1. Sugar Magnolia’S
City: Gloucester, MA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (978) 281-5310
Address: 112 Main St.
Insider Pick:
Description: The service is always warm at this Gloucester favorite. At Sugar Magnolia’s, on the Main Street drag, visitors and locals flock for the packed omelets and especially for the carrot-cake pancakes slathered with maple cream cheese butter. On the lighter side there are bowls of fresh fruit with yogurt and at lunch there’s an extensive menu of sandwiches and inventive salads.
2. Rudder Restaurant
City: Gloucester, MA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (978) 283-7967
Address: 73 Rocky Neck Ave.
Description: If you’re looking for a casual seafood restaurant with outdoor seating and magical water views, you’ll find it at the Rudder. It’s located in picturesque Rocky Neck, a little off the beaten path from Gloucester Harbor, but well worth seeking out for its menu of baked day boat cod, seafood risotto, classic fried seafood, and boiled lobsters. Make your reservation for 8 p.m. so you can sit on the outside deck and watch the sun set over the harbor. Open Apr through Oct.
3. Cape Ann Museum
City: Gloucester, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (978) 283-0455
Address: 27 Pleasant St.
Description: The luminous seascape paintings of native son Fitz Henry Lane are at the core of this museum. Other notable collections include the maritime gallery, which features painstakingly accurate ship models and tools used in the local fishing industry. Closed Mon and during Feb.
4. Good Harbor Beach
City: Gloucester, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Description: There is always plenty of blanket space but come early (or late afternoon) to claim your parking spot in the public lot (there’s a fee in season) before it fills up at this beautiful dune-backed mile-long stretch of white-sand beach. It’s a barrier beach, and at high tide there are just-right waves for Boogie Board surfing. At low tide walk across the revealed sandbar to explore nearby Salt Island. Amenities include restrooms, outdoor showers, and a concession stand.
5. Wingaersheek Beach
City: Gloucester, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Description: Situated between the Annisquam River and Ipswich Bay, Wing Beach has soft white sand, mild water (in the 70s), and few waves, making it a good pick for families. When the tide recedes (as much as a mile), timid toddlers can splash about and bigger kids will love exploring the teeming tide pools left behind. Families will appreciate the beach amenities here: close parking (there’s a fee in season), a concession stand, restrooms, and outdoor showers.