We didn't realize this area had such a delightful combo of shops, history and nature. We enjoyed…read morethe slightly treacherous rock scramble out to the point, as well as browsing the many art shops and restaurants in the area.

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.

Enjoyed a nice walk across the rocks, beautiful view…read more Parking is free and nice to watch the boats going bye Nice looking at the homes literally on the water

Lovely place to stop and grab some photos of the coastline and lighthouse. History buffs can read…read morethe plaque telling the story of the sisters but just know the cottage attached to the lighthouse is privately owned - if you need to pee, there are two Porta Potties by the entrance. Lots of parking when we came on a beautiful, not too hot Saturday afternoon. I really didn't see much of a beach area but loved the rocks feeding out into the water. With small kids, the rocks may be a little challenging but they're pretty flat and easy to walk on otherwise.

Lovely way to memorialize those lost at sea while trying to make a living. It's continually…read moreupdated, which is a sobering reminder of just how dangerous the fishing industry is.

The Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial is a sculpture on South Stacy Boulevard. It's an 8-foot-tall…read morebronze statue of a fisherman erected in 1925. In a semi-circle around the sculpture are plaques that list the names of people lost at sea between 1716-2001. If you're visiting Gloucester for the first time - like my mom and I were last about a week ago - it's worth your time to park and take a walk on the esplanade and see the memorial for a few minutes!

Spooky, cute, and so worth the damn walk! Just kidding... mostly! ‍ It was such a beautiful sight,…read morewith a skeleton perched at the top, gazing out over the sea. Talk about witchy vibes! I didn't make it to the big lighthouse a couple of blocks away, but this little spooky gem definitely satisfied my lighthouse obsession.

Let light be your guide to safe travels and coming home!…read more Here in the Salem Harbor stands a light house only about twenty feet high. The light house is not open to the public from the outside. Guests to the water front can walk around the light house. Pose for a picture. Pick up seashells. In a great year, 1977; the national park service actually acquired this property. The light house is at the end of the derby wharf. It allows ships to come home and into the harbor safely . Wave your hands high as we soak up the water and all that salty air. As I watch individuals play along the water front it's hard not to smile and laugh. The twins make fun noises of joy. It's a sort of dance with life that makes me feel alive. Life is this beautiful gift, all the circumstances that has transformed us to this moment were worthy of wonder and joy. Close your eyes, imagine that salty air . The smells of the sea, your breath in rhythms of happy as your heart beats. The waves crash against the shore . If only the smiles were mine. I live in the moment with the children. For it is their happiness that is mine. If life seized right now, I would be happy that we shared this happiness.

Old City Hall is a beautiful old building with a must-see front courtyard. It's home to the Ben…read moreFranklin statue and little bronze donkey statue ( Ruth's Chris Steakhouse reside inside the majestic building). Grab a coffee nearby and sit in the courtyard - it's really a lovely spot in the heart of Boston. 4 stars

Old City Hall is a historic building built between 1862 and 1865. It's located along the Freedom…read moreTrail at 45 School Street where the Boston Latin School, Boston's first public school and the oldest educational institution in the country, first stood. Old City Hall was Boston's third city hall and served as City Hall for 38 mayors between 1865 to 1969 before it was converted to office buildings and a restaurant in the 70s. Currently, there is a Ruth's Chris Steak House in the Old City Hall. You can go into the building, although we just stayed outside in the courtyard, taking photos of the statue of Benjamin Franklin and of the Democratic Donkey. I wouldn't go out of my way to see the building, but if walking along the Freedom Trail, you might as well stop for a few photos; the donkey statue is fun. [Yelp collections: Boston, MA 2025]

