Cape Cod Ideas
 

I am heading to the Cape with my boyfriend in August. I have been there before but he hasn't. We are staying two nights in Chatham and then heading up to Cape Ann and staying in Rockport. Does anyone have any suggestions and things to do and great places to eat? Thanks for all your help.

Hi<BR>I'm not a Rockport expert because though we spend a lot of time at Cape Ann...the places we stay are in Gloucester and Essex. Here are some places/things we like that are in or aren't too far from Rockport. <BR>Don't miss taking a short walk on Halibut Point in Rockport. It ends with a beautiful rocky overlook of the ocean. Also great spot to sit and have a small picnic or snack on a nice day. <BR><BR>Good Harbor Beach (in Gloucester) gets crowded but has the best waves! Get there early on a summer weekend day. Haven't tried it yet, but have heard the restaraunt across from the beach entrance is a good lunch spot. Can't recall it's name.<BR>Ipswich's Cranes Beach is a longer, good walking beach. Gloucester's Wingaersheik Beach is very shallow because of it's location and tides. A great spot for folks with small children.<BR><BR>We love having breakfast at the "Gull" at the Yankee Fleet Marina in Gloucester. The sunny,heavily windowed dining room offers a nice spot to sip coffee while watching the boats and marina activity.<BR><BR>The Village in Essex is our favorite dinner spot offering a variety of seafood.<BR>In town Rockport is fun to walk around if you enjoy exploring small shops and small galleries. Buy some candy at "Tucks." Get a lunch of Clam Chowder at any one of the small restaurants you pass. <BR>Drive around Cape Ann and view the scenery, the quaint little seaside villages. Artists are scattered everywhere painting seaside scenes. Bearskin Neck is an artist colony offering many artists works.<BR>Gluocester has a working fisherman's town atmosphere while Rockport has a more artistic feel.<BR> It's a different experience than Cape Cod, which is also nice.<BR> Have fun!

Ash - a number of years ago I did the same thing - the guy is now my husband and we return to CApe Ann often - we of course love Rockport! I hope you have a bed and breakfast in mind (if not go to bedandbreakfast.com and read their messagea board for great ideas! We stayed at the Yankee Clipper, they have changed alot and I would not return)<BR>On Cape Ann, be sure to drive out to Sandy Bay or Bearskin Neck, beautiful and romantic. For just fun, a local kind of meal and where the fried clam was invented, go to The Woodman (Essex)(I still mail order from the off season) they have a web site and you can get a coupon (though this is not an expensive place - you walk up to a counter, place your oder and they will call your number - fried clams to die for (or from they are pretty heavy!) great lobster rolls, -<BR>Ipswich is a neat town (Rt 133 5 miles from Essex) lots of antique shops, drive along 1A to Crane's Beach (largest beach on the North Shore) - or travel north to Newbury Port, to High Street and look at great 17th - 19th Century Mansions (along Rt 133 north)<BR>If you read The Perfect Storm then of course head towards Glouster - (from Rocky Neck Avenue turn right onto Eastern Point Blvd. you will see a private Road this is where the Beauport House is (40 rooms of 18th and 19th Century art and furniture - if you are into frozen foods, the original Birdseye factory is still in Glouster as is the great Gordon Fisherman statue! The Hammond Castle Museum is fun, on Hesperus Ave, a fantastic view from the yard - this castle features an 8,200 pipe organ.<BR>from rt. 127A the road will hug a stretch of open coast known as Bass Rocks and you will also pass beautiful mansions - if you continue to a small and sandy beach "Little Good Harbor" look towards the skyline on a clear night you can see Boston.<BR>You aare also near Salem and marblehead !<BR>have a great time, let us know how your trip develops!

On the Cape try Chatham Bars Inn for dinner. A bit expensive but very good. Also loked the Capt William House in Dennis. Everyone checks out Thompson Clam Bar in Harwich-tourist but good food-

Unfortunately, Thompson's Clam Bar closed a few years ago. There are several nice restaurants in Chatham. We like Christian's - food is good - steaks, seafood and pasta dishes.