Massachusetts – Page 18 – WANDERLUST FAMILY ADVENTURE

Eastern Point Lighthouse – Gloucester, Massachusetts

November 15, 2017 Joseph Candora Historic Sites, Lighthouses, Massachusetts, North America, United States

The Eastern Point Lighthouse sits at the entrance to Gloucester Harbor the oldest seaport in the continental United States. The Lighthouse was first lit in 1829 and not only protected shipping into Gloucester Harbor but also was a spot to lookout for the Gloucester Sea Serpent! To get to the lighthouse take East Main Street past Niles’ Beach. You will see signs saying private road / residents only but proceed past these. There is one small sign with an icon of a lighthouse and an arrow pointing straight. Once past the private residences there is a small parking area for the lighthouse. The grounds around the perimeter of the light are open to the public but the house itself has a resident Coast Guard family be sure to respect their privacy. The lighthouse can be seen in the distance from across the bay from Stage Fort Park and of course up close at the sight.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

There is a long breakwater adjacent to the lighthouse with an additional light at the end of the breakwater. The breakwater is open year round but be extremely careful it is very exposed to wind and sticks very far out into the harbor.

Revere Beach – Revere, Massachusetts

November 15, 2017 Joseph Candora Beaches, Massachusetts, New England, North America, United States

Revere Beach is the oldest public beach in America established in 1895. The beach is not the best for swimming as it is both shallow and far from pristine. It is great for grabbing some food and sitting on the sand or wall while you people watch.

The two best options for food on the beach are Kelly’s Roast Beef and Bianchi’s Pizza. Kelly’s claims to have invented the roast beef sandwich sixty years ago from this original location on the northern end of the beach. The roast beef is excellent and they also have good fried seafood. If you want to try both get the “surf and turf” which has a roast beef sandwich and a lobster roll. Bianchi’s is in my opinion the best pizza in the Boston area and is also a great value. Their slices are a full quarter of a large pizza for under three dollars. The sauce is sweet and the crust thin with no fancy toppings.

Plum Island, Massachusetts

November 15, 2017 Joseph Candora Massachusetts, North America, United States

Plum Island is a New England barrier island renowned for its bird watching opportunities and beach lifestyle. The island encompasses parts of four coastal New England towns, Newburyport, Newbury, Rowley and Ipswich all in Essex County. The Essex National Heritage Area and The Essex Coastal Scenic Byway both present great opportunities for scenic views and historic sites. Your first stop should be the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. The visitor center is on your left as you head into the island.

The three thousand acres of protected salt marsh provide habitat to over three hundred species of resident and migratory birds, see the checklist here.
After visiting the refuge as you continue down Island Drive you will see a pull off to the right. Down a short drive there is a memorial to a marine killed during the Vietnam War and good views of the salt marsh and river.

There are many beaches in the area including one as you proceed down towards the tip of the island.

As you make your way past the summer homes and vacation rentals to the end of the street you will come across the Newbury Harbor Lighthouse (aka Plum Island Lighthouse). Shifting sands leave the lighthouse quite a bit away from the present shoreline.

If you are looking for a beach rental away from the bustle of Hampton or Salisbury Plum Island is a great alternative.

Boston – First Night (2017)

November 15, 2017 Joseph Candora Boston, Events/Festivals, Massachusetts, North America, United States

Like many cities country wide Boston has its own First Night celebrations. The 2017 festivities were great fun despite the seasonally cold weather. I suggest you park in the suburbs like we did and take the T into town. There are several fireworks shows, one over the common at 7:00 pm and one over the harbor at midnight. Most of the activities revolve around Copley Square and the Back Bay. There is a parade down Boylston Street, an ice sculpture display and entertainment both inside and out. 2017 was great try to catch the 2018 First Night.

Halibut Point State Park – Rockport, Massachusetts

November 13, 2017 Joseph Candora Destinations, Massachusetts, North America, State Parks, United States

If you saw the Movie “The Next Karate Kid” starring future Oscar Winner Hillary Swank some of the training scenes were filmed at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport. There is an ample parking area and a nice short stroll through a wooded lane.

You will come across an abandoned quarry filled with water. This is especially beautiful when surrounded by fall foliage and is where the scenes from the movie were filmed. The visitor center is in the large structure in the park with the old World War II era observation tower.

Past the quarry the rocky shoreline is a great place to watch the pounding surf especially if there is an offshore storm. Be extra careful people have been swept off the rocks during stormy weather but the sight of the surf crashing is both scary and spectacular.

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