Lighthouses on Cape Ann

Lighthouses are a very unique attraction along the coastlines. They are sought out by photographers and painters for their artistic value, and their curiosity factor to many mid-land dwellers who've not had any access to a lighthouse before. They are found in abundance on Cape Ann and can be viewed as follows:

In Rockport:
On Straitsmouth Island - most visible from the tip of Bearskin Neck.
Dual lights on Thacher Island - visible along Eden Road and Good Harbor Beach.

In Gloucester:
Annisquam Light - can be accessed by foot off Leonard Street to Norwood Heights.
Eastern Point - can be accessed by foot off Eastern Point Boulevard West.
Ten Pound Island (Winslow Homer's home for a year) in Gloucester Harbor.

If you'd like more information about them please consider the following:
For interested guests, there is also a 2 1/2 hour boat tour of the lighthouses from Gloucester, or pick up a brochure on lighthouses at The Chamber of Commerce. Then also, one of the previous Thacher Island Lighthouse keepers lives a few doors up the street from the Inn, and they'd welcome your visit. If you would like to lend your support to help maintain and renovate our own Thacher Island, the Thacher Island Association encourages all interested parties to become a member of the association at www.thacherisland.org.

Rainy Day Adventures During Your Rockport Holidays

Rainy Day Adventures During Your Rockport Holidays

Yes, the skies do have a habit of opening up on occasion in Rockport, unconcerned by the fact that you are on your holidays, but there are things to do here regardless. Many of our guests decide to lounge around in their room for hours after breakfast, oblivious to the weather forecasts, but when you do resurface, here are some suggestions.

For the hardy soul, if you are equipped with rain gear or umbrellas, we love to enjoy the wild seas along the coast, Bearskin Neck, at Granite Pier, or along Bass Rocks in Gloucester. You can also have a nice lunch or dinner downtown while enjoying the surf through the window. During the winter, we have a nice cozy fire going in the living room, if you like to cuddle up with a good book and a hot cup of tea...you are always welcome.

Of course, the draw of shopping (or threat, depending on your perspective) is always available downtown as well, because most of the shops and galleries will be open. We enjoy meandering through the Rockport Art Association and the North Shore Art Association in Gloucester to view some of the multitude of Cape Ann artists. Then we love the Cape Ann Museum for its vast collection of Fitz Hugh Lane paintings, along with its collection of maritime artifacts. You should check out Beauport and the Hammond Castle in Gloucester as well.

For the children , you might check out the Gloucester Marine Heritage Center. There are 20 lanes of candlepin bowling to be had in Gloucester as well...over near the first rotary. For theaters, there is a triple-plex in West Gloucester, as well as Hollywood Hits and a huge Loews Cinema 15 miles away in Danvers.

If you're up for a brief drive or train ride (station is just 3 blocks away), you could go to Salem, to see the House of Seven Gables, various witch related attractions, or tour the wonderful Peabody-Essex Museum or the Phillips House, all of which are readily accessible. Then a longer ride away (about an hour) will open up all the museums and attractions of Boston as well. Our favorites being the Aquarium, the Children's Museum, the Science Museum and the glass flowers at the Fogg Museum.

If you are a dedicated shopper (one of my least favorite things to do) then you'll be in your glory here, with antiques galore in Essex, two huge malls in Danvers and Peabody (25 minutes away), or an easy drive to the outlet stores in Kittery, Maine (1 hour and 15 minutes from us).

You'll find all of the above along with a multitude of other things to do here on a rainy day and we'll be happy to give our recommendations and directions. Or you're welcome to sit back with that book by our fire and just relax a bit as well, because that's one of the reasons for you to get away also!

What to do on Cape Ann - Whale Watching

Perhaps the most popular attraction on Cape Ann is our whale-watching and the sight of one of these magnificent animals just feet from your boat is incredible!

My wife and I have gone several times and had a spectacular time with a dozen whales just a few yards from the boat, submerging and resurfacing near us, some with their calves and some breaching. A truly once in a lifetime experience that you must do when you get here.

