Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
could be a bit more polished, but it's hard to quibble when even the pickiest eater in
your party can find just the right dish.
3 Duncan St., off Main St.
&
978/281-3997.
www.alchemybistro.com. Reservations recommended at dinner. Main
courses $7-$16 at lunch, $12-$26 at dinner; pizza $10 and up. Children's menu $6. AE, MC, V. Sun-Thurs
11:30am-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-10pm (lunch served until 4pm). From intersection of Rogers and Main sts. (just
north of downtown), follow Main St. south
1
⁄
2
mile; Duncan St. is on left.
Halibut Point Restaurant
SEAFOOD/AMERICAN A local legend for its
chowders and burgers, Halibut Point is a friendly tavern that serves generous portions
of good food. The “Halibut Point Special”—a cup of chowder, a burger, and a beer—
hits the high points. The clam chowder is terrific, and the spicy Italian fish chowder
is so good that some people come to Gloucester just for a bowlful of that. There's also
a raw bar. Main courses are simple (mostly sandwiches) at lunch and more elaborate
at dinner. Be sure to check the specials board—you didn't come all this way to a fish-
ing port not to have fresh fish, did you?
289 Main St.
&
978/281-1900.
www.halibutpoint.com. Main courses $5-$13 at lunch, $9-$18 at dinner. AE, DISC,
MC, V. Daily 11:30am-11pm.
ROCKPORT
40 miles NE of Boston, 7 miles N of Gloucester
This lovely little town at the tip of Cape Ann was settled in 1690. Over the years it
has been an active fishing port, a center of granite excavation and cutting, and a thriv-
ing summer community whose specialty appears to be selling fudge and refrigerator
magnets to out-of-towners. Rockport is an entertaining half-day trip, perhaps com-
bined with a visit to Gloucester.
There's more to Rockport than just gift shops. It's home to a lovely state park, and
it's popular with photographers, painters, jewelry designers, and sculptors. Winslow
Homer, Fitz Henry Lane, and Childe Hassam are among the famous artists who have
captured the local color. At times, however, especially on summer weekends, you'll be
hard pressed to find much local color in this tourist-weary destination. But for every
year-round resident who seems genuinely startled when legions of people with cam-
eras around their necks descend on Rockport each June, there are dozens who are
proud to show off their town.
Out of season, especially January through mid-April, Rockport is pretty but some-
what desolate, though some businesses stay open and keep reduced hours.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE
Rockport is north of Gloucester along Route 127 or 127A. At
the end of Route 128, turn left at the signs for Rockport to take Route 127, which is
shorter but more commercial. To take Route 127A, which runs near the east coast of
Cape Ann, continue on Route 128 until you see the sign for East Gloucester and turn
left. Parking is tough, especially on summer Saturday afternoons, but metered spots
are available throughout downtown. Make one loop around downtown and then head
to the free parking lot on Upper Main Street (Rte. 127). The shuttle bus to downtown
costs $1.
The
commuter rail
(
&
617/222-3200;
www.mbta.com) runs from Boston's
North Station. The trip takes 60 to 70 minutes, and the round-trip fare is $16. The
station is about 6 blocks from the downtown waterfront. The
Cape Ann Transporta-
tion Authority,
or CATA (
&
978/283-7916;
www.canntran.com), runs buses from
town to town on Cape Ann.
