The Dogtown Common features the Babson Boulders, off of Cherry Street. These boulders (about 3…read moredozen of them), have carved inspirational inscriptions that most people find it worthwhile to stop by for photo-ops. Parking is confusing, as while there's a sign for the Dogtown Common area, nothing is clearly marked or labeled for parking and for access points. You can only enter via walking, so appropriate clothing attire and shoes are highly recommended. It's definitely woody, so make sure you apply much insect repellent! The boulders are not near the entryway, and you do need to walk about 1.5/2 miles inland. I personally did not think it was worth a stop, but those who are in the Gloucester and have some time, may find it of interest. +carved inspirational messages on boulders

overall a nice place to walk with some scenic views. options to take longer or shorter paths too.read more

Things that lurk…read morein the sea. The very first lighthouse built on Ten Pound Island was back in 1821. Gloucester was a very important harbor and since the island sits right in the way of the entrance people sensibly figured a lighthouse on the little island would be a good idea. The lighthouse was cheap and poorly constructed and another light made of cast iron was completed in 1881 and still stands. About 39 feet tall it originally had a 5th order Fresnel Lens that is now in a museum up in Maine. Gloucester can be a spooky place with all kinds of storms and fog and people can see strange things in in the mist. And all kinds of odd and bizarre things have indeed been seen out by the lighthouse. The very first sea serpent sighting was back in the 1600's and so many have been seen that this is sometimes called The Sea Serpent Lighthouse. By the early 1820's sightings of the beast were so common that people use to come here just to get a look at it. Many sworn affidavits by very credible people were signed, describing the beastie in detail. The light is quieter now and very few monster sightings are recorded anymore. The famous artists Winslow Homer lived here for a while around 1880 but he apparently was more busy with his painting than looking for monsters. The lighthouse was restored in 1980 and looks almost like new. The only way to get to Ten Pound Island is by boat but it's less than a mile off shore so it's a pleasant kayak trip. Just be careful to keep an eye open for something large and bizarre that still might be lurking out there.

Excellent swordfish--my favorite--worth going out of our way! Tender, melt in your mouth!…read more Chicken tenders for my companion, tender, moist, yum. Great onion rings--not too large, perfect crunch.

One of our favorite places to visit whenever we're in the area. The parking lot is fairly small…read moresince most of the parking spots have signs saying that they're reserved for the ice cream shop. The tables are closely packed together and the restaurant can get crowded at times. The staff are friendly and were able to give us good recommendations. The fried clams were crispy on the outside and very tender on the inside. The smelt were on the larger size so the larger bones were harder to chew on. The pastas came in some of the largest portions that I've ever seen from a restaurant. There were very generous portions of seafood in both of the pasta dishes that we order and I would definitely recommend the seafood marinara and the lobster mac&cheese to anyone who goes. The dishes are great for sharing and I will happily go back the next time I am out there

Pines stones but no…read moreghosts The Old Burial Ground is a very old graveyard indeed. The sign in front says 1661 and it is the oldest graveyard in the town of Manchester By-the-Sea. There are records of an older one but it is long forgotten and no longer exists. This ancient graveyard does look old, very old. Many of the gravestones are worn away and the oldest ones I could read were from the early 1700's. It's obvious that the broken and impossible to read stones are much older. The cemetery is a lovely place, lots of tall pine trees grow around, beside and even up through some of the ancient stones. It actually smells great, with the scent of pine permeating the air. One surprising fact about this ancient place is that there are no legends of ghosts or hauntings. Quite surprising since virtually all old and spooky graveyards have a least a few resident mischievous spirits hanging around. Perhaps it is just so old that even the ghosts got tired and just want to rest.

passing by here, the trees i noticed are especially cool looking! the vibes here are nice & has…read morefresh air quality

Impeccable service! We were waited on by Matthew and he was wonderfully attentive, friendly, and…read moremade our experience top notch. He is a gem at Tonno. Food was incredible! The best bolognese I've had in years. The halibut special was amazing - a wonderful medley of fall flavors and I would highly recommend. For appetizers, the calamari was great. Two individuals at our table split dishes (tagliatelle and halibut) and our server had them plated on two separate dishes for each person, which made it much easier to share - loved that attention to detail and great service. The restaurant had a great vibe and was super lively. When you are looking for a dinner restaurant in downtown Gloucester, I would highly recommend Tonno!

Ah, Tonno which translates to Tuna in Italian. I bet you did not know that lol!…read more Another restaurant we dined while on vacation. I wish I had better news for this one but I will say my Nebbiolo wine was superb and I did enjoy the salad. Oh and the ambiance was also quite nice! Overall, this Italian restaurant is no North End, but I heard their head Chef left to open up a nearby restaurant so some locals mentioned the quality went down. I guess we'll see! We wanted to like it here, but after ordering their Chicken Parmigiana and having to send it back because it was overcooked...Mama Mia! My grandmother would be very upset! And don't get me started on the sauce. I mean c'mon how hard can it be. Ugh! The only could thing to come out of this was the service, which was quite impeccable and it was quite busy for a Monday night. I probably would give them another shot if we're ever done here again, but hopefully their Chef knows how to cook by then. We can only hope!

Such a great place to eat. The service was so fast and efficient and the owner is so awesome and…read morefriendly!!! could go recommend this more!

I'd give Leonardo's a solid 4. I thoroughly enjoyed the pies I ordered, and I would definitely go…read moreback! The slices were crispy and had the perfect amount of sauce and cheese!

In the summer Rockport is mobbed with tourists. Filled with art galleries, touristy shops and…read morerestaurants it makes a pleasant day out. Late Spring/early summer or late summer/early Autumn are less busy times. Parking is on street, and pay at the kiosk. Put your receipt on the dash where it can be seen. Parking is also available in the surrounding neighborhoods for no fee. Just plan to walk a ways to get into town. Rockport has become so popular lately, there is simply not enough parking to support the tourist trade. Pro-tip: when parking in the surrounding neighborhood, either 'pin' your vehicle location to your phone map, or remember which intersection you parked near. We found one woman wandering around looking for a particular street. We know an artist who has a studio here and stopped in to see his work. We also stopped in to other galleries during our stay. We considered staying to walk around and get a bite to eat, but decided in the end to just get back on the road. We visited the Paper House nearby.

It is a pretty town witha lot to see, but I wish Bearskin Neck had more trees and a public…read morerestroom.It gets very hot and tiring walking around there. Some trees and benches would make a big difference

Located in Masconomo Park and near the marina, this is a bronze life-size statue of a standing WWI…read moresoldier. He is holding a flag in his right hand and holds his left above his head. At his feet in bronze, "Lafayette we are here." It was sculpted by Philip S. Sears in 1931 and is a memorial to those who served in WWI. The inscription reads, "In honor of the men of Manchster who served their country in the World War, 1917-1918. Erected by the Town of Manchester 1931." On the back, "Died in service" and lists five names. [Review 18587 overall - 1169 in Massachusetts - 2109 of 2022.]

Our favorite local restaurant - we go almost every week…read more Love the seafood, burgers and onion rings. Cocktails are tasty and the brownie sundae is a must have. Morgan is our favorite server and always treats us well.

Service here is usually quick and always pleasant. The seafood dishes are VERY reasonably priced…read moreand the portions are enough for two or three more meals. This is Just a wonderful place for not only for seafood; but also for pasta, salads , chicken, burgers, etc. In the past they had the most wonderful brussel sprouts with pine nuts appetizer, but it is no longer available!!!! Here is hoping the management brings it by back!!!