Summer is upon us. The kids are home from school and people are sneaking in long weekends whenever possible. However, in the wake of the economy long distance vacations just may not be in the budget for many people. Lucky for us we live in Boston…we are a hop, skip, and an hour car ride away from some of the best vacation spots around!
Recently I was able to visit Gloucester, MA which is definitely a local gem! The breathtaking panoramic views are strait from a dream. It was hard to believe I was still in Massachusetts.
I was lucky enough to stay at the Bass Rocks Ocean Inn. It was located right on the water with a beautiful view of the ocean from every room. Each room had a sliding door that went out onto a deck with seating to enjoy the ocean view. My picture to the right doesn’t do it justice but hey I’m a writer and I tried. Anyway, back to the Inn. Each morning they offered a continental breakfast spread that you can enjoy at their lovely tables with views of the ocean. They also offer tea and cookies in the afternoon! The charm of this place was enchanting. I tend to steer away from Inn’s because I don’t find them private. However, Bass Rocks offered the privacy of a hotel with all the quaintness and charm of an inn. The staff was very friendly and it was definitely a place I would stay again.
Unfortunately it was not beautiful and sunny the days I was there so I did not get to enjoy the local beaches. However, there was plenty of great stuff to keep me busy. I spent a few hours visiting a few local museums and it was the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon. My favorite spot on my museum tour was The Cape Ann Museum. The staff greeted me when I came in and filled me in on the exhibits. I was too early for a guided tour but I definitely enjoyed roaming around and taking in all the great exhibits. They had everything from early artifacts to sculptures and paintings….before I knew it a few hours had passed! It was fun to get lost in all that history.
Now what is a vacation without some good food…and Gloucester certainly delivered. There is no better place to enjoy some seafood than Gloucester and there is no better place to enjoy it than the Seaport Grille. They do offer both indoor and outdoor seating; however the ambiance for outdoor seating definitely is not there. They are located in a very “industrial” section of the harbor so the scenery can be lacking. However, what they lack in scenery they definitely make up for in food. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. The food was beyond good! The portions were quite large but it is definitely a family friendly place that will be great on a traveler’s budget.
On my last day there I wanted to sleep in a little so I missed breakfast at the hotel. I decided to check out a local diner I had driven by several times during my stay…Charlie’s Place. It was a great find! It was a real homemade breakfast. Everything from the eggs to the coffee tasted just like I had made it at home…it was good, filling and comforting. It gave me the umph I needed to start my drive home on a rainy day.
So load up the car this summer and head on down to Gloucester. Rain or shine there is plenty of ways to spend a day and unwind. I heard a quote once “On vacation, I totally unplug. I don't bring a laptop with me.” Leave your laptop at home because every now and then we all need to unplug and Gloucester is the perfect place to do it.
