In the News: You Can Hike To An Abandoned Town, Visit A Castle, And Dine On Portuguese Food In Gloucester

January 27, 2022 / Food and Drink, Good to Know, History/Maritime, In The News, Outdoor Adventures, Things to Do & See

Only In Your State | Written by Melissa Mahoney | January 21, 2022 | Cover Photo by Paul Keleher from Mass, US/Wikimedia Commons

Small towns and cities throughout the Bay State have so much to offer visitors. From historical sites to parks, outdoor recreation, fantastic restaurants, and more, you never know what you’ll discover. If you find yourself on Cape Ann, here are some of the best things to do in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.

Located on Cape Ann in the North Shore, the small seaside city of Gloucester has so much to offer both residents and visitors alike. Between its coastal beauty, lighthouses, and restaurants that serve fresh seafood, it’s an ideal destination for a staycation.

However, this coastal community also offers so much more including a few places you may not have thought about visiting here. Let’s take a look.

Hike to an abandoned town.

Dogtown Common is an abandoned settlement that was first settled in 1693. It was chosen by settlers due to its location inland and its rocky terrain that they thought would protect them from pirates and natives. By 1830, the area was abandoned and is now part of the Essex National Heritage Area.

Take a hike around the stunning woodlands and you will see numerous boulders with inspirational words etched onto them. These were part of a public art project commissioned by Roger Babson, founder of Babson College, during the Great Depression. Dogtown is quite the hidden gem in Gloucester and you can read more about it in this article.

Visit a castle.

Who would have guessed a European castle could be found in New England? Hammond Castle was built atop a bluff overlooking the ocean in the 1920s by John Hays Hammond, Jr., a scientist, inventor, and art collector.

A visit to this medieval-style castle may make you feel as though you’ve transported to Europe. Self-guided tours of the lavish interior decorated with fine art and antique furniture are available on certain days from April through December. The grounds are quite extraordinary to explore as well. Visit the website for more information.

Dine on Portuguese food.

While mostly known for its many fresh seafood restaurants, Gloucester is also home to a fantastic Portuguese restaurant known as the Azorean Restaurant & Bar. The owners are from the Azorean island of Sao Miguel and offer authentic Portuguese cuisine. Even the decor inside this warm and inviting eatery is reminiscent of what you may find in Portugal.

The menu is filled with delicious options like Portuguese soup, Portuguese-style mussels, octopus, grilled linguica, carne guizada, and fresh fish as well as a variety of American dishes. Visit the Azorean Restaurant & Bar website for more information.

 

 

View the full Only in Your State article HERE.