourists expect to find here. Rent a car at Logan Airport and save yourself the hassle. It's a quick highway run and takes less than an hour to get here from Logan. Taxis do run 24 hours...

You can drive or take the 'T' from boston. we have a good bus service and they have a special tour trolly that takes tour around cape ann area.this cost $1.50 and you can get off and explore on your own

Village Silver Smith is in Gloucester, Rockport, and Boston. Try to find something made by the father or the son. They have many silver smiths working for them now, but the pieces made by the father are my favorite. Walk the street to find antiques, clothing, Aveda... lots of choices Try some folk art... or crafts & jewelry made by locals

Arts from the community - lots to see.My favorite - the fish! I bought a couple several years ago and still enjoy them on my gardening shed as well as one in our rental cottage.Very colorful $100 - $200+

Great bakery,,,,better get there before 3pm. He sells out every day. Wonderful scones. The twist is that his wife convinced him they should change their decor and carry the newest trend....oil cloth items.They have wonderful bags...large and small...for bringing your lunch or going to the beach, whatever. By the yard...you could make a table...

Years ago, when I was growing up in Gloucester, the Blessing of the Fleet was a major event. The harbor was full of fishing boats, hundreds of them, waiting to be blessed by the Bishop. This year the only ships in the harbor were already gathering around the Greasy Pole, vying for the best spots to watch the event. Not a single fishing vessel was...

I was baptized, went to CCD, received First Communion and Confirmation at St. Ann's in Gloucester. My first funerals were also here. My father went to school here as well. Viewers of "The Perfect Storm" will recognize St. Ann's as the location of the wake held for the fisherman at the end of the film. There's something very comforting about St....

An annual tradition in Gloucester that dates back to the 1920's. Held every year on the 3rd of July at 6pm, The Fishtown Horrible's Parade is a greatly anticipated event for the residents of Cape Ann. The parade features businesses, marching bands, musical floats, armed forces, police, fire and most importantly families and children. The route...

Gloucester is pretty safe. On a danger scale from 1 to 10 (10 being very dangerous), Gloucester scores about a 3.They average (annually) no murders, 4 rapes, 35 car thefts per year.There are 7 registered sex offenders in 2006. That gives you about a 1 in 5000 chance of meeting one.Just use common sense and don't act like a tourist and you won't be...

Stacy Boulevard is one of the most beautiful places I've had the pleasure of seeing in my life and it's no wonder it attracts so many visitors each year. When I was young my friends and I would fish off the boulevard and play on the cool looking, smooth stone round bunker type building next to the cut bridge. That was until my mother told me that...

During the summer months Gloucester's population swells trememdously, mostly vacationers wanting to frolic on the ocean's waves. Many of these tourists have their boats docked somewhere along the Annisquam River and sail on through the Harbor. Taller vessels (which seem to be the majority of those along the river) require that the Blyman or "Cut"...

Yes, Yes, this is the New England town depicted in the Hollywood movie The Perfect Storm, but don't expect to find Gloucester (or the Crow's Nest for that matter) looking 'just like in the movie.' What you will find is a real off-shore fishing port that has given more than its fair share of fishermen to the sea since the 1600s.

Look, we know people arrive on Cape Ann and expect to come away with certain touristy stuff. We even have a place *called* 'The Tourist Trap' just for this purpose! If you really need to buy stuff with lobsters on it, you can get it cheap at Walgreen's or overpriced at the gift shop next to the Gloucester House Restaurant. The rest of the t-shirts...

YES , THANK YOU ! WE HAVE A GREAT TOURIST TRAP AND DAMN PROUD OF IT!!!

A beach bag in the summertime, or a satchel with an extra layer of clothing when boating (see below).If you go to the beach, be prepared for trash problems. This summer, the City of Gloucester is experimenting with a 'carry-in/carry-out program' whereby they stopped placing trash receptacles at the beaches. Hypothetically, this is supposed to...

BACK PACK'S WILL GIVE YOU MOBILITY.. Walking shoes shorts,sunscreen,sun glasses. pack a sweater or lite jacket, the ocean can get cool even in the summer. Gloucester is photo frendly, we have 4 photo shops as well as cvs, walgreens you can get real one hour service an tec support for digital. This is a fantastic place to walk and site see.Old...

I happened upon this Memorial while walking down Main Street one day. The Police Station is on Main Street, but is also accessible from Rogers Street. The Memorial is located outside of the station and honors Gloucester's officers as well as those lives lost on September 11th. According to the city's website the Memorial was created and maintained...

This small park is located on Harbor Loop between the Maritime Heritage/Harbor Master's Office and the Coast Guard Station. I believe this is where they created the Hollywood version of The Crow's Nest for the movie "The Perfect Storm", but I'm not exactly sure. It was definitely in that area. I had never been there before today, had never even...

This isn't really off the beaten path. It's located in a central part of the city, but I don't think many people (residents included) give this memorial much thought. Joan of Arc sits atop her horse facing the American Legion at the corner of Middle Street and Washington. When I was growing up the statue was Statue of Liberty green, but has since...

Judith Sargeant House is a grand old manse on the hill overlooking the harbor. The house is a beautiful example of an early American wood frame house with lots of stories to hear from the guides. Worth a visit.

The natural elements are revered in Gloucester , from the mammoth rocks to the nearby river and out to the sea from the harbour. Highlighting what is best about the environment makes it not only beautiful, but natural and comfortable.

There are so many creative and wonderful gateways to find in Gloucester. One of the things I've noted again and again is the use of stone. There is a granite quarry just north of Rockport, and it seems the abundance of materials has enabled the homeowners and designers to mix it lavishly into their landscape plans.