Rockport Things to Do

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Rockport's neck creates a beautiful natural harbor. The surrounding quaint town and boats decorated for Christmas (This is strictly seasonal!) just add to this.

Oh, and the gorgeous light I had when shooting these photos was just the icing on the cake!

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At the end of Bearskin Neck you'll find a lookout area, "the point." Rock jetties lead out to the Atlantic on a parallel with Spain. (This is what one of the locals told me.) Luckily for us, although it was December, the sun was shining. So it was tolerable to be out here, check out the views and snap a few photos.

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Bearskin Neck is a store, restaurant and gallery filled peninsula off of Rockport. It's where you want to explore first when you visit this town. You could spend hours on it, visiting the shops, having a meal or snack and just enjoying how freaking cute it all is. Enjoy!

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Bearskin Neck is a tiny peninsula of land with one lane going out to the end. This lane (too small to be called a street) is lined with continuous shops and galleries selling all sorts of interesting things....some soulvenirs...some very nice paintings. You can spend an entire day here. Stop for coffee and rest...have some struedel. Shop. Stop for ice cream. Explore the galleries, stop for lunch. Shop. You get the idea. It's a fun time. Many more photo ops here.
The Neck is the highlight of many peoples' trips to Rockport. This is where the tour buses stop to allow tourists an hour or so to find a little treasure to remember their trip. There is one narrow lane to the end of the neck .. a small turn around, and then back out again. You are taking a chance to drive out there, tho. Hundreds of tourists are walking in the middle of the lane and totally distracted by all the shops and activity. You might travel through at about 2 miles an hour. Better to park the car elsewhwere and do Bearskin Neck on foot.

I'm addicted to these little shops. Interesting to poke around .. each one has something different to offer and their exteriors are usually so colorful with flower boxes or vines creeping up the building. I like to start my Christmas shopping in Rockport because I always find something unique for at least a couple of people on my list.
On Bearskin Neck, you simply must stop in at the Lobster Shack. You can get a fresh shrimp cocktail w/ sauce and sit on benches out back where you are almost literally IN the water. If you are staying nearby w/ a kitchen, there are lobsters and other goodies to bring home. It's SO nor'east...salty....and rough cut.

At the tip of Bearskin Neck we found a violinist playing classical music in this vast, open, sunny space....The music was even more beautiful in this setting. I purchased his CD so I could remember that unique moment. He might be seen in Boston at Fanuel Hall or most anywhere he can find a beautiful arena and people to listen....

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Always a great photo opportunity, you might wonder if only the interesting boats are allowed to moor here. Great colors... nice mixture of working boats and pleasure craft.
The red fishing shack is Rockport's claim to fame as it is touted as "Motif #1"...supposedly the most photographed building in the world. (well, maybe THEIR world)
Rockport is a celebrated artist colony with numerous galleries along the main street.
Small park area surrounds the cove, park benches here and there... and you can enjoy this view from a couple of the eateries that face main street.

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Rockport has several visitors' information centers. The first one you encounter is along the road coming in from Rte. 128 before you reach the actual village. It's a small white shed with brochures and rest rooms.
Once you are in town, you will find a wonderful little pocket park in the center with a small shed that is open all the time. Filled with brochures to give you complete information about what can be found in Rockport and all throughout Cape Ann... which is what the region is called.
Maps are included here. I recommend that you get one of these local maps which will help you with the smaller streets, beach areas, and local sites. Take the time to sit on a bench provided here in the park... get your bearings, enjoy the shade of the big old trees, and check out your immediate surroundings.
The Chamber of Commerce publishes a very good map & guide. You will notice that yours truly has several photos used in the brochure. Their design company found me on VT and asked if they could use my photos!! I was so tickled. Especially because Rockport is one of my very favorite getaways.
Check out the pic of Flat Rock in the brochure...it's one of about 5 of my photos. I was just soooo proud!

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SEE FOR YOURSELF just what the appeal of this simple building is. Is it the setting more than the building? Is is the faded red color against the blue harbor? Is it your indigestion after eating that hot dog?

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No matter if you walk, bike, drive, or sit and drink coffee around Rockport....you will be presented with so many beautiful scenes in all directions. We stopped for a coffee in the afternoon and looked out across the inner cove toward Pigeon Cove. The autumn color on the far shore was beautiful....and then the sky did this extraordinary thing.....