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VISIT SALEM AND BOSTON

If you never travel more than 10 miles from your inn. you'll still have the vacation of a lifetime.

Explore all day and return to our quiet village at night. Rockport offers a multi-vacation experience with many exciting destinations to explore that are less than an hour away. Stay in Rockport and visit historic Salem, Boston, Essex, and Newburyport. Great shopping in Kittery Maine and Portsmouth New Hampshire also await you.

Every year, many thousands of Boston visitors stay in Rockport. Our Inns are a great "launching pad" for your Boston visit. Boston is filled with many historic attractions, great restaurants and plenty to see and do. Come back to quiet Rockport at the end of your day and enjoy dinner and a sunset stroll along Bear Skin Neck.

There's history and culture around every bend in Boston. Explore centuries old marketplaces at Fanueil Hall and Quincy Market lined with cobblestone streets and walkways. Visit the USS Constitution or take a stroll down Newbury street for great shopping. Walk the freedom trail and visit some of the oldest landmarks in America including Paul Revere's house and the Old North Church where lamps were lit to signal if it was "one if by land or two if by sea".

Boston is a great walking city and is home to America's oldest subway system "The T". It is easy to get around to take in all the sights. Along your stroll, a visit to Boston Common and the Public Garden is a must-see. While at the Common take a ride on the famous Swan Boats and see the impressive statue of George Washington mounted on his horse. And no visit would be complete with having a bowl of "clam chowda" in one of Boston's famous eateries.

Salem at a Glance

Salem is just anout 30 minutes by train from Rockport, with service offered 7 days per week. Or, take your car and enjoy a scenic drive along the coast. Travel time to downtown is approximately 35 minutes.

House of Seven Gables

TRAIN SCHEDULE

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Boston at a glance

Boston is just about an hour by train from Rockport, with service offered 7 days per week. Or, take your car for a scenic drive. Travel time to downtown is approximately 1 hour.

TRAIN SCHEDULE

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

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The Best of Both Worlds

If you never travel more than 10 miles from your inn, you'll still have the vacation of a lifetime. Cape Ann's beauty attracted painters such as Winslow Homer. Its natural features attracted the Pilgrims in 1623, just three years after Plymouth Rock. Granite from Rockport's quarries has been shipped all over the world, and nearby Gloucester's seaport is the nation's first, and is still active to this day. World famous sailing vessels were built in neighboring Essex, and you can see how they were built, with the actual tools that were used. So much to see on Cape Ann but more adventures await just to the north and south.

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But you must stay! A daytrip is too short and only hints at the beauty and possibilities for exploration and relaxation. Numerous lodgings are tucked into the village and along coves, from elegant Victorian inns to pleasant owner-operated motels to handsome bed & breakfasts to modest guesthouses - something for every taste and budget. In-town ones allow you to walk to everything, while outlying ones are enhanced by the sights and sounds of the sea. (Find the one that's right for you at www.innsofrockport.com.) To truly experience Rockport, reserving one of these is essential.

Rockport has preserved its simple and romantic character. The classic New England homes have picket fences, pretty flower gardens, front porches; some are colorfully painted. The charming downtown area has a surprisingly broad range of offerings for such a compact village, from intriguing gift shops to a brand-new music center (booking everything from chamber music to jazz in an intimate 325-seat hall with an ocean view). Home to a vibrant arts community, Rockport is also prized for its numerous art galleries and world-class art association. Restaurants, often with great views, range from fancy to casual.

If outdoor activities interest you, opportunities abound. You'll have easy access to bicycling and hiking; there are miles of trails in the woods of historic Dogtown, and Halibut Point State Park, at the northernmost tip of Cape Ann, has dramatic views. There are whale-watches and schooner excursions. You can try sea-kayaking, scuba-diving, fishing on your own, or arranging for a guided charter. And should you have the time and inclination, Rockport is a short drive from even more: the seaports and attractions of Gloucester and Salem, historic Boston, antiquing in the village of Essex, and the popular outlet stores of southern Maine.

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Visit Salem's Seafaring and Witchcraft Exhibits

Salem is a great walking city, with its witchcraft lore, historic seafaring exhibits, National Heritage Park, restaurants and more. Enjoy great days in Salem and return to relaxation in Rockport.

Known for centuries as the "Witch City," Salem has redefined itself. Altough numerous witch-related attractions and shops still draw tourists, there's is much more to see and do in this historic waterfront city. The witchcraft frenzy emerged from the trials of 1692. Though the witch trials might have built Salem's historical reputation, the town's rich maritime and creative traditions played important roles in the country's development. Among its notable residents are writer Nathaniel Hawthorne and architect Samuel McIntire.