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 need a category for places and things that are, quite simply, the best of the best and where…read morethere is no argument about why they are that way. In this category would easily fall the Massachusetts Historical Society, the nation's oldest state historical society and home of many of the most important documents of its history. Sometimes overlooked in the chaos of downtown Boston's Fenway section, this institution is a treasure that one should visit at least once in his or her lifetime. A bit of disclosure...I worked at MHS and did my master's practicum there. MHS holds records and documents on every aspect of the Bay State's history, from the pre-colonial and Pilgrim period through to the 21st century. It holds the papers of prominent Massachusetts families and political figures, as well as the records of early businesses. Most notably, the papers of the Adams family are maintained and edited there. State-of-the-art storage areas also hold a number of artifacts that are occasionally shown in exhibits. Such a general description only tells what is kept there but cannot fully explain the importance of its holdings, for the wealth of information and the breadth of knowledge contained it its documents, artwork, books, journals, etc., tells the story of the state's and the nation's history in details that cannot be matched anywhere. As befitting the historical documents and artifacts within its walls, everything about MHS is exemplary. The structure, dating back to 1898, underwent a number of substantial renovations starting in the late 1990s. New office space was created, along with areas for public programs and exhibitions, while the collections were provided facilities and conditions suited to their importance. Still, the badly-needed modernization did not see the building lose its architectural soul, for even older staffers (myself included) could see how its grand architectural features were integrated seamlessly with newer elements to make the building more functional. As importantly, the conditions under which documents and artwork are kept were also modernized - care, for which future generations of historians and scholars will be thankful. Mind you, despite the importance of its holdings and its function as a scholarly research facility MHS does offer some of its events to the public. Students, genealogists, and other researchers find help from a staff that represents the best in the library business. For a rather nominal annual charge anyone can become a member and enjoy lectures and programs and receive certain of its publications. MHS publishes its research and hosts scholarly conference and supports a myriad of sociocultural programs too numerous to mention. It's safe to say that if you live in Massachusetts, or in nearly any part of the United States you've had some contact with MHS, whether you know it or not. Tours are given on many Saturdays throughout the year (check the MHS website http://www.masshist.org/events/more_info.cfm?eventID=297 for more information. Enjoy. Consider yourself lucky to be there and fortunate that there is a place like MHS for all of us.

Sure I may be biased as a member, but I absolutely adore MHS. Every event I've ever been to has…read morebeen absolutely amazing.

Beware: This is not a polished tourist destination. Only visit if you're looking for a bit of…read moreadventure. To get to the Eastern Point Lighthouse, you have to turn down a road marked as private. (Apparently it isn't, really?) Then, you pass some other unwelcoming signs. Then you finally get to a small gravel parking lot with a sign that says "All are welcome!" The lighthouse isn't operational or open for tours. It's surrounded by fencing that makes it look condemned. But, if you walk through some sand and rocks along the water and then do a small bit of rock climbing, you can get a good view of an iconic lighthouse. When I visited, it was freezing rain and very windy. When I climbed up on the rocks to take a picture, the winds up there were so strong I was worried they'd blow my phone out of my hand. Combined with the sense that I was almost trespassing, it was oddly thrilling. There's not enough going on to warrant a long trip, but if you're in the area, want a fun diversion, and are fine driving down narrow, possibly private roads to a small gravel parking lot before navigating sandy, rocky, seaweedy tidewaters to see something iconic, it's a worthwhile diversion.

If you're in Gloucester and looking for something non-beachy to do, I recommend checking out…read moreEastern Point Lighthouse and walking across the breakwater to Dog Bar Lighthouse. First, you have to turn onto a private street lined with ridiculously beautiful mansions that you will never be able to afford in your lifetime and possibly your children's, staffed by a security guard (tell him you're here to see the lighthouse). After you drive past the private beach and the yacht club, all bedecked with No Trespassing and Private Entry Only signs to make you feel as unwelcome and plebian as possible by the 1% of Gloucester, you'll see the parking turn-off for the lighthouse. There, we met a very kind lady from Mass Audubon who explained the various migrational birds roaming around the area. You can't actually see or tour the lighthouse because it's fenced around and, from a distance, looks a little worse for wear. But looping around the side across some rocks, you can hop onto the jetty and stroll around and take in the sights. Great spot for photographers. It was beating down with zero shade and we forgot to put on sunscreen before heading out so we did a quick out-and-back but otherwise, it'd be a neat area to sit. $10 fee per vehicle (cash or QR code). No fee if you walk in. Definitely wear close-toed shoes; sandals or flip-flops on slippery rocks are a recipe for disaster. Also, watch out for poison ivy along the path to the jetty.