If you are looking for lovely, coastal vibes, Bearskin Neck is that place. It's got cute, whimsical…read moreshops and beautiful vistas. It is small and you do not need much time here. It's good for browsing and relaxing outside, but I probably wouldn't eat here or spend more than a few hours. I recommend arriving early so you can park on nearby streets and then heading somewhere good for lunch. But it's definitely worth a visit.

Beautiful village by the sea in Rockport, MA (and main tourist attraction). Fishermen settled on…read morethis peninsula in the 1600's, and it became a fishing village and commercial docking area in the 1700's. In the 1800's during the Industrial Revolution, it supplied a large amount of granite. This peninsula juts out into Rockport Harbor (you can walk all the way out, over the rocks, and take pictures at the end). The street is filled with locally-owned boutique clothing, jewelry, and souvenir shops, restaurants, and photogenic spots (see Motif 1). I love that you can still visualize all the history of Bearskin Neck, see so much beautiful artwork and coastal treasures, and try fresh-caught seafood. Parking is close to impossible on the weekend (as is driving down the street, which IS allowed, but filled with pedestrians); but there is a nearby parking lot that provides a shuttle service to and from here. The area is very dog friendly; they are allowed inside most shops, and there is plenty of water available! Makes for a really fun (and photogenic) day of walking around!!

Pretty cool little place. Had a very nice clear day to enjoy the short hike. I will definitely…read morebring the family to check this place out

A lighthouse for the…read more birds The area around Cape Ann is a treacherous place indeed and a whole lot of ships have been lost over the centuries. So it is natural that a whole bunch of lighthouse would be built here. The very first light on the small 2 acre Straithmouth Island was back in 1835 but was a poorly constructed pile of junk. It was rebuilt in 1851 but the fierce storms and wild winters soon took a toil on that one too. So in 1896 the present 37 foot light was built and a small 6th order Fresnel lens added. Over the decades all lighthouses were automated and many, like this one, declared redundant and were closed. The little island ended up as private property until 1967 when the island and lighthouse was donated to the Audubon Society. It is now a bird and wildlife sanctuary and is off limits to humans. The light and the few remaining buildings got hammered and damaged in the Oct. 1991 "perfect storm" but the little lighthouse preserved and survived. It can now be seen closely by kayak or from certain points in Rockport and the twin lights of Thatcher island can be seen from certainly angles. Not a tall light and not an exceptionally old light. But it is a tough little guy that managed to survive everything that natural and man could throw at it.

We visited The Little Art Cinema in September 2024, we saw the poster for Terrance Malick's…read more'Badlands' on the notice board outside. Later when we tried to find a website to confirm the screening we weren't able to find one. So we went along at the time on the poster, and found we were the only attendees. The guy running the cinema was a true individual, running a film classic single handed. He initially had trouble with the projection, and asked if I could help out (it was a disc), which I did and we settled down together to watch. Our take on this experience is that to us this guy is a true hero to film, he clearly struggles somewhat with the technology and said he doesn't really do computers (hence no up to date website), but he is single-handedly trying to keep this place alive. Please support this cinema, either by visiting, donating, but most importantly helping out if you are local, or just getting in touch with a message of support. We were visiting from England, and in the interests of full disclosure I am a film cameraman, but to anyone who cares about seeing film on a big screen, this slightly quirky but uplifting experience was one that will stay with us. For those who have seen Capra's 'Meet John Doe' you can meet him personified at The Little Art Cinema, Rockport https://www.littleartrockport.com/

a quirky place to see a film. I felt like I was in some sort of movie being there. It smells…read moremusty, the theater is an open hall space, the seats are folding chairs and the charm is amazing. go here just for the experience, 100% worth it. Good films too. ok, Update time: I have since seen two more flicks here this past summer. I love this place. The owner is really cool, he found us in the theater to give us sparkling water with cups to share before the film began. The films always seem to break, or in one case burn, but it really is apart of the whole atmosphere. My friend and I always end up having a few moments that we end up laughing about later on.... charm, relaxed and quirky.

Have been here several times and the venue and location are stunning. Rockport is a charming town…read moreso if the weather is nice come early, walk around the harbor, have dinner and/or ice cream, stop into the many stores. My last visit was to hear a mixed media performance of photos taken from the space station accompanied by a wonderful jazzy group. The acoustics are fantastic, and if you are lucky enough to attend a perfomance where the harbor is visible behind the stage (sometimes the curtains are drawn) you are in for a major treat. Parking can be tricky but if you don't mind a little walk on-street parking can be had. It's a bit of a hike from Boston but I would return in a heartbeat,

I grew up in the area but somehow had never attended an event here until very recently. Glad to see…read moreit lives up to the reputation of stunning acoustics, worldly atmosphere and welcoming surroundings. The crowd control entry/exit was a little tight, especially on a cold evening, but nothing to offer major detraction from. Certainly will keep my eye on their continued programming and am glad to now know that many are drawn to Rockport events at this special place.

Beautiful little town. Lots of history here. Definitely worth the visit. Don't forget to check out…read morethe massive homes along the water

Tara was a very caring guide. She was well informed about the area and made the paddle a great…read moreexperience. There were four of us, my husband and myself along with our 24 year old daughter and 19 year old son. The experience was perfect for all ages and offered something for everyone. I'd recommend asking for her as your guide. You will take home great memories!

My husband and our two teenagers took the guided two hour kayak tour today. Dan was an exceptional…read moreguide. He made us feel comfortable with the gear and we got out on the water. What a fantastic way to see the Rockport area, explore the shoreline and hear some area history. We were able to dock on Straitsmouth island and climb up the lighthouse which was a welcome surprise for our family. I highly recommend the tour. You must be comfortable in water, but kayaking is fairly easy to pickup. My 14 year olds who have very little experience had a blast with no issues navigating the water. We never felt worried about our safety as Dan was vigilant with our group's well being.