For a romantic New England getaway visit Rockport. Like a Norman Rockwell Painting! Settle in and get cozy in Hooper House. Enjoy the serenity of Rockport in Winter.



For Winter Activities please check out the Rockport Website at: Rockportusa.com



To read about Rockport in Winter go to: http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/massachusetts /articles/2009/12/23/without_tourists_rockport_is_a_quiet_ocean_retreat/



Autumn in New England

APPLE PICKING

Essex County



Arrowhead Farm

131 Old Ferry Road, Newburyport 978-462-9482 Take Exit 57 East off I-95 . Follow signs for Maudsley State Park. Farm is next to park, 1.5 miles from I-95. Open Friday-Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. School groups by appointment.



Brooksby Farm

Felton Street, Peabody 978-531-1631 Rt. 128 North to Rt. 114 West in Peabody. At third set of lights take left on Cross Street, go up hill, bear left at next set of lights, take right onto Felton Street. Open Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.. Call ahead for picking conditions.



Carriagetown Orchard

201 Market Street. Amesbury 978-388-4592 One mile north of Amesbury Center on Rt. 150. Open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays from noon-6 p.m. Call ahead for picking conditions.



Cider Hill Farm

45 Fern Avenue, Amesbury 978-388-5525 1.5 miles north of Amesbury Center on Rt. 150. Open daily from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Call ahead for picking conditions.



Fay's Farm

120 Amesbury Line Road, Haverhill 978-373-4874 Call ahead for directions, days, hours and picking conditions.



Long Hill Orchards

520 Main Street, West Newbury 978-363-2170 Exit 57 off Rt. 95. Left off exit. Farm is 5 miles on right. Call ahead for conditions, containers available.



Russell Orchards Farm and Winery

143 Argilla Rd. Ipswich, MA 01938 978-356-5366 www.RussellOrchardsMa.com On the road to Crane Beach Castle Hill. 3 miles south of Ipswich Center. Call ahead for conditions and hours. Containers provided. Groups welcome.

OUR BEACHES

Front Beach * Main Street* very limited parking

Front Beach is an active beach on Sandy Bay pointing toward the east. The beach is also within an easy walk from the Rockport village, and from many of the inns and hotels nearby. There are lifeguards in the high season. Another nice thing is that it is near a number of restaurants, eateries and shops, so you can combine some beach time with browsing and dining.

Back Beach* Beach Street* very limited parking

On Beach Street between Main and Granite, Back Beach offers great views as a bonus to its respective sand and surf, and is close to the downtown shopping area. Back Beach is a renowned scuba diver's paradise.

Cape Hedge Beach* South Street* very limited parking

Need a bit of solitude? Quietly tucked away, Cape Hedge Beach is perfect for the vacationer who wants to get away from it all. Relax in the gentle New England breeze as you take in the gorgeous Atlantic Ocean.

Long Beach (Rockport)* Long Beach Road* toilet facilities, limited parking

Long Beach, off Thatcher Road, is another long, protected stretch of ocean and sand, backed by a cement retaining wall and lined with summer cottages. From Long Beach you can easily view the twin lighthouses on Thacher's Island. The Rockport side of this beautiful beach has lifeguards on duty.

Pebble Beach* Penzance Road* limited parking

Pebble Beach, at the end of South Street, leaves no doubt as to why it is so named. Pebbles and stones cover this beach; however, they are not rough and jagged, but smooth and rounded as a result of the constant tidal motion. Sunbathe long enough and you just might see a diver in pursuit of an ocean atmosphere or a friendly seal playing in the waves.

Old Garden Beach* Old Garden Road* very limited parking

This intimate, very small beach is secluded enough to unwind from all of your vacation activities, yet easily walk-able from town. Eat your lunch at one of the picnic benches while taking in the great view. This is a beautiful place, and one of the more unique beaches north of Boston.



A Short list of Rockport Favorites:

Harbor Tours - Rockport info@capeannharbortours.com T-Wharf Rockport, MA 01966 978-804-9575 Join us for a delightful one-hour ride aboard the "King Eider", featuring a fascinating narrated tour of Rockport's scenic coastline. Adults $12, Children under 12 $6. (Purchase tickets onboard) Mid-June thru Labor Day. Sailing Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at 12:30pm, 1:45pm, 3pm, and 4pm. (Schedule subject to change) Departing from T-Wharf (next to the Sandy Bay Yacht Club) Private charters available. Great for getting your bearings on Rockport.

