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A couple weekends ago, Nancy and I decided to Go Discover Gloucester Massachusetts.

Our first time in the Gloucester area and we were impressed! We drove through downtown Gloucester.  Here, we observed a beautiful and unique lobster trap Christmas tree. We were also impressed with the city flags.

Discover Gloucester, Massachusetts

Gloucester is a city on Cape Ann in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is part of Massachusetts’ North Shore. The population was 28,789 at the 2010 U.S. Census.^[2] An important center of the fishing industry and a popular summer destination, Gloucester consists of an urban core on the north side of the harbor and the outlying neighborhoods of Annisquam, Bay View, Lanesville, Folly Cove, Magnolia, Riverdale, East Gloucester, and West Gloucester.  (Wikipedia).

Gloucester is a coastal city on Cape Ann, in Massachusetts. Its fishing heritage is reflected in the harbor-side Fisherman’s Memorial, with a statue and names of those lost at sea. Cape Ann Museum has work by 1800s maritime artist Fitz Henry Lane. East, the sands of Good Harbor Beach extend to Salt Island at low tide. Southwest, 1920s medieval-style Hammond Castle Museum was home to inventor John Hays Hammond, Jr. (gloucester-ma.gov/).

The Cape Ann Museum

Our next stop was a drive by the Cape Ann Museum.  Here, we quickly observed the statue of maritime artist Fitz Henry Lane.  A beautiful memorial illustrating the artist painting while looking out toward the seacoast.  The statue and museum are easily located in the center of Gloucester.

Altogether the Museum can be delineated into 7 parts: fine arts, fisheries & maritime art/artifacts (including the original Lady of Good Voyage), decorative arts, a gallery devoted specifically to granite quarrying, an education room, a library and extensive archive (with over 20,000 photographs).

While this may sound slightly overwhelming, the Museum brings this varied collection together. The museum simply does this through its connection to both Gloucester and Cape Ann as a whole. You can enjoy all of this for only $8. A great deal!!

Good Harbor Beach

Gloucester’s Good Harbor Beach is a beautiful beach that faces the Atlantic Ocean.  Here, you can find white powdery sand and great ocean waves.

Here, there is a reasonably priced concession stand (burgers, grilled cheese, drinks, slush, and ice cream), rest rooms and showers. Good Harbor Beach is particularly amenable to families and children.

During low tide there is a sand bar that opens up to the left so you can walk out to the rocky island. Low tide also leaves lots of room for digging, or passing a football or frisbee. Boogie boards are also welcome at Good Harbor Beach.  The waves are great at both low & high tides for boards. Check the tide charts.

Parking at Good Harbor Beach:
Parking fees are $20 during the week per car; $25 for weekends. Parking is limited. so plan to arrive early to ensure a parking spot.

This is a carry-in/carry-out beach. You must take your trash with you. (Boston Central).

The Gloucester Coastline

After enjoying Good Harbor Beach, we proceeded to drive along Rte 127A, which brought us along the Gloucester coastline.  The scenic view was amazing! We enjoyed taking photographs of lighthouses and watching the ocean waves battering against the rocky coastline.  A wonderful time of relaxing, while taking in the sights and sounds!!

The Gloucester Fisherman Memorial

Our next stop was the Gloucester Fisherman Memorial.  The Fisherman Memorial is an approximately 8-foot-tall statue of a fisherman standing braced at the wheel.  The Memorial is positioned with the fisherman looking out over Gloucester Harbor.  A marvelous display.

The fisherman in the sculpture was modeled after Capt. Clayton Morrissey, said to be a prominent Gloucester fisherman.   A small plaque on the street-facing side of the base reads, “Memorial To The Gloucester Fisherman, August 23, 1923.”

The beautiful memorial includes a list of the lost fisherman’s names.  Nancy and I found the memorial to be both beautiful and touching!! If your are traveling to the Gloucester area check this out!

A Beautiful Massachusetts Coastline City

After leaving the Fisherman’s Memorial, we continued our travels up the Gloucester coastline.  We then discovered the beautiful City of Rockport, which will share about in a future blog.  Our travels through Gloucester were splendid.  We were able to view lighthouses and the scenic ocean coastline.  A great day!

In closing, we would strongly recommend you go discover Gloucester Massachusetts!! Although our trip was off-season, we could just imagine the beauty of the city during the summer months.  In our opinion, this amazing coastline city should be on everyone’s bucket list.

For more information on the beautiful City of Gloucester, visit their website @ http://cityofgloucester.org

Happy Travels!!