We're going to be doing a very quick trip to the area next week. Our daughter is graduating in Amherst on Saturday and her fiance is flying out of Logan Monday evening. She has to be out of her on-campus apartment by noon on Sunday. So we're staying on Cape Ann Sunday and Monday nights. And I just realized that it might be a good idea to post with a few questions. Please bear with me if I'm kind of all over the board with these fairly specific questions!

When we did a day trip north of Boston a couple of years ago, we had a wonderful lunch at Stromberg's in Salem and a very enjoyable supper at Halibut Point Restaurant in Gloucester. Can anyone tell me whether either or both of these restaurants are still in business? And do you have any recommendations for similar casual seafood places in the Cape Ann area?

The kids want to spend Monday in Boston. Ideally, we'd like to drive to a T stop with a parking garage, leave the car with FSIL's suitcase in the trunk and then come back for the suitcase before taking the T to Logan with him. Is this realistic? And, if so, what T stop would be best?

A few years ago, I read something on Fodor's about a casual seafood restaurant that I think was in Cambridge. With this embarrassingly meager bit of information, does anyone have a clue what I'm talking about? And, if so, do you know whether they're open on Mondays and serve lunch? Any other recommendations for very casual, seafood shack type lunch places that would be accessible on foot or by T?

Also any recs for "must sees" in the Cape Ann area?

Thanks so much for any and all help!

Casual seafood restaurant in Cambridge is likely Jasper White's Summer shack (one of my favorite places). Warning - casual for seafood does not mean cheap - good quality fresh seafood never is. But I think prices are reasonable. Order from menu or chalkboard specials. Website is Summershackrestaurant.com. They also have Boston location which for some reason I find far inferior to Cambridge (original) one. It is at end of Redline on MBTA (Alewife). They are open 7 days/week.

Parking at MBTA is a tough one - lots of stations that might work from Cape Ann, but parking at these stations is the problem - most lots fill by 7:30 or perhaps 8 AM. And you mention you want to retrieve FSIL's luggage before he goes to Logan on MBTA - so stations most convenient to Cape Ann are not that great for Logan.

Three reasonable choices for parking - each has advantages and disadvantages. One option - drive to Wonderland Station (end of Blue Line) and park. I have no idea how early spaces fill there - I have taken liberty of posting question about that for you here. Then he can go back to car and take this line, without changes, to Logan.

Option 2 - drive to Logan and park the car there. This is more expensive, but simpler in that you know for sure you will find a space and then he does not need to fight luggage and MBTA.

Option 3 - Drive to Alewife since you want to eat at Summer Shack. Much longer drive, but then leave luggage, tour Boston, head back to Alewife for a late lunch and then ship him off to Logan while you head to Cape Ann for the night. He will have to change MBTA lines (red to blue - check it out on MBTA.com website).

Of these 3, I like the park at Logan option the best.

You don't have time to see Cape Ann and anything in Boston - the way I see it, you will not arrive on Cape Ann until late Sunday. Maybe walk around Rockport shops - although I do not know when they close on Sundays in May - and have dinner in Rockport.

Then you have Monday in Boston and are flying out Tuesday.

For one day in Boston, only obvious suggestion is to walk Freedom Trail, stopping at whatever is of interest. You really only have part of Monday anyway.

Check out post on parking at Wonderland - that will be the one I created to try to get you an answer about parking there.

Thank you so much, Gail! That was a very helpful post! And I really appreciate your starting the other thread for me!

The Freedom Trail was pretty much what we had in mind. DD's been in Boston several times during her years in Amherst (in fact she's there right now!). And the rest of us have been too. So it's really not about trying to see a lot.

I'm hoping we may get to Cape Ann in time for a scenic drive or the like Sunday afternoon. But, as you said, we don't have a lot of time either place.

I'm almost positive Summer Shack is, indeed, the restaurant I was thinking of! Thanks so much for the info and the link!

One other thing...one reason we'd talked about parking at a T parking garage is that we've heard that driving to Logan is a b*^$ch! Would you agree?

Driving from Cape Ann to Logan will take 45-60 minutes. Basically you take Route 128 to Route 1. After that you just have to pay attention, since you end up going around on of the Boston area's specialties - rotaries (AKA round-abouts, traffic circles). There is signage, but other drivers, especially on Monday morning rush hour, are nasty. If you are familiar with city driving and have one person driving and another navigating, it should be doable and still in a mood that you can enjoy the rest of the day.

Revere/Wonderland is very close to Logan - so that is not going to get you much traffic relief. Other parking options would be too far out for FSIL to go back and get luggage.