There are 4 whale watch companies operating our of our neighboring town of Gloucester, 4 miles away. Each company has a naturalist on board to help you name and spot the whales, give a narrative about them and to answer your questions. The rates this year run $45 for adults, $38 - $40 for seniors, and $29 -$30 for children per person. Based on the time of year, they will run once or twice daily, 7 days a week, especially in the summer, weather permitting.

All 4 companies run good operations and we can't recommend one over the other, although I have been partial to Captain Bill's simply because "Jodie" has always been so pleasant to deal with. To learn more about them or to see their schedules, rates, or to make a reservation, please click on their sites below:

Captain Bill's Whale Watch @ www.captbillandsons.com
Cape Ann Whale Watch @ www.seethewhales.com
Seven Seas Whale Watch @ www.7seas-whalewatch.com
Yankee Fleet @ www.yankeefleet.com

If you choose to reserve with Captain Bill's, tell Jodie The Tuck Inn says "hello" and she may give you a slight discount!

The Tuck Inn, of course, is happy to accommodate you when you come to Cape Ann to see the whales and we'll always prepare an early breakfast for any guests taking an early morning trip. Come and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime trip, which is truly a humbling experience.

Easy Day Trips From Rockport

Rockport is located on the tip of Cape Ann (Massachusetts' other Cape) and is just 35 miles north of Boston. Some of the day trips that we suggest to our guests are as follows:

Gloucester: drive to Gloucester to whale-watch, visit the Cape ann Historical Museum, walk along the boulevard and visit the famous Gloucester Fisherman's Statue.

Essex: Drive to Essex (20 minutes away) to go antique shopping at over 40 shops.

Ipswich: Drive to Ipswich (30 minutes away) and visit the Crane Estate, or go to Crane's Beach with 8 miles of coastline and sand dunes to explore. You can also visit the Audubon sanctuary for some glorious walking or great bird watching. A point of interest is that Ipswich has more 1600's homes than any other town in America!

Salem: Drive or take the train (25 minutes) and visit the House of Seven Gables and the Peabody- Essex Museum, and the Phillips House.

Boston: Drive or take the train to Boston (1 hour) and visit the museums, take the Boston Harbor water taxi, visit the Public Gardens or take in a baseball game.

Drive to Rowley for Todd Farms Flea Market on Sundays with over 200 dealers. Go to Newburyport to bird watch along the sand dunes of Plum Island and Parker River Estuary, and Maudley's State Park.

You can also visit the Lexington and Concord area in just over an hour if you're a history buff. You can also visit the famous Walden Pond, where you can re-walk Thoreau's famous paths. While there, pop over to the Wayside Inn in Sudbury for a memorable meal. Pilgrim Plantation, the Mayflower and the famous Plymouth Rock are about a 90 minute drive away. In Quincy, John Adams' homestead can be visited in a little over an hour as can the J.F.K Library as well.

Then there is always the shopping lure of the outlet stores in Kittery, Maine, about 90 minutes away as well. We've also had guests that have driven to Cape Cod, the Sturbridge area in Western Massachusetts and some of the scenic towns in Maine a bit farther up the coast all for a day (though they're all a bit farther than I'd undertake, about 2 - 2 1/2 hours away).

You'll find that there really is a multitude of readily accessible historic, scenic or interesting things to do within a short drive from Rockport. We suggest the you consider making The Tuck Inn your home base while visiting the area, as you can still return later in the day and relax in our quiet little village before more exploring during your holidays.

Rockport Music Performance Center

Everyone in Rockport is thrilled about our new Performing Arts Center on Main Street. The 20 million dollar Shalin Liu Center was just completed in June 2010, with special acoustics, a seating capacity of 330 and an extraordinary backdrop of Sandy Bay. It is quite a jewel for our town. The center offers Chamber Music, Classical, a new Jazz series and simulcasts of the operas from the MET, along with a number of productions for our local high school plays. The Center even has a fully catered function room, which can be rented for weddings or meetings to boot!

The Tuck Inn is conveniently located just two blocks away from the Shalin Liu, and as we are open nearly year-round, we would be happy to accommodate your lodging if you come up for a performance.

To look at a complete list of their upcoming performances, ticket prices, or to purchase tickets, please click to their website at www.rcmf.org.

Come enjoy the music in our beautiful little village!

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!