Gloucester & Cape Ann
Gloucester, Massachusetts
One of America’s oldest fishing ports. The Fisherman’s Memorial, whale-watching boats, and the red fishing shacks of nearby Rockport make a classic one-day coastal trip.
Gloucester is located on Cape Ann, northeast of Boston. Founded in 1623, it is one of the oldest fishing ports in the United States, and the film “The Perfect Storm” was based on events here. At the harbor, the bronze Fisherman’s Memorial (1925) honors thousands of fishermen lost at sea. In summer, you can take a whale-watching boat from the harbor to the Stellwagen Bank to see humpback whales (about 3–4 hours). Ten kilometers north, Rockport is home to the red fishing shack “Motif No. 1,” which many painters have depicted, along with small art shops. Take a commuter train from Boston’s North Station for about an hour.
Opening hours
All day (whale-watching boats Apr–Oct)
Nearby sights
- Salem
- Boston Harbor Islands
- Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
- USS Constitution / Charlestown Navy Yard
- Old North Church
- Bunker Hill Monument
- New England Aquarium
- North End