Rockport, Massachusetts Travel Guide

Rockport, Massachusetts is a small, Northern beach town gem. Nestled in Cape Ann and part of the North Shore, a trip to Rockport is one you’ll remember for the community, idyllic town, and stunning beaches. I was fortunate enough to spend a week in Rockport for my family vacation, and wanted to write you a comprehensive blog to guide your travel to this gorgeous town!

Rockport’s History

Rockport was an uninhabited part of Gloucester during the first century of English settlement. In 1743, a dock was built on Sandy Bay for shipping timber and fishing. In the 1800’s, the first granite from Rockport quarries was shipped to cities and towns throughout the East Coast of the United States.

Besides quarries, their town of Bearskin Neck was named after a bear that came in to the harbor. The town is historic, idyllic, and full of old buildings and history. What a dreamy place to go.

Where to Stay

We stayed at this incredible Studio AirBnB. There were four of us, and we comfortably fit! Our hosts were so kind, and it was a clean, welcoming place.

If you’d rather stay at a hotel, there’s over 25 small, local inns in the town to check out! From seaside to nestled in the town, there’s something for everyone.

The Beaches

There are several beaches to visit in Rockport proper. These include Front Beach, Back Beach, Long Beach, Old Garden Beach, Cape Hedge Beach, and Pebble Beach. We went to every beach on the list, and I can hands down tell you Old Garden was my favorite.

Old Garden has such natural beauty, and is not as crowded as some of the larger beaches. The leads to relaxation and quiet time, enjoying the nature and limited people around you. Parking is pretty easy (and free), and there’s enough space on the sand if you get there by lunch time.

The beach is truly unspoiled. The sand is clean, and the water is clear. I have never seen such clear Northern Atlantic water. It was chilly, but not unbearable. The tide would go out, and there were beautiful rocks to explore around. Also, there were ocean ducks! I’ve never seen an ocean duck before. Every day spent at Old Garden was one I thoroughly enjoyed, it was hard to ever leave.

Where to Eat

Due to Covid-19, there weren’t a ton of restaurants open, but we were still able to get some great meals. Here’s where I suggest!

My Place By The Sea– This was one of my favorite restaurants ever. Their outside seating was right over the ocean, with beautiful views of the sunset. I could just live there! I had their soup and sandwich combo, which included the most delicious lobster roll (a Massachusetts staple), and another staple, clam chowder! The sandwich was so flavorful, with a lovely salad on the side. Also, the chowder was one of the best I’ve ever had, as the clams were long strips. My mom had a grilled shrimp zucchini salad, which was also out of this world.
Bean and Leaf– This coffee shop was one of the most reliable as far as hours, and we grabbed many breakfast pastries to enjoy back at the B&B. There were many good options, like cranberry bars and muffins. We also ate dinner there, where we had delicious tuna salad wraps. Everything was really fresh and pure.
Lobster Pool– Sunsets are everything in Rockport. If you want to watch the best sunsets, enjoy the ocean, and eat delicious seafood, Lobster Pool is the place to go. After ordering your food (which is mainly fried seafood), you can sit outside, watch the sun go down, and enjoy the delicious and generous plates. I suggest the clam strips!
Blue Lobster– We ate here twice, and I would absolutely suggest stopping by for a classic Brazilian dish (something I’ve never seen on any menu), called Moqueca. Full of shrimp and endless flavor, it’s served in a traditional dish and is truly out of this world. I also had the lobster pasta, which was good, but I’d suggest the Moqueca first.

Where to Shop

Rockport has endless small businesses, which is great! I made sure to support many, and the great news, these shops are also online so you can order from afar. If you can’t tell from the list below, I did a lot of shopping…if you’re looking for more places, check out Weefty’s for destination shopping!

Sea & Cellar– A fantastic shop to go for craft beer and speciality wines! Their selection is unique, and there’s no snottiness like some fine wine shops.
Rockport Candle Company– Beach themed candles, like a beach bonfire or fog horn? Sign me up! I went home with four delicious, unique scents to enjoy.
Strut Boutique– This fashion boutique was so my style! I grabbed a gemmed tee shirt, and it is a total style staple. It was hard to not walk out with all the clothes though. Affordable and on trend.
Wicked Peacock– This super fun jewelry store had treasure troves of accessories, all at a fair price! I grabbed my new favorite studs, pave crystal bars that are asymmetrical.
Tuck’s– Homemade chocolate and candy is at an endless supply in Tuck’s. Stop by for Taffy, or try some of their delicious chocolate confections (I know I tried many).
The Last Resort– This fun gift shop has some really high end tees with Rockport on them. I grabbed a cozy long sleeve that I think I will live in this summer, and there was something for everyone. The quality of this store is really above just your average beach tee.
Katie’s Gift Shop– In this fun store, I found the coolest book ever: a Rockport Inn Cookbook! There’s recipes in it from all over the local inns, and also has some fun tips to explore the area. This shop is also great for postcards.
Common Crow Market– When I went to Bryn Mawr, the Mom’s Organic Market was my absolute favorite place to go. This store is just like that! With natural products galore as well as unique food items, this is a grocery store and more.

Have you ever been to Rockport? If not, add it to your list of must visit destinations! While you’re there, make sure to visit the rest of Cape Ann (read more here).

All thoughts and opinions are my own.