Reasons For All Seasons

September 05, 2018 / Good to Know, Outdoor Adventures, Things to Do & See

Just a 45-minute drive from Boston, we invite you to visit, stop and stay a while. Enjoy a morning beach walk, an afternoon of exploration, a full day of touring, fireside dining, boutique shopping, or an overnight stay with ocean views. We welcome you to Gloucester and Cape Ann all year ‘round!

WINTER In the winter, with the fishermen at rest, the pace of life slows to match the region’s calm understated beauty. Yankee Magazine voted Gloucester one of their “Best 5 Winter Ocean Weekends” stating “wintertime waves are mesmerizing, the ocean’s restorative energy a constant. So why not heed the saltwater’s call when lodging rates and seashells are the best you’ll find all year? This beloved coastal community has a quieter alter ego worth getting to know.” Recharge with nature on a bird watching adventure or taking a winter walk or hike in one of Gloucester’s many scenic trails or parks.

SPRING From its earliest days as a fishing and shipping port to its mid-19th century role in the granite industry, to its singular charms of light and sea that have attracted countless artists from the 19th century to the present, Gloucester boasts a rich and varied culture of nationally significant historical, industrial and artistic achievement. We celebrate this light and color with Cape Ann Artisans Spring Studio Tour and beautiful daffodils on the Boulevard.

SUMMER Fresh seafood abounds, and the harbor is alive and bustling with schooner sails, harbor and lighthouse tours, and deep-sea fishing charters. Some of the world’s best whale watching is just off our coast at Stellwagen National Marine Sanctuary.  Don’t miss the variety of outdoor dining venues, small owned and operated retailers, foodie and distillery tours, museums, historic homes and so much more! Lots of open space and fresh air with Ravenswood Trail, Stage Fort Park, Halibut Point State Park and the back shore. If possible, many of our live-music venues will be back and offering outdoor entertainment.

FALL Come visit our enchanting North Shore coastline in autumn and experience crisp ocean air, colorful surroundings, and warm hospitality. Some events to note: Cape Ann Artisans Fall Tour,  Trails & Sails, Annisquam Arts & Crafts Show, and the Rocky Neck Art Colony walking tours. Of course, our restaurants and shops are open for everyone’s enjoyment, (outdoor, curbside pickup) as well as many lodging facilities with special fall packages. Cape Ann Farmers Market runs through mid-October, as well as Hammond Castle’s Haunted House tours.