Jeff's Guidebook
Food scene
Ice cream - soft and hard serve! Also, great pizza and sandwiches for a quick meal. Lines can be long after dinner but the wait is worth it and offers a good chance to chat with locals.
8 locals recommend
Long Beach Dairy Maid
147 Thatcher RdIce cream - soft and hard serve! Also, great pizza and sandwiches for a quick meal. Lines can be long after dinner but the wait is worth it and offers a good chance to chat with locals.
Reservations recommended - consistently good, upscale, friendly!
47 locals recommend
Franklin Cafe Cape Ann
118 Main StReservations recommended - consistently good, upscale, friendly!
Lobster in the rough - eat on the dock, live music (at times), delicious lobster, chowder, cocktails and view!
17 locals recommend
Blue Collar Lobster Co at The Gloucester House Restaurant
63 Rogers StLobster in the rough - eat on the dock, live music (at times), delicious lobster, chowder, cocktails and view!
Great walking / shopping, fun galleries and eateries - snacks, meals, ice cream... beautiful views!
83 locals recommend
Rockport
Great walking / shopping, fun galleries and eateries - snacks, meals, ice cream... beautiful views!
Delicious local food, upscale, great cocktails, outdoor seating available. Reservations strongly recommended!
46 locals recommend
Feather & Wedge
5 Main StDelicious local food, upscale, great cocktails, outdoor seating available. Reservations strongly recommended!
Lovely outdoor seating area on docks, great food, huge portions! Reservations recommended.
31 locals recommend
Seaport Grill
6 Rowe SquareLovely outdoor seating area on docks, great food, huge portions! Reservations recommended.
Italian/fish - lovely interior, outdoor seating available, good food and cocktails, upscale. Reservations required.
43 locals recommend
Tonno Restaurant
2 Main StItalian/fish - lovely interior, outdoor seating available, good food and cocktails, upscale. Reservations required.
Sightseeing
Spectacular views - lovely walk through nature to rocky shore. Quarry is amazing!
115 locals recommend
Halibut Point State Park
Gott AvenueSpectacular views - lovely walk through nature to rocky shore. Quarry is amazing!
Very cool castle "museum" - fascinating story, gorgeous views, worth the price of admission.
55 locals recommend
Hammond Castle Museum
80 Hesperus AvenueVery cool castle "museum" - fascinating story, gorgeous views, worth the price of admission.
Essex
Fun place for lunches, exploring another little town, touring breweries...
Nearby beaches
Lovely beach - better at low tide - long "board walk", lovely shoreline, family-friendly, food truck for ice cream and snacks available usually. (5 min walk from Beach Haven!)
10 locals recommend
Long Beach Gloucester
44-30 Rockport RdLovely beach - better at low tide - long "board walk", lovely shoreline, family-friendly, food truck for ice cream and snacks available usually. (5 min walk from Beach Haven!)
Family-friendly, snack bar, lovely walking, tidal pools for exploring - walk to Salt Island at low tide! (7 minute walk from Beach Haven!)
118 locals recommend
Good Harbor Beach
Family-friendly, snack bar, lovely walking, tidal pools for exploring - walk to Salt Island at low tide! (7 minute walk from Beach Haven!)
Drive to Wingaersheek if you run out of beach on Brier Neck! Go early as parking is likely to be limited.
66 locals recommend
Wingaersheek Beach
Drive to Wingaersheek if you run out of beach on Brier Neck! Go early as parking is likely to be limited.