North Shore Kayak Outdoor Center 9 Tuna Wharf, Rockport, MA 978-546-5050 We are open for tours and rentals daily from 9 am to 7 pm. Come paddle with us or see us for great deals on boats, leases & equipment! “A glorious day-trip destination. “ – Boston Globe Magazine Our waterfront store carries kayaks as well as paddling equipment and TONS of sandals and summer footwear for your outdoor adventures! Guided sea kayak trips leave daily from Memorial Day to mid-September. Try out our demos right outside the shop! Call us at 978 546-5050 to reserve your coastal expedition or bike tour while in scenic coastal New England. This is a great experience!

Halibut Point State Park (1840) Halibut Point is a uniquely beautiful coastal seascape. Looking seaward on a clear day, the view stretches from Crane Beach in Ipswich to Mount Agamenticus in Maine and the Isles of Shoals off the coast of New Hampshire. Formerly the DCR and the Trustees of Reservations manage the Babson Farm granite quarry, the park for scenic, historic and conservation purposes. The Town of Rockport and open for public use own an adjacent property, Sea Rocks. Here you can explore the park's trails and tide pools, picnic on its rocky ledges, enjoy its sweeping views, and learn about Cape Ann's historic granite industry. Breathtaking scenery and great activities through the week!

Walk the Words 58 High Street Rockport, MA 01966 978-546-8122 978-546-0081 Guided walking tours of historic Dogtown and the Babson Word Rocks. Our tours take 1 to 2 hours and explore the Rockport, Gloucester Woods. A little slice of Cape Ann History.

A Cape Ann Whale Watch Rose's Wharf P.O. Box 345 Gloucester, MA 01930 978-283-5110 800-877-5110 978-283-0181 (fax) Join us on our first whale watch of our 28th season on April 15! North of Boston's first and most experienced whale watch since 1979. Celebrating our 28th year of watching whales. Sail aboard the "Hurricane!", the largest and fastest whale watch vessel in Massachusetts, North of Boston. Research oriented trips. Sightings guaranteed. Naturalists from the Whale Conservation Institute. Sailing daily. May-October. This is our favorite and we have never not seen whales with this group.

Bearskin Neck Country Store barkendemaine@aol.com 40 Bearskin Neck Rockport, MA 01966 978-546-3620 Traditional old style general store with candy!

Toad Hall Bookstore store-manager@toadhallbooks.org 47 Main Street Rockport, MA 01966 978-546-7323 978-546-1097 (fax) Toad Hall has always given 100% of its profits to environmental projects. Founded in 1972 as the direct result of Earth Day, the bookstore has donated over $133,000, mostly in the form of small "seed money" grants. In many cases projects would not have moved forward without Toad Hall's support. Our favorite bookstore!

Village Silversmith neyla@villagesilversmith.net 20 Bearskin Neck 978-546-8400 27 Dock Square 978-546-9700 6 Tuna Wharf 978-546-3227 Rockport, MA 01966 With 3 locations in Rockport and 1 in Gloucester you are bound to find something. Unusual jewelry, Fossils, stones and other trinkets. Something for everyone!

Sandy Bay Historical Society info@SandyBayHistorical.org 40 King Street Rockport, MA 01966 978-546-9533 Levi Sewall built the Sewall-Scripture House at 40 King Street in 1832 with granite from his own quarry. His descendants until purchased by the Historical Society in 1957 lived it in. A 1996 addition expands exhibition space and a new library provides the public with access to extensive holdings of local history and genealogical information. Permanent exhibits at the Sewall-Scripture House include a Victorian Parlor, Marine Room, Keeping Room, Children’s Room, Military Room, and the Hatchet Gang Exhibit. An excellent collection of the works of deceased Cape Ann artists includes Fitz Hugh Lane, Aldro Hibbard, Alfred Wiggin and Charles Gruppe. So much to learn!

The Paper House (1922) 52 Pigeon Hill Street Rockport, MA 01966 978-546-2629 Mr. Elis F. Stenman, a mechanical engineer who designed the machines that make paper clips, began building his Rockport summer home out of paper as a hobby. That was in 1922. The paper was meant to be good insulation. Eventually, not only was the house made of paper, but furniture as well, including some intricate and beautiful pieces. Very unusual!

