The New England Coastline offers some amazing scenic views. Perfect for exploring or photographing. While in Boston for a business trip, I met up with my mom who lives in New Hampshire and we explored Cape Ann via the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway.

The scenic byway stretches 90 miles across 14 coastal towns in Massachusetts. Our drive was specific to Cape Ann, stretching from Gloucester to Rockport and around to Annisquam – roughly 40 miles, not counting any side roads for sightseeing. Along the way we saw an historic fisherman’s memorial, a spot to watch boats in the harbor, a quaint little town full of unique shops and of course, lighthouses.

Here’s your guide to exploring Cape Ann on a portion of the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway.

Stop at the Historic Fisherman’s Memorial

Have you seen the movie, The Perfect Storm? It’s about a group of fishermen from Gloucester (pronounced gloss-ter) who get caught in a massive storm on their way back to the harbor. If you look at the Historic Fisherman’s Memorial under 1991, you’ll see the names of the actual fishermen who were portrayed in the movie. Not to spoil the movie, but they did fall victim to the ocean.

The Historic Fisherman’s Memorial in Gloucester pays tribute to all the men and women who have lost their lives at sea. It’s humbling to see the names of those stretching back centuries. You may even find a bouquet of flowers placed there by someone honoring a loved one who’s name is on the list.

While at the memorial, enjoy the view of the harbor or spend a minute or two to walk along the beach.

Go Boat Watching at State Fish Pier

As we headed through town, we found our way off of the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway and on to State Fish Pier. We drove to the end and joined a group of cars already parked to enjoy the view.

Even though it was overcast and rainy, it was pleasant to watch the ships and boats making their their way into and out of the harbor.

You could likely spend a relaxing hour or so watching the harbor, but once you’ve taken in the view and snapped a few photos, you’re ready to continue around Cape Ann.

Explore the Wall at the Eastern Point Lighthouse

It’s not as easy as I thought it would be to find the lighthouses around Cape Ann. The roads that lead to the lighthouses often have posted signs that say “Private Drive.” Don’t let that keep you away from visiting the Eastern Point Lighthouse. It’s a great spot for kids to explore.

The parking lot is small and only accommodates a few vehicles. Make your way across the rocks along the fence line and you’ll end up on a wide wall of rocks that jets out across the harbor opening.

The wall is wide enough to help parents feel a little more comfortable with their kids walking on it. But running would probably be a bad idea.

At the end of the rock wall is a small lighthouse, probably in place so boats don’t mistakenly run into the wall as they enter or exit the harbor.

I enjoyed snapping photos of the lighthouse, ships heading out to sea and the seagulls feasting on schools of fish in the area. Definitely a highlight spot for anyone visiting Cape Ann.

Enjoy the View Along Bass Rocks

The Essex Coastal Scenic Byway (highway 127 & 127A) continues northeast out of Gloucester. Along the shoreline is Bass Rocks. The majority of the shoreline isn’t sandy beaches, but you’ll find a few along the way.

As the name suggests, much of the shoreline is rocky, but it’d be a fun place for kids to get out of the car and explore the area for sea life.

If you’re wanting to make a stop at a beach, Good Harbor Beach is a little further up the road.

Shop and Dine in Rockport, Massachusetts

I loved the town of Rockport. While our first agenda item was to grab some dinner, I had to make a quick stop at a little shop, La Provence, before it closed. I was able to pick up some lavender sachets to use as Mother’s Day gifts.

As seafood fans, we hit up Roy Moore’s Fish Shack for dinner. The full lobster was delicious and less expensive than what I would’ve paid out in my home state of Utah. Delicious and filling!

After dinner, we walked along the row of shops for a view of Rockport Harbor. There were ice cream shops, art galleries, shops dedicated to dog and cat accessories, and so much more.

It’s a quaint little town that would be perfect for a couple’s getaway. So I’ve added Rockport to my list of future destinations for my wife and I. Although, she doesn’t like seafood so that may create a challenge. Haha!

Finish Your Cape Ann Tour at Annisquam Lighthouse

The road around Cape Ann offered some great views of the ocean, forest, and shorelines. But as our road tour of Cape Ann was wrapping up, we found one more lighthouse to photograph. It did require driving on what was listed as Private Roads, and there wasn’t a great parking spot, but we made it work.

I ventured out on the rocks to capture some sunset photos of the Annisquam Lighthouse. The tide pools and rocks were perfect elements for the photo, but for those without a camera, the rocks are a great place to explore.

I made my way along the rocks, further from shore. I likely would’ve stayed there longer to photograph the lighthouse, but the tide was coming in and I was slowly losing my path back to dry land.

After the sun set, we continued along the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway to where we started and officially marked Cape Ann off our list of places explored.

If you haven’t been to Cape Ann, I recommend making a day trip out of it. It’s less than an hour by car, northeast of Boston.

Looking for other activities near Boston? Check out the Museum of Science, Cape Cod, or take a walk along the Freedom Trail through downtown Boston.

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