Cape Ann on the north shore of Massachusetts contains the towns of Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea. Considered Massachusetts’ second “cape” it is full of beaches, shopping and other attractions.
We headed down from our home in New Hampshire and as it was about lunch time as we were passing J.T. Farnhams we decided to stop and get some takeout. Farnhams is one of three iconic fried seafood restaurants in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Woodmans and the Clam Box are the other two. Woodmans is the inventor of the fried clam but all three have wonderful fried seafood.
Food in hand we made our way to Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. We enjoyed our fish n chips and seafood platter before exploring the park.
The park was the site of the first group of settlers in Gloucester in 1623.
We proceeded down the cor-niche in Gloucester stopping at the memorials to the fishermen and their wives on the pedestrian walkway.
After driving along the cor-niche we took a right leading us to the Eastern Point Lighthouse at the entrance to Gloucester Harbor. There are two lighthouses here the main one on shore and one out on the long breakwater reaching out into the harbor.
We passed through the shops and restaurants in downtown Gloucester on our way to our next stop Rockport. In Rockport we explored Halibut Point State Park.
Last on the itinerary was photo ops at some of the beaches in Rockport catching the pounding surf during a very windy day.
A beautiful sunset capped a wonderful day.