Sweet Remembrances moreinfo@sweetremembrances.net 47 Bearskin Neck Rockport, MA 01966 978-546-6093 For over 20 years Sweet Remembrances has created a fun, family experience with a unique souvenir as a result. We allow you and your family to have some good old-fashioned fun as we let you take a nostalgic trip to a seemingly better time through costume and photography. These are classic!



Please check out the Rockport Website at: Rockportusa.com



May we suggest:



Fish Shack Restaurant* 21 Dock Square* 978-546-6667* Best Seafood – sit down with water views. Roy Moore Lobster Company* 39 Bearskin Neck* 978-546-6696 Fresh fish – they will cook it for you to take home or eat on the back deck in the rough, overlooking Rockport Harbor. Same owner as the Fish Shack.FUN!!!!

Ellen's Harborside* Jim@ellensharborside.com* 1 T-Wharf* 978-546-2512 On Historic T Wharf with sweeping views of Rockport Harbor. Award winning Chowders, Delicious Fresh Seafood and Tender Pit BBQ Ribs. Join Ellen's Frequent Diner Program and earn points toward discounts on your future dining. Let us know how you enjoyed your meal. We hope you make Ellen's Harborside your favorite dining spot on Cape Ann. Ellen's is open May Thru October 11:30 am to 9:00 pm, seven days a week. We're handicap accessible, accept MasterCard or Visa and all our meals are available for take-out. Waterfront, water views.

The Greenery Restaurant* info@greenery-restaurant.com* 15 Dock Square* 978-546-9593* 978-546-3098 (fax)* Fabulous harbor view. Grilled fish, lobster, steamers, steak, chicken, pasta, salad bar, sandwiches, espresso, first-rate desserts made from scratch. Reservations accepted. Credit cards, take-outs, children's menu, ocean view, oceanfront, open year round.

Hula Moon* beth54611@yahoo.com* 27 Mt. Pleasant Street* 978-546-2572* Great little Bistro with water view dining.

Helmut's Strudel* sharon.k.mcdonald@verizon.net* 49 Bearskin Neck* 978-546-2824* Fresh pastry, croissants, espresso, fresh orange juice. Outside seating, take-out, Ocean view, oceanfront.

My Place By the Sea Restaurant* 68 Bearskin Neck* 978-546-9667* Breathtaking outdoor oceanfront dining. Serving lunch and dinner at the very end of Bearskin Neck. Reservations accepted after 12 noon the day of your reservation. All credit cards, outside seating, limited smoking. Ocean views, oceanfront, wheelchair accessible.

The Red Skiff* 15 Mount Pleasant St* Fabulous Fish & Chips. Quick and easy.



Outside of Rockport:

Sugar Magnolia's* Cafe and Catering* 122 Main St.* Gloucester* (978)281-5310* Great Food! Creative dishes. Sometimes a wait, but worth it. Open for breakfast & Lunch.

The Clam Box* 246 High St* Ipswich*01938* (978) 356-9707 Call ahead for hours (978) 356-9707 Our hours vary and are subject to change without notice, please call ahead of time.

Alchemy Cafe and Bistro* 3 Duncan Street* Gloucester* 978.281.3997* Alchemy Cafe and Bistro offers a suburban-chic dining environment located in the heart of downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts. Our Restaurant offers upscale casual dining at affordable prices, and our adventurous menus provide enough choices to please everybody.



What to do Around Rockport in Essex County:

*Please check out these websites for fun outside of Rockport.

http://www.essexma.org/Pages/index

http://www.wolfhollowipswich.org/ (Turn on the sound)

http://www.ipswichma.com/directory/castle.asp

http://www.ipswichma.com/businesses/details.asp?catMenu=Restaurants&Submit=Search&ID=35

http://www.toddfarm.com/index2.html

http://www.cityofnewburyport.com/

http://www.salemweb.com/

http://www.cityofboston.gov/

http://www.7gables.org/

http://www.piratemuseum.com/

http://www.pem.org/homepage/

http://www.hammondcastle.org/common/index.php?com=HAMM&div=AA&nav=AA&page=A91

http://www.thetrustees.org/pages/294_crane_beach.cfm

http://www.ipswichma.com/clambox/



---------------------------------------------------------------------