If you go to Summer Shack and are so inclined, the raw oysters are incredible - they list the ones available on the chalkboard and I usually get an assortment of ones from a few locales to compare - you really can tell the difference. I also recommend Bermuda Chowder (slightly spicey red based seafood chowder), fried clams, and pie. (I am hoping that this is the secret location to which my family is taking me for Mother's Day)

Could that casual restaurant in Cambridge be East Coast Grill? Or Dolphin's near Harvard Sq?

Thanks again, Gail! My husband is used to Chicago city driving. But it's always so much worse in a city with which you're not familiar.

We're going to have to really think about this. After I posted, when I was talking to my husband, I realized that there are other factors we have to consider. We're renting a van to drive out because we have to haul all of our daughter's stuff home. And she also has her car. But we may not be able to get all 5 of us in either vehicle. The van will have the last seat removed. And, if we get the model we want, it will have bucket seats for four. Our daughter has a Yaris. It has a backseat. But squeezing three people in would be difficult. And then there's the fact that all of her stuff will be packed in the van. Do we really want to leave it in a parking garage all day?

Is there a train or some sort of public transport from Gloucester to Boston? Maybe the solution is for DD to drop DH, DS and me at the train and then go back to the hotel for FSIL, drive to and park at Logan. And then meet us in the city.

We've reserved rooms at a hotel on the beach. Maybe we're going to just have to spend the day there!

Summer Shack sound so good! DH and DS love raw oysters. The Bermuda Chowder sounds wonderful to me. Obviously, Chicago's not a real hotspot for seafood! And FSIL eats only fish (no meat). So that's why seafood restaurants are high on our list for this trip.

I hope your family takes you there tomorrow! Happy Mother's Day!

Thanks, yk! But I think Gail is right about it being Summer Shack. That sounds familiar.

The commuter rail (Newburyport/Rockport line) runs to Gloucester. Check the mbta website that gail has provided in an earlier post.

Thanks again, yk! That just may be our answer!

Once yo eliminate need for FSIL to get back to car prior to flight on Monday, the commuter rail becomes a great option.

Yep, I think that definitely bears looking into!

I've been to Summer Shack four times (because a family member likes the place), and I've never had a good meal there, plus the place is expensive and very noisy. I'd strongly advise against this place. And in Boston, I'd avoid any recommendations to try Barking Crab.

Better seafood options:

In Cambridge would include yk's suggestions of East Coast Grille (Central Square, then a short walk to Inman Square, open dinner and brunch only) or Dolphin Seafood (Harvard Square, then a short walk).

In Boston would include Neptune Oyster (in the North End, Orange or Green Line Haymarket stop) and B&G Oysters (Orange Line Back Bay stop and a short walk) for more upscale options, Yankee Lobster (Silver Line, Silver Line Way stop) or Morse Fish (Silver Line, Union Park Street) if you want something very, very downscale.

In Essex (not far from Cape Ann) would include J.T. Farnham's for a clamshack experience, Village Restaurant for sit down casual.

In Ipswich (again not far from Cape Ann) would include The Clam Box for a clamshack experience.

Both Farnham's and Clam Box are better than Woodman's (also in Essex) or Summer Shack.

Don't know if Halibut Point or Stomberg's are still around.

Thanks very much, bachslunch! I especially appreciate those recs near Cape Ann.

Caph...

Stromberg's is still around but you can do much, much, MUCH better for seafood (I live about a mile from it and wouldn't eat there if it were the last place open!).

If you are staying on Cape Ann, I would highly recommend any of the places in Essex, including Blue Marlin, The Village, Essex Seafood, Tom Shea's or Periwinkles -- most of these are quaint and near the river or even with a view but with excellent fresh seafood. These are all on Route 133 which runs through Essex to West Gloucester and Gloucester. (Some would say Woodman's too but I think it's too greasy and dirty, but that's just MHO as a local). Also in Gloucester proper is The Gull (which I love for baked stuff shrimp!) and any number of wonderful restaurants (not necessarily seafood) on Main Street Gloucester's Main Street has become quite the hub of great cuisine!

Hope this helps.

It does, Amy. Thank you!

As soon as things settle down a bit (which I hope will be before both kids have flown the nest again!), I'm hoping to do a brief trip report. But, meanwhile, I just wanted to thank you all again.

And let you know that, after a very hectic graduation weekend, we were all just too exhausted to deal with trying to go into Boston that Monday! But we loved our stay at Cape Ann Motor Inn. It was so relaxing and beautiful. Just what we all needed! And driving from there to Logan really wasn't that bad. Easy for me to say as I wasn't doing the driving!

We would definitely like to stay there again. And will use the transportation and restaurant suggestions then. So thanks again!