What to Do In Rockport - The Innkeepers Picks!

The following is just a list of things that Liz and I like to do in town and often recommend to our guests. It's in no way complete, but just our personal favorites.

Walking:
1. The Headlands - (2 blocks away)
2. Marmion Way / Garden Path - (3 1/2 mile loop)
3. Halibut State Park - (60 acres of coastal park - 3 miles away)
4. Dogtown - off Curtis Street (over 3,000 acres of woodlands)
5. Kelly's Pond & Cape Pond - (2 hour woods hike just 3 blocks from the Inn)
6. Atlantic Path - (2 mile coastal walk from Emerson Inn to Halibut Point)
7. Throughout the residential neighborhoods to enjoy the gardens and architecture
8. Granite Pier
9. Steel Derrick Quarry Walk

Beaches:
l. Front Beach - ( 2 blocks away with grandkids)
2. Back Beach - (2-3 blocks away with grandkids)
3. Old Garden Beach - (3-4 blocks away with grandkids)
4. Long Beach - (2 miles away - great body surfing without grandkids!)

Train Rides: (Rockport train station is just 3 blocks away)
1. To Salem - (20 minute ride to museums, House of Seven Gables)
2. To Boston (1 hour ride to museums, sporting events, Boston Pops, and "ugh"-shopping)

Retail Stores:
1. Shopping - (150 plus shops/galleries to chose from - 2 blocks away) (window shopping only for Scott and the real deal for Liz)
2. Art Galleries / Studios - (approximately 20 - 25) (window shopping only for both Scott and Liz)

Dining:
1. Roy Moore's Lobster Pound - (boiled lobsters - freshly caught and boiled, yummy and inexpensive)
2. Brackett's Oceanview - (nice full-service menu with great views)
3. Nate's at Front Beach - (best lobster roll around)
4. My Place By The Sea - (exceptionally prepared food, a bit on the expensive side, but we suggest you go for lunch for the same wonderful food at a significant savings over the supper menu)
5. Fish Shack - (good hot meals, mainly fish and a bit less expensive than other)
6. Lograsso's - (4 nights a week, Wednesday - Sunday, Italian food...mmm, mmm, good!)
7. Emerson Inn - (in Pigeon Cove, 1 1/2 miles away, exceptional dining and setting for a special meal)
8. Ellen's Harborside - (great prime rib and lobster bisque...dee-lish!)
9. Molly's Sweet Tooth - (Richardson's ice cream - decadent!)
10. Top Dog - (the best hot dogs around!)
11. Bean & Leaf - (great coffee and dessert shop)
12. Hula Moon - (soups, wraps and take-out orders)

Playgrounds:
1. Behind school complex on Jerden's Lane (1/2 mile away)
2. At Millbrook Meadows - (2 blocks away for swings and to feed ducks)
3. Pigeon Cove on Story Street - ( 1 1/2 miles away)

Museums & Attractions & other:
1. Rockport Art Association - (1 block away)
2. Sandy Bay Historical Society - (3 blocks away - local history)
3. Local Library - School Street - (2 blocks away - we've spent lots of time in Children's department).
4. Shalin Liu Performance Center - (2 blocks away, extraordinary setting with multiple productions). (The last one we saw was Chad & Jeremy - "Who, you say?")
5. Little Art Cinema - (1 block away - old time movie house with equally old seats - ouch!)
6. Visit the Paper House in Pigeon Cove - 1 1/2 miles away (historical oddity).
7. Walking the grandkids to school, or the park or reading to them, whenever possible.
8. Bird-watching along the shore or local woods (without binoculars, because with them we never spot a thing!)
9. Our in-ground pool - (40 feet away for my daily 10 minute dip and then back to the salt mines!)

When you come to visit with us, Liz and I and our staff will gladly cover all of the above with you and give you some suggestions of things to see and do or eat within town or throughout Cape Ann. We are all fairly knowledgeable about our town and will be glad to handle any of your other requests as well...just ask!